Turkey Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls are the perfect bite to serve up at summer cookouts! Juicy turkey burgers are topped with gooey, spicy Pepper Jack cheese, caramelized pineapple & onion relish and served on a sweet Hawaiian roll!
This post was originally published on August 14, 2013 and updated on March 31, 2022.
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There's something about pineapple that screams "island vacation" to me. But pineapples don't max out their culinary purpose in applications like Pina Coladas and Upside Down Cake; they actually work extremely well in conjunction with savory flavors, as is the case in these Turkey Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls!
An easy, caramelized pineapple and onion relish elevates these bite-sized burgers to the next level by adding a hint of sweetness to these Hawaiian-inspired handhelds that are ideal for a summer soiree. Piled on top of a tiny turkey burger nestled in a Hawaiian roll with spicy pepper jack for a kick, there's no better way to pay tribute to sweet summer days.
Looking for more bite-sized slider recipes? Check out my Turkey & Chickpea Sliders with Dill Havarti, Crispy Beet Sliders (featured on ABC's The Chew!), and Baked Pumpkin Butter, Turkey & Cheese Sliders!
This recipe and can be made gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan . (See Variations & Substitutions section below.)
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Yellow onion
- Pineapple. Fresh always tastes best, but you can also use frozen or canned.
- Sea salt
- Ground turkey meat. I like to use a turkey meat with a higher fat content so that the sliders aren't dry, especially because these patties do not contain egg or breadcrumbs.
- Sesame oil. This is a great ingredient that adds a deep, nutty flavor to foods! I love using it in stir-fry or Asian-inspired marinades, sauces and dressings.
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Scallions
- Pepper jack cheese. If you have a low heat tolerance, use your favorite melty cheese instead.
- Hawaiian sweet rolls
Instructions
Make Pineapple-Onion Relish:
In a medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and pineapple, stirring often. If the pan starts to dry out, you can add a tablespoon or two of water or even pineapple juice to help moisten the mixture and scrape the brown bits up from the pan.
Cook the mixture for about 10-12 minutes or until onions and pineapple are caramelized and very soft.
This relish can be cooled, stored and refrigerated at this point an used for all kinds of things. Otherwise, set it aside to cool until you're ready to assemble your turkey sliders.
Make Turkey Burgers
In a large bowl gently mix together turkey, sesame oil, onion powder, garlic powder, and scallions until well combined. The best tool for this is your hands so that you don't overmix and make them tough, but if touching raw meat isn't your thing, you can also use a mixing spoon to gently combine the ingredients.
Wet your hands so that the meat mixture doesn't stick, then scoop out some of the mixture -- a scoop a little larger than a golf ball -- and form it into bite-sized patties. It should make about 12 turkey sliders.
Place the patties onto a plate or a foil-lined baking pan.
Heat olive oil in a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. (You can also make these on a regular grill if you'd like!)
Place patties onto hot skillet, grill pan or grill and and cook for about 5-7 minutes on one side, then flip and cook on other side until cooked through and meat is no longer pink.
Tip: Ground turkey meat is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F -- a good meat thermometer is a great tool to keep in your kitchen to make sure that meat, fish and other foods are cooked to a safe temperature.
Assemble Turkey Sliders
Place a slice of pepper jack cheese on each warm slider to allow it to start to melt. Place the sliders on sliced Hawaiian rolls. Top each one with a spoonful of Pineapple-Onion Relish before topping with the top of the roll and serving.
FAQ's
Yes. Make the relish and turkey burgers as directed, then cool both and store in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. When you're ready to serve sliders, heat the relish and patties in the microwave,
Yes. You can shape the ground turkey meat into patties, place them on a parchment-lined baking pan and place them in the freezer until firm, about 45 minutes. Remove them from the pan and store them in a zip-top freezer bag for up to 2 months! Patties can be grilled from frozen or thawed in the fridge overnight before cooking.
Variations & Substitutions
Try these variations if you're in the mood to mix things up!
- Don't feel like making the relish? Top with your favorite store-bought mango salsa or just a slice of fresh pineapple.
- Try using a dollop of flavored aioli, tangy barbecue sauce, or creamy, store-bought dressing.
- Add a little extra crunch with some slaw mix.
Diet-Specific Substitutions
- Vegan or Dairy-Free: Use plant based cheese in place of pepper jack. Try a plant-based ground instead of turkey meat.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free slider rolls instead of Hawaiian Rolls.
Turkey Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Ingredients
For Pineapple Onion Relish
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple canned or frozen are fine
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
For Turkey Sliders
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground turkey meat
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ¼ cup chopped scallions
- 3 slices pepper jack cheese cut into quarters
- 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls
Instructions
Make Pineapple Onion Relish
Make Sliders
- In a large bowl gently mix together turkey, sesame oil, onion powder, garlic powder, and scallions until well combined. Do not overmix.
- Wet hands to keep meat from sticking, then scoop out a ball that is a little larger than a golf ball in size. Form meat into 12 equal patties. Set on a foil-lined baking pan or plate if needed.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. (Or heat grill, if desired.)
- Place patties onto hot skillet, grill pan or grill and and cook for about 5-7 minutes on one side; flip and cook on other side until cooked through and meat is no longer pink. (Should read 165°F on a meat thermometer.)
Assemble Sliders
- Place a slice of pepper jack cheese on each warm slider to allow it to start to melt. Place the sliders on sliced Hawaiian rolls.
- Top each one with a spoonful of Pineapple-Onion Relish before topping with the top of the roll and serving.
Notes
- Don't feel like making the relish? Top with your favorite store-bought mango salsa or just a slice of fresh pineapple.
- Try using a dollop of flavored aioli, tangy barbecue sauce, or creamy, store-bought dressing.
- Add a little extra crunch with some slaw mix.
- Vegan or Dairy-Free: Use plant based cheese in place of pepper jack. Try a plant-based ground instead of turkey meat.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free slider rolls instead of Hawaiian Rolls.
Leslie says
We love the tip of adding sesame oil to the turkey. It guarantees they won't be dry & that's a game changer for us.
Thank you, delicious recipe!
thekitchenprep says
So glad you enjoyed them, Leslie! Thanks for the comment & rating!