Derby Day Hot Brown Sliders (Printable Page)

Mini sandwiches featuring turkey, bacon, tomatoes, and creamy cheese sauce on soft rolls for festive occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Sliders

01 - 12 soft slider rolls (Hawaiian rolls or brioche)
02 - 2 cups cooked turkey breast, sliced or shredded
03 - 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked crisp and cut in half
04 - 1 cup Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ For the Mornay Sauce

06 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
10 - 1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
11 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
13 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ For Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Set oven to 350°F and allow to reach temperature.
02 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook 1-2 minutes until lightly golden. Slowly whisk in milk and cream while stirring continuously. Cook until thickened, approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper until smooth and combined. Set sauce aside.
03 - Split slider rolls horizontally and place bottom halves in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
04 - Distribute sliced turkey evenly over the roll bases, followed by tomato slices and bacon pieces in even layers.
05 - Pour Mornay sauce evenly across all sliders. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over the top.
06 - Place top halves of rolls over the filled bottoms.
07 - Cover baking dish loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 15 minutes.
08 - Remove foil and continue baking 5-7 minutes until tops are lightly browned and cheese is bubbling.
09 - Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're fancy enough to impress at parties but easy enough that you won't stress in the kitchen.
  • The creamy Mornay sauce is the kind of thing that makes people close their eyes and smile.
  • You can prep everything ahead and bake them right before guests arrive.
02 -
  • Don't skip whisking the sauce slowly when you add the milk, or you'll end up with lumps that no amount of whisking can fix later.
  • The rolls will soften considerably once the sauce hits them, so they need to be sturdy enough to hold everything without falling apart.
03 -
  • The nutmeg is subtle but essential; it sounds odd until you taste it and suddenly understand why it works.
  • Keep the sauce moving with a whisk while it's heating so it develops a silky texture instead of becoming grainy or broken.
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