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Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders

Kentucky hot brown sliders are pull-apart turkey and tomato sandwiches drenched in a golden bubbly Mornay sauce, finished with crisp bacon and broiled toasty edges. This easy slider recipe bakes until hot and set, then broils for a browned top that’s perfect for parties.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Slider assembly
  • 12 slider rolls (Hawaiian sweet rolls)
  • 1 lb deli turkey, thinly sliced
  • 6 bacon strips, cooked until crispy
  • 2 large tomatoes, sliced thin
Mornay sauce
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cup whole milk, warmed
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar or Gruyère cheese, shredded
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp white pepper
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • paprika and fresh parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 saucepan
  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and layer in the baking dish
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
  2. Slice slider rolls in half horizontally and place the bottoms in the baking dish.
  3. Layer deli turkey slices evenly over the roll bottoms, then top with tomato slices.
Make the Mornay sauce
  1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat until foamy.
  2. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  3. Slowly whisk in warmed milk and stir until thickened, about 3–4 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheese, salt, white pepper, and nutmeg until smooth.
Bake and broil
  1. Pour Mornay sauce generously over the turkey layer.
  2. Place slider tops on and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.
  3. Remove from oven, place bacon strips across the top, switch to broil, and broil for 2–3 minutes until the tops are golden and edges are crispy.
Garnish and serve
  1. Garnish with paprika and fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

For the thickest, most sliceable sliders, whisk the sauce continuously while adding the warm milk so it stays smooth and glossy. Refrigerate leftovers covered for up to 3 days; reheat in a 325°F oven until hot. Freezing is not recommended because the rolls and sauce can soften. For a lighter option, use low-fat milk and reduced-fat cheese to lower calories while keeping the same sauce texture.