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sliced turkey

Turkey Bacon Ranch Sliders

Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients
  

  • - 1 bone-in turkey breast 8 lbs
  • - 1 bottle jalapeño butter injection e.g., Tony’s
  • - Hot sauce as a binder
  • - All-purpose rub store-bought or homemade
  • - Apple wood chunks for smoking
  • - 1 stick melted butter
  • - 12 strips thick-cut bacon
  • - Parchment paper
  • - 12 King’s Hawaiian Original Rolls halved and toasted
  • - 12 slices sharp cheddar cheese
  • - 2 tablespoons melted butter for brushing

Ingredients for Spicy Ranch

  • - 1 cup mayonnaise
  • - ½ cup buttermilk
  • - 2 tablespoons milk adjust for desired consistency
  • - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • - 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • - ¾ teaspoon salt
  • - ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
  • - ½ teaspoon dried dill
  • - ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • - ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper adjust for heat preference
  • - ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper optional

Instructions
 

  • Thaw the turkey breast for 12 to 14 hours on the counter, then place it in the fridge for one full day.
  • Remove the skin to allow the seasonings to soak in better.
  • Inject the turkey with jalapeño butter to add moisture and flavor.
  • Coat the turkey with hot sauce to act as a binder, then season it generously with all-purpose rub, making sure to cover all sides.
  • Preheat your smoker to 250°F and add apple wood chunks.
  • Place the turkey breast on the smoker and cook until the internal temperature reaches 140°F.
  • Remove the turkey and wrap it tightly in foil with 1 stick of melted butter to keep it moist and flavorful.
  • Return it to the smoker and continue cooking until the internal temperature hits 160°F.
  • Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes to lock in the juices, then slice it into thick pieces.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay out the strips of thick-cut bacon in a single layer.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy.
  • Remove it from the oven and wrap it in foil to keep warm until you're ready to assemble the sliders.
  • Toast the King’s Hawaiian rolls in the oven or on a skillet until they are golden.
  • On the bottom half of each roll, place a slice of sharp cheddar cheese, followed by a few slices of smoked turkey.
  • Drizzle a generous amount of homemade ranch over the turkey.
  • Add another slice of cheddar cheese and a strip of crispy bacon.
  • Place the top half of the roll on top and brush the tops of the buns with melted butter.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Arrange the sliders on a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the buns are golden.
  • Remove from the oven and serve immediately with extra ranch on the side if desired.