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5 from 2 votes

Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls (30 Min)

Our easy-to-follow recipe for juicy cheeseburger sliders with Hawaiian rolls brings you classic flavors without the fuss. Perfect for a game day crowd, appetizer, snack, or simple weeknight dinner. Delish! The recipe can be doubled, tripled or halved.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings (change as needed): 12 sliders
Author: Cheryl Avrich
US Measures - Metric

Ingredients

Beef mixture, Note 1

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (10% fat) or medium ground beef (20% fat)
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (regular or light)
  • 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce (or ketchup)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Topping for rolls, Note 2

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or maple syrup)
  • 2 teaspoons sesame seeds (or Everything Bagel Seasoning)

Rolls and cheese

  • 12 Hawaiian rolls (1 package), Note 3
  • 8 slices cheddar cheese, Note 4 or 6-8 ounces shredded cheese
  • 1 tablespoon soft butter (to spread on pan)
US Measures - Metric

Instructions

  • HEAT OVEN TO 350F/177C. Line a baking dish or sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil (sprayed with oil). TIP: If you want the sliders to have buttery slightly crispy bottoms, spread a thin layer of soft butter directly on the pan surface.
  • MAKE GOUND BEEF MIXTURE: Heat oil in a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add onions and saute for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Add ground beef, chop it up with a spatula and cook until most or all of the pink disappears, about 3 minutes. Turn off heat. TIP: Move mixture to one side of skillet, tip skillet toward you and spoon off the excess grease to prevent soggy sliders (or mop grease with paper towel). Mix in mayo, BBQ sauce and seasonings. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
  • PREPARE AND ASSEMBLE SLIDERS: Cut rolls in half horizontally, keeping rolls intact (don't separate them). On the bottom half, lay slices of cheese to cover rolls, add beef mixture on top, then another layer of cheese slices. Place top half of the rolls back over the top. To summarize, the layers from bottom up are: bottom half of rolls...cheese...beef...cheese...top half of rolls.
  • GLAZE, BAKE, SERVE: In a small microwaveable bowl, add butter, Dijon and brown sugar. Microwave for 25 seconds and stir well to combine. Brush glaze on tops of the rolls. Immediately sprinkle on sesame seeds so they will stick. Place on buttered or lined pan. Bake in preheated oven, uncovered for 12-15 minutes. Remove from oven, cut into individual sliders along roll lines with serrated knife, and serve immediately.

Notes

  1. Beef mixture variations:
    1. Substitute ground beef with ground turkey, ground chicken or plant-based ground beef.
    2. Instead of chopped onion, use 2-3 teaspoons of dried onion soup mix (or dried onion flakes). 
    3. Substitute Montreal Steak Seasoning for garlic, salt, pepper.
    4. Add a splash of hot sauce or Worcestershire sauce
    5. Add cooked crispy bacon bits. 
  2. Variations for topping: Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce for a little extra zip. Or keep it simple and just brush on melted butter mixed with a pinch of garlic powder. Or spray with oil.
  3. Roll/bun substitutes: Instead of King's Hawaiian rolls, use slider buns, mini brioche buns, potato rolls, mini hamburger buns, or dinner rolls. If your rolls are larger, increase the amount of hamburger filling you make or, instead, make fewer sliders. 
  4. Cheese options: Use melty cheese such as cheddar cheese, provolone, gruyere, fontina, pepper jack and American cheese slices. Shredded or sliced cheese are both fine, but note that some pre-shredded cheese made with anti-caking preservatives may not melt as well.
  5. Condiments and dipping sauces: ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise, sriracha aioli, chipotle sauce, ranch dressing, Thousand Island dressing, BBQ sauce, horseradish sauce, or pesto.
  6. Make ahead: 
    • Leftover sliders can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. 
    • Make 1-2 days ahead: cook meat mixture, cool and place in fridge in a ziploc bag or container. The glaze ingredients can be placed in a small cup, ready to be microwaved when needed. If using grated cheese, you can grate that ahead as well. Assemble sliders the day of serving and bake. 
    • Make several hours ahead: Prepare and assemble sliders. Cover and place in fridge until ready to use. Bake uncovered for 15-16 minutes or until heated through. 
    • To freeze, make and assemble sliders. Freeze, well wrapped in a sealed bag for up to 3 months. 
    • To heat/reheat: Place frozen sliders on buttered baking sheet. Bake at 350F/177C for 15-18 minutes or until heated through. 
 
Nutrition values are estimates for one cheeseburger slider on a Hawaiian roll.
Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 610mg | Potassium: 209mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 224IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 189mg | Iron: 3mg