These easy, ultra–cheesy Cheeseburger Sliders feature juicy ground beef, caramelized onions, and layers of melted American cheese on sweet Hawaiian rolls. This is one of my go-to game day recipes and a fun dinner the whole family gets excited about.
I admittedly get more excited over the menu on game day than the actual sports, but that doesn’t stop me from having a good time! Other than these crowd-pleasing cheeseburger sliders, you’ll typically find me with a plate full of these Buffalo Wings and this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork when the game is on.
Cheeseburger Sliders
Classic cheeseburger sliders trace back to the White Castle mini burgers from the 1920s. Those little square beef patties on soft buns became a beloved American snack, inspiring countless versions over the years.
This cheeseburger slider recipe takes everything we adore about the originals, including the savory beef, gooey American cheese, pickles, and soft buns, but levels it up with caramelized onions and garlic in a cheesy, melty filling. The layers of hearty, rich flavor contrast beautifully with sweet, pillowy Hawaiian rolls.
What I love most about this sliders recipe is that it’s perfect for parties. You can assemble them from bottom to top ahead of time. Just pop them in the oven just before it’s time to eat. They’re the ultimate game day snack and always make for fun family dinners. Just don’t forget a sauce on the side for dunking—it’s the secret to taking every bite over the top.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Oil – I’ll usually brown ground beef with olive oil or any high-heat oil I have in my kitchen, like avocado oil or vegetable oil.
- Beef – 80/20 ground beef is my favorite for sliders because it’s juicy and flavorful, but still lean. Ground turkey or ground chicken will both work as substitutes.
- Aromatics – Caramelized yellow onions and minced garlic cloves bring the ground beef sliders a savory-sweet flavor.
- Sauces — I seasoned the beef with Worcestershire sauce to enhance its delicious beefy flavors. If you’re out of Worcestershire sauce, you can substitute soy sauce for a similar salty-savory flavor. I also added Tabasco sauce for heat, but this is optional.
- Cheese – Both shredded and sliced American cheese create that perfect gooey, cheesy layer. Cheddar slices, Colby-Jack, or Swiss cheese will all work as substitutes.
- Rolls – Sweet Hawaiian rolls are my favorite here, but any slider-size hamburger buns or dinner rolls will work as long as they’re sturdy enough to hold their shape.
- Seasonings – Just salt and pepper.
- Pickles – Sliced dill pickles are one of my favorite tangy and crunchy toppings on Hawaiian roll sliders.
How to Make Cheeseburger Sliders
Brown the Beef: I preheat the oven to 350°F (no fan). Meanwhile, I heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the ground beef. I generously season it with salt and pepper and sauté it until it’s browned. To finish, I transfer the beef to a plate.
Caramelize the Onions: In the now-empty skillet, I sauté the onions with a pinch of salt until they start to soften. Then, I reduce the heat and cook for another 10 minutes or until the onions are golden and tender. Right at the end, I stir in the minced garlic and cook it for just 30 to 45 seconds.
Combine: I return the beef to the pan along with the Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and half of the shredded cheese, and mix until combined.
Assemble: I arrange the bottom half of the rolls in a 13×9-inch casserole dish and cover them with a layer of sliced cheese. I spread the beef mixture across the cheese-covered buns, then sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top, followed by the sliced pickles. Finally, I top it off with the top buns.
Brush and Tent: I brush the rendered beef fat left in the skillet over the top buns for extra flavor (melted butter also works here). I sprinkle the sesame seeds over the buns, then loosely tent the dish with foil.
Bake: I bake the sliders on the middle rack for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes. By the end, the cheese should be melted and the buns should be lightly toasted but still soft.
Chef Tip + Notes
While most cheeseburger slider recipes simply layer cheese and beef on rolls, I took this version up a notch by adding caramelized onions to the beef and cheese filling. Giving the onions plenty of time (around 15 to 20 minutes) to turn golden brown is the secret to making the best cheeseburger sliders—the depth of flavor they add is unmatched. Trust me, it’s worth the few extra minutes standing over the stove.
- Avoid soggy bottoms: If you’re worried about the bottom buns getting soggy, lightly toast them in the oven for a few minutes before layering on the cheese and beef mixture. Also, if your beef mixture seems extra greasy in the pan, use a slotted spoon to transfer it onto the buns.
- Don’t burn the buns: Keep an eye on slider buns while they’re baking uncovered. They should be lightly toasted and golden brown but still soft and pillowy. Overbaking can make them too crunchy or dry.
- Customize the filling: Try adding sautéed mushrooms or diced jalapeños to the beef mixture for an extra kick. To make bacon cheeseburger sliders, crumble crispy bacon between the beef mixture and the top layer of shredded cheese.
Serving Suggestions
The dipping sauce can make or break your sliders. I’ll typically serve them with a side of homemade BBQ sauce to complement their savory depth, but ranch dressing is always a good option, too.
On game day, these sliders fit right in next to other comforting snacks, like soft pretzels, nachos, and chicken wings. When I’m serving them for dinner, I like to pair them with French fries to make it feel like we just went through the drive-thru (a high-end one at that).
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can assemble these sliders (right up to the point of baking) a few hours in advance. Cover the dish tightly with foil or plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.
How to Store: While these sliders are best served fresh from the oven, leftovers hold up surprisingly well in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.
How to Reheat: Reheat the sliders in a baking dish in the oven at 300°F until warmed through.
More Burger Recipes
- Smash Burger Recipe
- Fried Egg Burger
- Cowboy Burger Recipe
- Mushroom Swiss Burger
- Bacon Cheddar Burger
Cheeseburger Sliders Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds ground beef, 80/20
- 1 peeled and small diced yellow onion, about 1 to ½ cups diced
- 3 finely minced garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, optional
- ½ pound shredded American cheese
- 6 slices American cheese
- 1 pack of sweet Hawaiian rolls sliced in half, leaving the buns attached and together
- 1 large dill pickle cut into thin slices, optional
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- coarse salt and freshly cracked pepper
- aioli, ketchup, or mustard for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, no fan.
- Add the olive oil to a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Place in the ground beef, season well with salt and pepper, and break up while cooking and sauteing until all sides are well browned. Set to the side on a plate.
- Next, place in the onions, gently season with salt, and sauté over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to low and cook for 10 minutes or until they are browned and tender. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 to 45 seconds.
- Add the cooked beef back to the pan along with the Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, and half the shredded cheese, and mix to combine. The cheese should be completely melted in. Taste again and make sure everything is seasoned and delicious.
- Place the bottom part of the buns into a 13×9 casserole dish. Evenly spread out the 6 slices of cheese, completely covering the buns.
- Next, add the ground beef, cheese, and onion mixture over the top and spread it out to cover the cheese. Evenly sprinkle on the remaining shredded cheese and then spread out the sliced pickles. Add the top part of the buns.
- Place on the top buns. There should still be some leftover rendered fat in the pan from cooking the beef and onions. I like to use this to brush onto the top part of the buns. You can use melted butter if you’d like.
- Evenly sprinkle on the sesame seeds and carefully and gently cover the pan with aluminum foil.
- Bake covered on a middle rack for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes. The cheese should be melted, and the buns should be toasted but soft.
- Serve with optional dipping accompaniments and sauces.
Cheeseburger Sliders Recipe