Cheeseburger Sliders

These cheeseburger sliders are easy to make, great for sharing, make-ahead friendly, and a crowd-favorite. Whip these up in less than 30 min!

Ingredients · Servings 12

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 lb lean ground beef or ground turkey
1/4 cup finely diced yellow onion
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
1 (12-count) package KING’S HAWAIIAN Original Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls
6 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 1/2 cups, divided)
1/2 cup chopped dill pickle chips
1 egg white (beaten)
1 1/2 teaspoons sesame seeds
Burger sauce

Method · 30 min

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until beef has browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks. Add onion and Worcestershire sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 2-3 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Lightly oil a baking dish or coat with nonstick spray. Place bottom half of dinner rolls onto the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with half the cheese, about 3/4 cup.
Top with ground beef in an even layer, pressing lightly. Sprinkle with pickles and remaining cheese.
Place top half of dinner rolls, cut-side down, on top. Brush tops of dinner rolls with egg white; sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Place into oven and bake until golden brown and the cheese has melted, about 12-14 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.
Serve warm with burger sauce.

why you’ll love cheeseburger sliders

Great for a crowd. Whether it’s a casual dinner with friends and family, game day, or a speedy weeknight dinner, these sliders are easy to share and perfect for feeding a big crowd. It also makes for the best kind of finger food!
Less work, less mess. You can bake an entire tray of sliders in less than 30 minutes, browning the ground beef all at once instead of forming and grilling individual patties.
Make ahead of time. This is a convenient recipe to make ahead of time, cooking the ground beef mixture 1 day in advance, and cutting down prep time even further for those busy weeknights.
Budget-friendly. These sliders are incredibly budget-friendly, stretching affordable ingredients, such as ground beef and pull-apart dinner rolls, to feed a large group.

What are cheeseburger sliders?

Cheeseburger sliders are essentially mini hamburgers baked together in a large batch using pull-apart dinner rolls, such as Hawaiian rolls. They are popular for entertaining (as finger food or a game day appetizer) and quick make-ahead weeknight dinners.

Dinner rolls

King’s Hawaiian or Trader Joe’s Sweet Pull Apart Aloha Rolls (both excellent options as their sweet flavors complement the savory meat so well)

Ground beef

Lean ground beef (90/1o or 85/15) or ground turkey.

Onion

Finely diced yellow onion (added after the meat is crumbled for a little more bite and texture)

Seasonings

Cheese

Pickles

Dill pickle chips or bread & butter chips (for a sweeter flavor)

Sesame seeds

For texture and a classic burger look.

Sauce

Burger sauce (mayonnaise, ketchup, dill pickle relish, and Dijon mustard) for serving.

How to make cheeseburger sliders

Make the burger sauce. Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, dill pickle relish, and Dijon. This can be made 3-5 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. The longer it sits, the better, really letting the flavors come together.
Crumble the beef. Add the ground beef to a large cast iron skillet with some oil and crumble until the meat is fully browned, draining off any excess fat and grease, if needed. Then stir in the onion and Worcestershire sauce until the onions are tender.
Prep the baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a baking dish with nonstick spray.
Assemble the sliders. Place the bottom half of the dinner rolls, cut-side up, in the greased baking dish. Sprinkle with half the cheese. Top with the beef mixture in an even layer, pressing down lightly. Sprinkle with chopped dill pickle chips and remaining cheese. Place the top half of the dinner rolls, cut-side down, on top. Brush the tops with the egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Bake. Bake until golden brown and toasted, about 12-14 minutes.
Serve. Let stand 5 minutes and serve warm with burger sauce.

variations and substitutions

Ground turkey: substitute the lean ground beef for ground turkey.
Caramelized onions: substitute the sautéed onions (with the ground beef) for caramelized onions instead, layering on top of the ground beef when assembling.
Bacon: add diced crispy bacon on top of the ground beef when assembling.
Pepper Jack cheese: swap out the cheddar cheese for Pepper Jack for a spicy kick, or mix with Monterey Jack for milder flavors.
Dipping sauces: serve with burger sauce, BBQ sauce, garlic aioli, honey mustard, or Ranch.

What meat is best here?

Use lean ground beef (90/10) to prevent soggy buns and to avoid excess grease in the pan.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! The ground beef mixture can be cooked 1 day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge, whereas the burger sauce can be made 3-5 days in advance and also stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

What is the appropriate serving size?

Plan for 1-2 sliders per person as a party appetizer and about 3 sliders per person as a main dish.

How can I store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, reheating in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.

1 (12-count) package KING’S HAWAIIAN Original Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls, halved lengthwise