No need to play short-order cook to make these cheeseburger sliders for a crowd! This burger recipe has a genius trick that lets you skip forming individual patties and lots of flipping. Instead, the ground meat is cooked on the stovetop and layered onto small dinner rolls. It's just like sloppy joes, but with all the flavors of your classic cheeseburger. Keep the toppings simple (we love to pile them high with pickles!) or put your own spin on them. These juicy, cheesy, appetizer-sized burgers would be the perfect game day recipe for the Super Bowl, but they're just as delicious for an easy weeknight dinner. Any crowd will go wild for 'em!
What makes a burger a slider?
If you want to turn a classic burger into a slider, all you need to do is make a smaller portion size. Some theories suggest that the term slider originated in the 1940s when sailors in the U.S. Navy suggested their greasiness caused them to slide down easily. Others say it was fast food chain White Castle that first began referring to their small, steamed burgers as sliders. No matter where the term came from, these days, sliders can be any mini-sized sandwich, from classic cheeseburger sliders to other creative party foods, like melty ham and cheese sliders, BBQ sliders, and mini meatball sliders.
Can you make cheeseburger sliders ahead of time?
You can certainly make each component ahead of time, then assemble the sliders just before baking. Cook the beef mixture, shred the cheese, and stir together the burger sauce hours (or even a day) ahead and refrigerate. Then, just put the sliders together and bake.This method will ensure no soggy sliders!
What do you recommend asvariations on cheeseburger sliders?
Try potato or sweet Hawaiian rolls in place of the seasoned rolls, or sub another melty cheese like American for the cheddar. Not a fan of pickles? Top with diced tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, or pickled jalapeño, instead. Looking to take these sliders over the top? Add crisp, crumbled bacon,onion strings, or your favorite fry sauce. The options are endless!
What size are cheeseburger sliders?
This all depends on the size of the roll! This recipe uses just over a pound of ground beef (1.25 pounds to be exact) and makes 12 sliders. Plan on using about 1.5 to 2 ounces of meat per slider if you have a pound of meat.
How many sliders are needed per person?
The more, the merrier! Determining how many sliders to make per person is a common conundrum that depends on your family's appetite. This recipe feeds a crowd, so it's perfect for serving as an appetizer at parties, but you can also plate up two to three sliders per person with a side salad for a fun weeknight dinner.
What is the special sauce?
The secret sauce on your favorite takeout burger really isn't much of a secret: It's traditionally a combo of ketchup, mayo, and sweet pickle relish. Here, we swap the relish for a crunchy pickle topper and add mustard to the sauce—another must-have burger condiment.
What type of beef should you use for sliders?
Even though sliders may have had a reputation of being a bit greasy, you'll want to stick to lean ground sirloin with about 10% fat here. Since the meat isn't being cooked as individualpatties, it won't dry out or overcook. The Worcestershire sauce will up the savory flavor and also keep the mixture moist.
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- Yields:
- 4 - 6 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 10 mins
- Total Time:
- 40 mins
Ingredients
- 16 oz.
package dinner rolls
- 1 Tbsp.
vegetable oil
- 1/2
yellow onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 1/4 lb.
ground sirloin (90/10)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp.
Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp.
kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp.
ground black pepper
- 1/4 c.
mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp.
ketchup
- 1 Tbsp.
mustard
- 8 oz.
shredded cheddar-jack cheese, divided
- 1/2 c.
dill pickle slices
- 2 Tbsp.
olive oil
- 1 Tbsp.
everything bagel seasoning
Directions
- Step1Preheat the broiler. Remove the rolls from the packaging in one piece. Using a serrated knife, cut crosswise through all of the rolls at once to divide the top half from the bottom (keeping the sides of the rolls intact). Place both halves cut-side up on a sheet tray and broil for 2 minutes until lightly toasted. (If using slider rolls, separate the tops from the bottoms and place cut-side up on the sheet tray, sides touching; broil as instructed). Set aside.
- Step2In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until just slightly softened, 3 minutes. Add the ground sirloin and cook, breaking up into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, and stir well to combine. Cook until the beef is no longer pink and the liquid from the pan has almost fully evaporated, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Step3Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, combinethe mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard.
- Step4Spread the cut sides of the rolls with the mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkle with half of the cheese in an even layer. Layer the meat mixture over the cheese, then top with the remaining cheese and the pickles. Cover with the top half of the rolls.
- Step5Brush the tops of the rolls all over with the olive oil and sprinkle with the everything bagel seasoning. Bake until the cheese is melty and the tops of the rolls are golden and toasted, 10 to 12 minutes. Pull sliders apart and serve warm.
Tip: If you don't have everything bagel seasoning, use sesame seeds instead or mix 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt into the olive oil before brushing on the rolls.
Recipe byErin Merhar
Erin Merhar is the Food Director at ThePioneerWoman.com. She oversees the site's test kitchen, recipes, photography and video programs. She is a professional chef and food stylist, with a deep passion for pizza.
