Easy Cowboy Sliders

Cowboy Sliders are the ultimate party food, savory ground beef piled high with crispy bacon, melted cheddar, jalapeños, and crunchy fried onions, all tucked into buttery Hawaiian rolls and brushed with flavor-packed cowboy butter.

Love More Sliders? Try My BBQ chicken sliders or this Reuben Sliders next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Juicy and loaded with smoky, savory flavor in every bite. Stacked with seasoned beef, crispy bacon, melty cheese, and tangy toppings on soft rolls, they’re hearty and satisfying. Perfect for game day, cookouts, or casual family dinners, they’re always a crowd favorite.

Print

Ingredient List

Hamburger Mixture

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ½ yellow onion, diced (about ½ cup)
• ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1 tablespoon hamburger seasoning
• 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and sliced
• 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled (about 1 cup)
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup crispy fried onions
• 1 package (12 count) Hawaiian rolls

Cowboy Butter (for brushing)

• Compound butter made with herbs and spices (omit lemon juice for this recipe—use enough to generously brush rolls before and after baking)

Friendly Notes:

• You can use ground turkey or chicken if you prefer a leaner option.
• Swap sharp cheddar for pepper jack cheese if you want extra heat!
• No Hawaiian rolls? Slider buns or dinner rolls work great too.

Why These Ingredients Work

Ground beef gives you that classic burger flavor and hearty texture—it’s the star of the show!

Hawaiian rolls are soft, slightly sweet, and the perfect size for sliders. They soak up all that buttery goodness without falling apart.

Cowboy butter (a compound butter flavored with herbs and spices) adds richness and a flavor boost that takes these sliders from good to unforgettable. Brushing it on before AND after baking is the secret weapon.

Crispy fried onions add crunch and texture without making the sliders soggy like onion rings might.

Thick-cut bacon brings smokiness and heartiness—plus, who doesn’t love bacon?

Sharp cheddar cheese melts beautifully and has bold flavor that stands up to all the other toppings.

Jalapeños give a fresh, spicy kick that balances the richness. (And don’t worry—seeding them keeps the heat manageable!)

Essential Tools and Equipment

• Large skillet
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• 7×11-inch baking dish (or similar size)
• Aluminum foil
• Pastry brush (for cowboy butter)
• Sharp knife (for slicing sliders)

How To Make Cowboy Sliders

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 7×11-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the vegetable oil. Add the diced onion and minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant and softened.

Step 3: Cook the Beef

Add the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and hamburger seasoning to the skillet. Cook for about 8–10 minutes, breaking the beef up with a spoon, until it’s fully browned and no longer pink. Drain any excess grease if needed.

Step 4: Prepare the Rolls

Split the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally (keep them connected as one big sheet—don’t separate them yet!). Place the bottom halves in your prepared baking dish.

Step 5: Brush with Cowboy Butter

Pour about 2 tablespoons of prepared cowboy butter over the bottom halves of the rolls, spreading it evenly. This creates a flavorful base and keeps the rolls moist!

Step 6: Layer the Beef

Spread the cooked ground beef mixture evenly over the buttered bottom buns, covering them completely.

Step 7: Add the Toppings

Layer on the sliced jalapeño, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and crispy fried onions over the beef. Don’t be shy—pile it on!

Step 8: Top and Butter Again

Place the top halves of the rolls over the assembled sliders. Brush the tops generously with more cowboy butter—this is what gives them that golden, flavorful crust!

Step 9: Bake Covered

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and everything is hot and bubbly.

Step 10: Finish Uncovered

Remove the foil and bake for another 3–5 minutes, until the tops turn golden brown and slightly crispy.

Step 11: Slice and Serve

Remove from the oven, slice into individual sliders using a sharp knife, and serve immediately. Don’t forget extra cowboy butter on the side for dipping!

You Must Know

• The cowboy butter is KEY! Don’t skip it—it’s what makes these sliders truly special. Brush it on generously before baking AND after for maximum flavor.
• Keep the rolls connected when assembling. It makes the whole process easier and ensures even cooking.
• Drain the beef well so your sliders don’t get soggy.

Personal Secret: I always cook my bacon in the oven on a sheet pan at 400°F for about 15–20 minutes. It comes out perfectly crispy every time, and cleanup is a breeze!

Pro Tips & Cooking Hacks

• Cook the bacon ahead of time and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to make the sliders, just crumble and go!
• Use a box grater to shred your own cheddar cheese—it melts SO much better than pre-shredded.
• Don’t overbake the sliders uncovered, or the tops can get too hard. You want them golden, not crunchy!
• Let them rest for 2–3 minutes after baking before slicing. This helps everything set and makes cutting cleaner.

Flavor Variations / Suggestions

• Spicy Cowboy Sliders: Use pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar and leave some seeds in the jalapeños for extra heat.
• BBQ Cowboy Sliders: Mix 2–3 tablespoons of your favorite BBQ sauce into the cooked beef for a tangy twist.
• Mushroom & Swiss: Skip the jalapeños and cheddar, and use sautéed mushrooms and Swiss cheese instead.
• Breakfast Cowboy Sliders: Use breakfast sausage instead of ground beef and top with scrambled eggs and cheese!

Make-Ahead Options

You can assemble these sliders completely (through Step 8) and cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours, then bake as directed when you’re ready to serve. You may need to add 5 extra minutes to the covered baking time if they’re going in cold from the fridge.

You can also cook the beef mixture up to 2 days ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to assemble, just reheat it slightly and proceed with the recipe!

Recipe Notes & Baker’s Tips

• Hawaiian rolls are the best choice for these because they’re soft, slightly sweet, and hold up well to all the toppings without getting soggy.
• If you can’t find hamburger seasoning, just use extra seasoned salt or your favorite all-purpose seasoning blend.
• Cowboy butter is typically made with butter, garlic, herbs (like parsley, chives, thyme), paprika, red pepper flakes, and sometimes Dijon mustard. For this recipe, skip the lemon juice so it doesn’t make the rolls soggy.
• These sliders are best served fresh and hot, but leftovers can be reheated!

Serving Suggestions

Serve these Cowboy Sliders with:

• French fries or sweet potato fries
• Coleslaw for a cool, crunchy contrast
• Pickles or pickle spears on the side
• Chips and dip (because who can resist?)
• A cold drink—iced tea, lemonade, or your favorite beverage

Garnish with extra jalapeños, a drizzle of ranch or BBQ sauce, or a sprinkle of fresh herbs if you’re feeling fancy!

How to Store Your Cowboy Sliders

Room Temperature: These are best enjoyed fresh and hot, but they can sit out at room temperature for up to 2 hours.

Refrigerator: Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheating: Reheat in a 300°F oven covered with foil for about 10–15 minutes, until warmed through. You can also microwave individual sliders for 30–45 seconds, but the oven keeps them crispier!

Freezer: You can freeze assembled but unbaked sliders. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding 10–15 extra minutes to the covered baking time.

Allergy Information

Common Allergens:

• Gluten (Hawaiian rolls)
• Dairy (butter, cheese)
• Soy (may be in Worcestershire sauce)

Substitution Suggestions:

• Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free slider buns or rolls
• Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free butter and cheese alternatives
• Lower-Fat: Use lean ground turkey and reduce the butter

Questions I Get Asked A Lot

Can I use a different type of cheese?

Absolutely! Pepper jack adds spice, Monterey Jack is mild and creamy, or try a cheese blend. Just make sure it’s a good melting cheese!

My rolls got soggy—what happened?

This usually means there was too much grease left in the beef or too much butter used. Make sure to drain the beef well, and don’t go overboard with the cowboy butter (generous is good, but swimming in it is too much!).

Can I make these without jalapeños?

Of course! Just leave them out if you don’t like spice. You could add sliced pickles or roasted red peppers instead for extra flavor.

What exactly is hamburger seasoning?

It’s a blend of spices typically including salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and sometimes paprika. You can use any all-purpose seasoning or taco seasoning as a substitute!

Can I grill these instead of baking them?

You can grill the beef and bacon, then assemble the sliders and wrap them in foil to warm on the grill for about 10 minutes. Just be careful the bottoms don’t burn!

💬 Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below! I’d love to hear how your Cowboy Sliders turned out and what toppings you used!