Description
Cowboy Sliders are packed with seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon, melted sharp cheddar cheese, jalapeños, and crunchy fried onions, all on soft Hawaiian rolls brushed with flavorful cowboy butter. Baked to golden perfection, they’re the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer or main dish for parties, game day, or family dinners!
Ingredients
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)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 7×11-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Spread the cooked ground beef mixture evenly over the buttered bottom buns, covering them completely.
Layer on the sliced jalapeño, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and crispy fried onions over the beef. Don’t be shy—pile it on!
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!
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and everything is hot and bubbly.
Remove the foil and bake for another 3–5 minutes, until the tops turn golden brown and slightly crispy.
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!
Notes
- 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.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American