I still remember the first time I styled a tray of Hamburger Sliders Hawaiian Rolls for a weekend brunch shoot, the glossy golden tops catching morning light as neighbors wandered over, the scene made me fall for these soft sweet rolls all over again.
Why You’ll Love It
These sliders are a perfect merge of sweet and savory, a recipe that photographs beautifully and feeds a crowd without fuss, ideal for casual gatherings, game day or an easy weeknight when you want something that feels special but comes together quickly.
Serves 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes |
Cook Time: 12 minutes |
Total Time: 32 minutes
Ingredients
- 12 Hawaiian slider rolls, split horizontally as a single sheet
- 1 pound lean ground beef (85% lean)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 6 slices sharp cheddar cheese, halved (12 small pieces)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 small dill pickle, sliced into thin rounds (about 12 slices)
- Fresh parsley sprigs for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F 175°C and line a baking sheet with parchment if cooking patties separately, keep rolls together as one sheet on a separate baking sheet.
- In a bowl combine ground beef, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce, mix gently until just combined, avoid overworking the meat.
- Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions and press each into a thin 2 inch patty, they should be slightly wider than the rolls so they fit when cooked.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium high heat, add a touch of oil if needed and cook patties 2 to 3 minutes per side until nicely browned and cooked through, finish with a quick rest on a plate.
- Arrange the bottom half of the sheet of Hawaiian rolls on a baking sheet, place each cooked patty on a roll bottom, top each with half a cheddar slice, then place the top half of the roll sheet over the patties.
- In a small bowl whisk melted butter, Dijon and honey, brush the mixture evenly over the top of the roll sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and the tops are glossy, if you like a bit more color broil for 1 minute watching closely.
- Remove from oven, let rest 2 minutes, slice between sliders to separate, garnish with pickle slices and parsley and serve warm.
Recipe Variations
- Classic Beef and Caramelized Onions: add a layer of thinly sliced caramelized onions under the cheese for a sweet savory boost and swap Dijon honey butter for plain melted butter.
- Spicy BBQ Sliders: mix 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce into the beef, brush tops with a mix of butter and smoked paprika, serve with pickled jalapenos.
- Turkey and Avocado: substitute 1 pound ground turkey and top with a thin slice of avocado instead of cheddar for a lighter twist.
- Vegetarian Black Bean Sliders: use smashed black beans seasoned with cumin and chili powder shaped into 12 patties, cook similarly and top with pepper jack or a tomato slice.
Make Ahead: You can form the patties up to 24 hours ahead and store them covered in the refrigerator, fully cooked patties can be refrigerated for 2 days or frozen up to 1 month, assemble the sliders and bake from chilled for 12 to 15 minutes or from frozen add extra bake time until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use store bought preformed mini patties instead of shaping my own
Yes swap in 12 preformed mini patties and cook according to package directions, assembly and baking steps remain the same
Will these sliders hold up if I prepare them for a party buffet
Yes they hold well kept in a low oven set to 200°F 95°C for a short period, cover loosely with foil to prevent drying
Can I freeze assembled sliders before baking
You can assemble the sliders, wrap tightly and freeze up to one month, bake from frozen adding 10 to 15 minutes to the baking time until heated through
What is the best cheese to use for melting and flavor balance with sweet rolls
Sharp cheddar melts nicely and balances the sweet roll, Swiss or pepper jack are also great options depending on the flavor profile you want
Hamburger Sliders Hawaiian Rolls
These sliders are a perfect merge of sweet and savory, a recipe that photographs beautifully and feeds a crowd without fuss, ideal for casual gatherings, game day or an easy weeknight when you want something that feels special but comes together quickly.
Ingredients
- 12 Hawaiian slider rolls, split horizontally as a single sheet
- 1 pound lean ground beef (85% lean)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 6 slices sharp cheddar cheese, halved (12 small pieces)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 small dill pickle, sliced into thin rounds (about 12 slices)
- Fresh parsley sprigs for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F 175°C and line a baking sheet with parchment if cooking patties separately, keep rolls together as one sheet on a separate baking sheet.
- In a bowl combine ground beef, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce, mix gently until just combined, avoid overworking the meat.
- Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions and press each into a thin 2 inch patty, they should be slightly wider than the rolls so they fit when cooked.
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium high heat, add a touch of oil if needed and cook patties 2 to 3 minutes per side until nicely browned and cooked through, finish with a quick rest on a plate.
- Arrange the bottom half of the sheet of Hawaiian rolls on a baking sheet, place each cooked patty on a roll bottom, top each with half a cheddar slice, then place the top half of the roll sheet over the patties.
- In a small bowl whisk melted butter, Dijon and honey, brush the mixture evenly over the top of the roll sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and the tops are glossy, if you like a bit more color broil for 1 minute watching closely.
- Remove from oven, let rest 2 minutes, slice between sliders to separate, garnish with pickle slices and parsley and serve warm.
Conclusion
These Hawaiian roll hamburger sliders are one of those recipes that look effortless and thoughtful at the same time, they photograph beautifully, feed a crowd with minimal fuss and are endlessly adaptable, so feel encouraged to try the classic version first and then play with sauces, cheeses and toppings to match your event, the soft sweet rolls make every bite a little more memorable and they are forgiving enough for any home baker to succeed.
