These Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls are the easiest way to make burgers for a crowd without standing over the grill flipping individual patties. They’re made with juicy seasoned ground beef, melty American cheese, tangy pickles, burger sauce, shredded lettuce, soft Hawaiian rolls, and buttery sesame seed tops.
They taste like mini cheeseburgers, but they’re baked all together in one sheet-pan style recipe. Slice the rolls, bake the beef in one big rectangle, layer everything together, brush the tops with butter, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and bake until warm and melty.
These are perfect for summer BBQs, cookouts, birthday parties, game day, pool parties, potlucks, and easy weeknight dinners. They’re also a great kid-friendly recipe because everyone can grab a little slider and go back for seconds.
Why You’ll Love These Cheeseburger Sliders
These sliders are everything people love about cheeseburgers, but easier to serve for a group.
You’ll love them because:
- They’re made with Hawaiian rolls, so you do not have to shape individual slider buns.
- The beef bakes in one large rectangle, which makes assembly easy.
- They’re perfect for parties, cookouts, game day, and summer BBQs.
- They have classic cheeseburger flavor with beef, cheese, pickles, burger sauce, and lettuce.
- The buttery sesame seed topping makes them look and taste like real mini burgers.
- You can prep some of the ingredients ahead of time.
- They’re easy to customize with bacon, different cheese, extra pickles, or a spicy sauce.
Why Hawaiian Rolls Work So Well for Sliders
Hawaiian rolls are perfect for cheeseburger sliders because they’re soft, slightly sweet, and already connected in a sheet. That means you can slice the whole pack in half horizontally, layer the filling inside, and cut them into individual sliders after baking.
The sweetness of the rolls balances the savory beef, cheese, pickles, and burger sauce. When you brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle on sesame seeds, they bake up golden and taste like buttery mini burger buns.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Hawaiian rolls
Use one 12-count package of Hawaiian rolls. Keep the rolls connected and slice the whole slab in half horizontally so you have one top layer and one bottom layer.
Ground beef
I use 1 pound of ground beef for 12 sliders. Ground beef with a little fat, like 80/20 or 85/15, gives the best flavor. You can use leaner ground beef if you prefer, but the sliders may be slightly less juicy.
Seasonings
Garlic powder, salt, and black pepper keep the beef simple and flavorful. You can also add a little Worcestershire sauce if you want a deeper burger flavor.
Onion
Finely diced white onion adds classic cheeseburger flavor. You can bake it right with the beef or add it as a topping before the final bake.
American cheese
American cheese melts beautifully and gives these sliders that classic cheeseburger taste. Cheddar also works, but American cheese gives the best melty texture.
Pickles
Pickle slices add tang and crunch. Dill pickles work best.
Burger sauce
Use Big Mac sauce, burger sauce, special sauce, or your favorite burger spread. You can use store-bought sauce or make your own with mayo, ketchup, mustard, and relish.
Butter
Melted butter goes over the tops of the rolls before baking.
Sesame seeds
Sesame seeds make the sliders look like mini cheeseburgers and add a little texture to the buttery tops.
Shredded lettuce
Add shredded iceberg lettuce right before serving so it stays crisp and fresh.
How to Make Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
Place the ground beef on the prepared baking sheet and press it into a rectangle about the size of the Hawaiian rolls. Try to keep the thickness even so the beef cooks evenly.
Season the beef with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. If using Worcestershire sauce, sprinkle it over the beef before baking.
Bake the beef for about 10–12 minutes, or until it is fully cooked and reaches 160°F. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F for food safety.
While the beef cooks, slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally. Place the bottom half of the rolls on a baking sheet or in a baking dish.
Spread burger sauce over the bottom buns. This gives every bite that classic cheeseburger flavor.
Once the beef is cooked, carefully transfer it onto the bottom buns. Trim the edges if needed so it fits nicely.
Top the beef with American cheese slices, diced onion, and pickle slices.
Place the top half of the rolls over the sliders. Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Bake for another 5–8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tops are warm and lightly golden.
If using shredded lettuce, carefully lift the top buns after baking and add the lettuce right before serving. This keeps the lettuce crisp instead of wilted.
Slice into 12 sliders and serve warm.
The Secret to the Best Cheeseburger Sliders
The best cheeseburger sliders are all about layering.
Start with sauce on the bottom buns, then add the cooked beef, melty cheese, pickles, onions, buttery tops, and sesame seeds. Add lettuce at the end so it stays fresh.
A few tips:
- Press the beef into an even rectangle so it fits the rolls.
- Do not overbake the beef or it can dry out.
- Use American cheese for the best melt.
- Add the lettuce after baking, not before.
- Brush the tops with butter so they bake up golden.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds on top so they look like mini cheeseburgers.
- Serve extra burger sauce on the side for dipping.
How to Keep Cheeseburger Sliders from Getting Soggy
Soggy sliders usually happen when the beef is too greasy, the sauce is too heavy, or the sliders sit too long after assembling.
To avoid soggy buns:
- Drain off excess grease from the cooked beef before transferring it to the rolls.
- Do not use too much sauce.
- Add lettuce right before serving.
- Serve the sliders warm shortly after baking.
- Use cheese between the beef and buns to help create a little barrier.
Can I Make Cheeseburger Sliders Ahead of Time?
Yes, but I recommend prepping the components ahead instead of fully baking the assembled sliders too early.
You can:
- Cook the beef ahead of time.
- Dice the onions.
- Slice the rolls.
- Make or prepare the burger sauce.
- Melt the butter right before baking.
When you are ready to serve, assemble the sliders and bake until warm and melty.
If you fully assemble them too far in advance, the sauce and beef can make the rolls soft. If you need to assemble them ahead, keep the sauce light and wait to add lettuce until the end.
What to Serve with Cheeseburger Sliders
These cheeseburger sliders are perfect with classic cookout and party sides.
Serve them with:
- French fries
- Potato chips
- Pickles
- Pasta salad
- Potato salad
- Coleslaw
- Deviled eggs
- Corn on the cob
- Watermelon
- Macaroni salad
- Street corn pasta salad
- Buffalo chicken pasta salad
- Baked beans
- Fresh fruit
- Chips and dip
They’re also great as part of a summer BBQ spread with a cold pasta salad and an easy side dish.
Cheeseburger Sliders for a Summer BBQ
These sliders are perfect for summer BBQs because they give you all the flavor of burgers without needing to grill individual patties. You can bake the sliders inside, slice them up, and serve them on a platter with cold sides, pickles, chips, and pasta salad.
They’re especially helpful if you’re feeding kids or a crowd because everyone can grab one or two without needing a full burger.
Cheeseburger Sliders for Game Day
These are also a great game day recipe. They’re handheld, cheesy, easy to serve, and perfect with chips, pickles, fries, and dips.
Make a tray, slice them into individual sliders, and put extra burger sauce on the side for dipping.
Variations
Big Mac Cheeseburger Sliders
Use Big Mac sauce or special sauce, American cheese, diced onion, pickles, and shredded lettuce.
Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders
Add cooked crumbled bacon or bacon strips before adding the top buns.
BBQ Cheeseburger Sliders
Swap the burger sauce for BBQ sauce and use cheddar cheese.
Spicy Cheeseburger Sliders
Add jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, or spicy burger sauce.
Double Cheese Sliders
Use American cheese and cheddar for extra cheesy sliders.
Pickle Cheeseburger Sliders
Add extra pickle slices or chopped pickles for more tangy flavor.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftover cheeseburger sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
For best results, remove any lettuce before storing if possible. Lettuce can wilt when reheated.
How to Reheat Cheeseburger Sliders
Reheat sliders in the oven at 300°F until warmed through. Cover loosely with foil if the tops are browning too quickly.
You can also reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes, but watch closely so the rolls do not get too dark.
The microwave works for a quick reheat, but the rolls will be softer.
More Easy Party Recipes
If you need more easy recipes for cookouts, parties, and game day, try these next:
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
- Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Italian Grinder Sliders
- Mini Baked Brie Sliders
- Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs
- Summer Appetizers
- Summer Side Dishes
- 4th of July Appetizers
FAQs
What are cheeseburger sliders made of?
Cheeseburger sliders are made with Hawaiian rolls, ground beef, cheese, pickles, onions, burger sauce, butter, sesame seeds, and optional shredded lettuce.
Can I use Hawaiian rolls for cheeseburger sliders?
Yes. Hawaiian rolls are one of the best rolls for cheeseburger sliders because they are soft, slightly sweet, and easy to slice as one connected sheet.
Do I cook the beef before assembling the sliders?
Yes. For this recipe, the beef is pressed into a rectangle and baked first. Then it is layered onto the rolls with cheese, pickles, onions, and sauce.
What temperature should ground beef be cooked to?
Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F.
How do I keep cheeseburger sliders from getting soggy?
Drain excess grease from the beef, do not use too much sauce, and add lettuce after baking. You can also use cheese as a barrier between the beef and buns.
Can I make cheeseburger sliders ahead of time?
You can prep the beef, onions, sauce, and rolls ahead of time, but assemble and bake the sliders close to serving for the best texture.
Can I use cheddar instead of American cheese?
Yes. Cheddar works, but American cheese melts more smoothly and gives the sliders that classic cheeseburger flavor.
Can I add bacon?
Yes. Bacon is a great addition. Add cooked bacon before placing the top buns on the sliders.
Should I add lettuce before or after baking?
Add lettuce after baking so it stays crisp and fresh.
What sauce goes on cheeseburger sliders?
Big Mac sauce, burger sauce, special sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayo, or BBQ sauce all work well.
How many sliders does this recipe make?
One package of Hawaiian rolls makes 12 cheeseburger sliders.
Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 sliders 1x
Description
These Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls are easy baked party sliders made with seasoned ground beef, American cheese, pickles, burger sauce, buttery sesame seed rolls, and shredded lettuce. They’re perfect for summer BBQs, cookouts, game day, potlucks, birthday parties, and easy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 package Hawaiian rolls, 12 count
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 white onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup burger sauce, Big Mac sauce, or special sauce, plus more for serving
- 6–7 slices American cheese
- 10–15 dill pickle slices
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce, optional, added after baking
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
- Add the ground beef to the baking sheet and press it into a rectangle about the same size as the Hawaiian rolls.
- Season the beef with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce if using.
- Bake the beef for 10–12 minutes, or until fully cooked and the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- While the beef cooks, slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the rolls connected.
- Place the bottom half of the rolls on a baking sheet or in a baking dish.
- Spread burger sauce over the bottom buns.
- Carefully transfer the cooked beef onto the bottom buns. Trim the edges if needed.
- Top with American cheese slices, diced onion, and pickle slices.
- Place the top half of the rolls over the sliders.
- Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 5–8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tops are warm and lightly golden.
- If using shredded lettuce, carefully lift the top buns and add the lettuce after baking.
- Slice into 12 sliders and serve warm with extra burger sauce if desired.
Notes
Use American cheese for the best classic cheeseburger flavor and melt.
Add shredded lettuce after baking so it stays crisp.
If the beef releases a lot of grease, drain or blot it before transferring it to the rolls.
Do not overdo the sauce or the bottom buns can get soggy.
You can add bacon, jalapeños, cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce, or extra pickles.
To prep ahead, cook the beef and dice the onions in advance, then assemble and bake before serving.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat in a 300°F oven until warmed through.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: appetizer, dinner
- Method: baked
- Cuisine: American
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