A couple summers ago, I made these sliders for a family backyard BBQ—and they were gone before I could even sit down! Inspired by I Am Homesteader’s cowboy sliders, I added a few twists of my own: homemade sourdough slider buns, a smoky cowboy butter sauce, and grass-fed ground beef.
Whether you’re looking for a game day appetizer, a weeknight dinner win, or the ultimate potluck hero, these cowboy burgers will deliver every time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Sliders:
- 1 recipe of homemade sourdough slider buns
- 2 lbs ground beef (grass-fed and finished recommended)
- 6 oz uncured bacon
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Camp Mix seasoning (or your favorite all-purpose blend)
- 1 tbsp reserved bacon fat
For the Cowboy Butter:
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
Toppings:
- Sliced jalapeños (fresh or pickled, to taste)
- 1 generous cup freshly grated grass-fed cheddar (I love Kerrygold)
How to Make This Cowboy Burger Recipe Step-by-Step
1. Cook the Bacon
Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Remove and crumble once cooled. Set aside. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon fat for later.
2. Brown the Beef
Clean the skillet and add the reserved bacon fat. Sauté the diced onion and garlic over medium heat for 1–2 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and fully cooked through. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and seasoning. Drain any excess fat.
3. Preheat the Oven
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).
4. Make the Cowboy Butter
In a bowl, mix the softened butter with chives, parsley, Dijon, garlic, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring in between, until fully melted.
5. Assemble the Sliders
Slice your sourdough slider buns in half. Place the bottom halves in a greased 9×13 baking dish.
Layer as follows:
- Brush or spoon on half the cowboy butter
- Add all the cooked beef
- Scatter jalapeños over the beef
- Sprinkle with crumbled bacon
- Top with shredded cheddar
- Place bun tops on
- Pour the remaining cowboy butter evenly over the top
6. Bake
Cover with foil and bake for 15–20 minutes, until cheese is melted and everything is hot. Uncover and bake for another 5 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
Tips & Variations
- Make it spicy: Use pepper jack cheese or add a splash of hot sauce to the cowboy butter.
- Skip the jalapeños: Leave them off if you’re serving kids or spice-sensitive guests.
- Use store-bought buns: In a pinch, Hawaiian rolls or brioche slider buns work too.
- Prep ahead: Assemble everything a day in advance and bake when ready to serve.
- Freezer tip: Freeze unbaked sliders wrapped in foil for up to 1 month. Bake from frozen (add 10–15 min to bake time).
Serving Suggestions
These cowboy burger sliders pair perfectly with:
They’re also great alongside coleslaw, corn on the cob, or even a fresh fruit salad for summer cookouts.
Inspired by I Am Homesteader
This recipe is based on I Am Homesteader’s Cowboy Sliders, but I added my own spin with sourdough buns, real-food ingredients, and cowboy butter magic.
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Save This Cowboy Burger Recipe
📌 Pin this to your Sliders, Game Day, or Burger Recipes board so you’ll have it ready next time you’re planning a crowd-pleasing meal!
Cowboy Burger Sliders with Homemade Sourdough Buns
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 sliders 1x
Description
These cowboy burger sliders are the ultimate crowd-pleaser—made with juicy grass-fed beef, crispy bacon, jalapeños, cheddar, and drizzled with smoky cowboy butter. Baked on homemade sourdough slider buns, they’re perfect for game day, potlucks, or easy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
For the Sliders:
-
1 recipe homemade sourdough slider buns
-
2 lbs ground beef (grass-fed and finished recommended)
-
6 oz uncured bacon
-
1/2 onion, diced
-
1 clove garlic, minced
-
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
-
1 tsp Camp Mix seasoning (or your favorite all-purpose blend)
-
1 tbsp reserved bacon fat
Cowboy Butter:
-
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
-
1 tbsp fresh chives, minced
-
1 tbsp fresh parsley, minced
-
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
-
1/4 tsp sea salt
-
1/4 tsp black pepper
-
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
Toppings:
-
Sliced jalapeños (to taste)
-
1 cup freshly shredded grass-fed cheddar cheese (such as Kerrygold)
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
-
Cook the Bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and crumble when cool. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat.
-
Cook the Beef: In the same skillet, add reserved bacon fat. Sauté onion and garlic for 1–2 minutes. Add ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, and Camp Mix seasoning. Cook until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
-
Preheat Oven: Set oven to 350°F (175°C).
-
Make Cowboy Butter: In a bowl, mix softened butter, chives, parsley, Dijon, garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Microwave in 15-second intervals until melted, stirring between.
-
Assemble Sliders: Slice slider buns in half. Place bottom buns in a greased 9×13 pan. Brush or spoon on half the cowboy butter. Layer with cooked beef, jalapeños, crumbled bacon, and cheddar cheese. Add top buns and pour remaining cowboy butter on top.
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Bake: Cover with foil and bake 15–20 minutes until hot and melty. Remove foil and bake another 5 minutes, or until tops are golden brown.
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Serve: Slice and serve warm!
Notes
-
Make ahead: Assemble fully and refrigerate up to 1 day before baking.
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Freezer-friendly: Assemble and freeze before baking. Bake from frozen, adding 10–15 minutes to cook time.
-
Bun options: Sourdough is best, but brioche or Hawaiian rolls also work.
-
Heat level: Adjust jalapeños and red pepper flakes to your spice preference.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 25
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