Buttery Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders

These bacon cheeseburger sliders are the ultimate comfort food packed into soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls with a garlicky buttery glaze. Every bite brings together savory ground beef, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and a touch of sweetness from the brown sugar glaze that bakes right into the top. They quickly became a family favorite for easy weeknight dinners or crowd-pleasing appetizers at gatherings. The mix of textures and flavors always gets everyone reaching for more.

I first made these sliders when I was short on time and needed something everyone would eat without fuss. Since then they’ve become a regular request at family dinners and parties.

Ingredients

• Hawaiian slider rolls: these soft, slightly sweet rolls hold the filling beautifully and balance the savory beef
• Lean ground beef: choose 80/20 or leaner for a juicy but less greasy slider
• Bacon: cooked and crumbled adds smoky richness that pairs perfectly with the beef
• Sharp cheddar cheese: shredded and sliced brings both creaminess and sharp flavor to each bite
• Salt pepper and dry mustard: for essential seasoning and a subtle mustard tang
• Butter brown sugar Italian seasoning and granulated garlic: for a buttery, sweet, and aromatic glaze that makes the rolls irresistible

Instructions

Slice the Rolls:

Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally but keep the whole cluster attached so you can prepare and bake the sliders together. Line a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with foil for easy cleanup. Preheat your oven to three fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Toasting the bottom half of the rolls is optional but adds nice texture if you have a few extra minutes.

Cook the Bacon:

In a skillet cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess fat then crumble or chop into bite sized pieces.

Brown the Ground Beef:

Using the same skillet with some of the bacon drippings cook the ground beef over medium high heat until it loses its pink color. Drain off excess grease carefully.

Season and Add Cheese:

Lower the heat to low and season the beef with salt, pepper, and dry mustard. Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and cook just until the cheese softens but does not fully melt. This adds a lovely creamy texture.

Assemble the Sliders:

Spread the beef mixture evenly over the bottom half of the slider rolls. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon across the beef. Layer slices of sharp cheddar cheese on top and replace the top half of the rolls.

Make and Apply the Glaze:

Melt the butter and stir in the brown sugar, Italian seasoning, and granulated garlic until fully combined. Spoon or brush this glaze generously over the top of the assembled sliders ensuring the tops are mostly coated.

Bake:

Place the sliders in the preheated oven and bake for ten to fifteen minutes until the cheese melts and the tops turn lightly golden brown.

Serve:

Use a serrated knife to carefully cut the sliders apart for a neat presentation or simply pull them apart to serve. Enjoy warm for the best flavor and texture.

The buttery, sweet glaze is what really lifts these sliders beyond typical cheeseburgers. I always look forward to that moment when the brown sugar caramelizes slightly and the garlic and Italian seasoning perfume the kitchen. It reminds me of casual weekend parties where these sliders were the star, always disappearing faster than expected.

Storage Tips

Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat gently covered in the oven or microwave to keep the bread soft but the cheese melty. For longer storage, freeze sliders before baking and then bake straight from frozen adding a few extra minutes.

Ingredient Substitutions

Try pretzel slider buns for a savory twist if you want to swap out the Hawaiian rolls. Use smoked gouda or pepper jack instead of cheddar for different flavor profiles. If you do not have dry mustard, Dijon mustard mixed in at the end of seasoning can add a similar tang.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these sliders with a simple side salad or crispy oven fries for a classic meal. They also work beautifully as party finger food alongside pickles, coleslaw, and a tangy dipping sauce like a garlic aioli or burger sauce.

Don’t be shy with the glaze it makes the sliders irresistible and glossy after baking. Enjoy warm for the best flavor and texture.

Common Recipe Questions

→ What type of rolls work best for these sliders?

Soft Hawaiian slider rolls are ideal due to their slight sweetness and size, which complements the savory fillings perfectly.

→ How do you prepare the ground beef for the sliders?

The beef is cooked in bacon drippings, seasoned with salt, pepper, and dry mustard, then mixed with shredded cheddar cheese before assembling.

→ Can I use precooked bacon instead of frying it fresh?

Precooked bacon can be used for convenience, but frying fresh bacon and cooking the beef in the drippings adds extra flavor.

→ What ingredients make up the buttery glaze?

The glaze combines melted butter, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, and granulated garlic, which is brushed over the rolls before baking.

→ How long should the sliders be baked?

Bake at 350°F for about 10 to 15 minutes until the tops are lightly browned and the cheese is melted.