Enjoy savory BBQ cheeseburger sliders made with seasoned beef, melted pepper jack and colby jack cheeses, and smoky bacon bits. Everything is layered inside sweet, pillowy Hawaiian rolls and topped with crispy fried onions for an irresistible crunch. Melted butter and sesame seeds add a finishing touch before baking to golden perfection. This dish is simple to assemble and perfect for sharing—great for weeknight dinners or gatherings where bold flavors and easy preparation are a must. Serve these warm for the ultimate comforting, handheld bite.
BBQ cheeseburger sliders have become my go-to dish for casual gatherings or when I need something quick that absolutely everyone enjoys. Their sweet and savory flavors, cheesy filling, and that perfect crispy onion bite make these little burgers an instant hit with adults and kids alike. Best of all, you only need one pan and a handful of ingredients.
The first time I made these on a rushed weeknight my whole family stopped what they were doing to come to the kitchen – the smell alone made them hungry and excited to dig in.
Ingredients
- King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls: provide a soft sweet base and toast up with a slight crunch choose a fresh pack for best flavor
- Ground beef: delivers classic cheeseburger flavor with juicy texture aim for eighty or eighty five percent lean for best results
- Salt and pepper: balance flavors while garlic powder onion powder and smoked paprika add depth check expiration dates for maximum potency
- Minced garlic: brings extra punch fresh garlic is best for bold flavor
- BBQ sauce: ties everything together with tangy smoky sweetness try to choose a real hickory smoked variety
- Pepper jack cheese slices: melt easily and add a mild kick look for slices with visible pepper bits
- Shredded colby jack cheese: adds an ooey gooey layer and blends perfectly with BBQ beef buy a block and shred for best melt
- Crispy fried onions: bring crunchy texture and sweet savory notes use store bought for convenience
- Bacon: crumbled over the top delivers rich smoky flavor use thick cut and bake for easy cleanup
- Melted butter: brushed on the tops gives sliders golden color and richness
- Sesame seeds: add a little extra crunch and classic burger style toast lightly if you can for even more aroma
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Bacon:
- Lay bacon slices on a lined baking sheet and bake at four hundred degrees Fahrenheit for about twenty five minutes until deeply crisp. Drain on paper towels then crumble once cool. This step fills the kitchen with a delicious smoky aroma.
- Brown the Ground Beef:
- Add ground beef to a skillet over medium high heat break it up gently as it cooks. Sprinkle in salt pepper garlic powder onion powder and smoked paprika. Cook until browned and crumbled about eight to ten minutes for flavor development. Drain off any extra grease carefully for a less greasy slider.
- Add Garlic and Sauces:
- Stir in minced garlic and continue cooking for one minute until fragrant then add the barbecue sauce. Mix well so every bit of beef is coated and glistening with sweet smoky flavor.
- Prepare the Slider Rolls:
- Take the King’s Hawaiian rolls and carefully slice them horizontally into tops and bottoms. Place the bottom halves snugly into a greased baking dish or on a lined sheet pan so they fit together closely.
- Build the Cheese Layer:
- Arrange pepper jack cheese slices evenly over the bottom layer of rolls making sure every slider will get some stretch and flavor.
- Layer with Beef and Toppings:
- Spoon all of the BBQ beef mixture right on top spreading it to every edge. Sprinkle shredded colby jack cheese so it melts into all the corners. Scatter the crumbled bacon and crispy fried onions for that ultimate crunch and extra flavor. You can drizzle a little more BBQ sauce here if you like it saucier.
- Add Roll Tops and Finish:
- Position the tops of the rolls over the filling pressing down gently. Brush melted butter over every roll so they glisten and bake up golden. Sprinkle with sesame seeds for the classic burger finish.
- Bake to Perfection:
- Bake at three hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit for about ten to fifteen minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and the tops are a deep golden brown. Slice along the seams and serve right away for maximum gooeyness.
