These Hawaiian Roll Burger Sliders are sure to become one of your go-to recipes! Juicy smash burgers, melty cheese, caramelized onions, and tangy smash burger sauce come together in soft Hawaiian rolls. Perfect for parties or a comforting meal, get ready to savor every bite!

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Whether you're looking for a mouthwatering appetizer or a satisfying main dish, these smash burger sliders have you covered.
These sliders feature juicy smash burgers, melted Colby Jack cheese, and sweet balsamic caramelized onions, all topped with our smash burger sauce and tucked into soft Hawaiian rolls with a butter topping.
Perfectly cooked on a griddle or Blackstone, these sliders will elevate your game day spread, be a hit at any holiday gathering, and leave your guests craving more (so be sure to make enough or serve with our Warm Corn Dip)!
Ingredients
- ground beef
- salt and pepper
- butter - for oiling the pan, you could use olive oil if you prefer
- Hawaiian rolls
- Colby jack cheese - you can substitute your favorite cheese
- burger sauce
- caramelized onions
For the butter topping:
- butter
- Worcestershire sauce
- dried minced onion, dried minced garlic
- sesame seeds
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make smash burgers
- Divide the ground beef into 8 even balls, approximately 3 ounces each. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Hint: Loosely roll the beef into balls (do not pack tightly) so they are easier to smash.
- On a large skillet or griddle, melt 1 tablespoon butter at medium-high. Place a small square of parchment paper over a ball of ground beef and put it on the hot griddle. Use a bacon press or the bottom of a small pan to press the ball into a thin patty.
- Cook for 1 minute, flip, and cook until the edges are crispy about 2-3 minutes total). Set to the side and continue to cook all the burgers.
Layering and cooking Hawaiian burger sliders
- Carefully slice the Hawaiian Rolls in half lengthwise and place the bottom half into a 9x13 pan.
- Add half of the cooked burgers evenly over the buns. Layer cheese slices evenly, cutting some in half if needed.
- Add the remaining patties on top, followed by caramelized onions and a drizzle of burger sauce.
- Top with the top half of the Hawaiian Rolls. In a small bowl, combine melted butter and Worcestershire sauce. Brush this mixture evenly over the top of the rolls. Sprinkle minced onion, minced garlic, and sesame seeds over the rolls, and cover loosely with tin foil.
- Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melty and the tops are golden brown. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and enjoy with any remaining burger sauce!
Our favorite toppings
Feel free to add any of your favorite burger toppings, but we love:
- Lettuce - Romaine and butter lettuce are delicious!
- Bacon
- Guacamole or avocado
- Tomatoes
- Pickles
- Your favorite condiments - ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, BBQ sauce
Equipment needed
Here are some helpful tools when making these burger sliders:
- large skillet or griddle
- bacon press to smash the burgers super thin
- casserole dish to layer and cook the sliders in
- sharp knife to slice the rolls
- pastry brush for easy spreading of the butter topping
How many sliders per person?
If you are serving these burger sliders for a crowd, you will want to account for 2 sliders per person unless there are many other filling sides (like Roasted Cajun Potatoes or Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese), because each slider is on the smaller side.
Storage
- Storage - These sliders are best enjoyed fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheating - Reheat in the oven (350°F) or microwave until warm.
FAQ
Sliders are simply smaller hamburgers.
Only 4 simple ingredients: mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle juice, and dijon mustard. This is our favorite Smash Burger Slider Sauce.
What to pair with it?
These are my favorite dishes to serve with smash burger sliders:
Hawaiian Roll Burger Sliders
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil for grilling
- 1 pack of Hawaiian rolls
- 5 - 6 slices Colby Jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons Burger Sauce plus more for dipping
- ½ cup Caramelized Onions (or Onion Jam)
Smash Burger Topping
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon dried minced onion
- ¼ teaspoon dried minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Divide the ground beef into 8 even balls, approximately 3 ounces each. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- On a large skillet or griddle, melt 1 tablespoon butter at medium-high. Place a small square of parchment paper over a ball of ground beef and put it on the hot griddle. Use a bacon press or the bottom of a small pan to press the ball into a thin patty (⅛-¼ inch thick). Cook for 1 minute, flip, and cook until the edges are crispy (about 2-3 minutes total). Set to the side and continue to cook all the burgers.
- Carefully slice the Hawaiian Rolls in half lengthwise and place the bottom half into a 9x13 pan.
- How to Layer: Add half of the cooked burgers evenly over the buns. Layer cheese slices evenly, cutting some in half if needed. Add the remaining patties on top, followed by caramelized onions and a drizzle of burger sauce. Top with the top half of the Hawaiian Rolls.
- In a small bowl, combine melted butter and Worcestershire sauce. Brush this mixture evenly over the top of the rolls. Sprinkle minced onion, minced garlic, and sesame seeds over the rolls, and cover loosely with tin foil.
- Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is melty and the tops are golden brown. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and enjoy with any remaining burger sauce!
PC says
I made a double batch of these tonight for kids and grandkids. Everyone LOVED them! I made the balsamic caramelized onion recipe to go with them. And those were the best! I ran out of time to make the sauce, so just used some Thousand Island dressing to drizzle. But I’ll definitely make the sauce next time I make these. I didn’t get them quite as flat as the recipe suggests. Since I smashed them to about 1/2” (instead of 1/8”-1/4” ) so I didn’t have enough to make two layers. So I just made one. But that was fine. Used shredded cheddar instead of slices. And after brushing the tops with the melted butter and Worcestershire, I sprinkled everything bagel seasoning over the top. Out of 24 sliders, there were only 3 left! This recipe is going into my family favorites! I’m a trained chef, and have a big family. And sometimes you just need an easy delicious meal that’s kid friendly. This ticks off all the boxes. Those caramelized onions take it over the top!! Thank you!
Liz says
Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked them and those are some great substitution recommendations 🙂