If you are looking for a ridiculously easy, over-the-top delicious recipe to feed a hungry crowd, look no further than these White Trash Sliders. Despite the cheeky, humorous name, these little sandwiches are seriously gourmet when it comes to flavor! They combine the savory goodness of seasoned ground beef with a waterfall of melted cheese, all sandwiched between soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls and baked under a crispy, savory butter glaze.
They are the perfect messy, gooey, and satisfying bite. Whether you are hosting a Super Bowl party, planning a casual weekend get-together, or just need a lightning-fast weeknight dinner alongside a hearty Cheddar Bay Hamburger Casserole, these sliders are guaranteed to disappear in minutes.
What Are White Trash Sliders?
The name might make you giggle, but the concept is brilliant in its simplicity. “White Trash Sliders” are essentially a massive batch of loose-meat cheeseburgers baked together in a single pan. Instead of forming individual hamburger patties, you brown ground beef in a skillet with onions, mix it with ultra-melty cheese (often Velveeta or American), and spread the rich mixture across an entire slab of Hawaiian sweet rolls.
It is the ultimate “low-brow, high-flavor” comfort food. If you love the cheesy, meaty goodness of a classic Five-Cheese Baked Mac & Cheese, you are going to be obsessed with these pull-apart sliders.
Why You’ll Love This Slider Recipe
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Feed a Crowd Fast: Making 12 individual cheeseburgers takes time and a lot of flipping. This method allows you to make a dozen sliders all at once in a single 9×13 baking dish!
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Incredible Texture Contrast: The bottom rolls get slightly toasted, the filling is insanely juicy and cheesy, and the top buns become crispy thanks to a savory butter glaze.
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Pantry-Friendly: You don’t need fancy ingredients. With basic ground beef, cheese, and rolls, you can whip this up without a stressful grocery trip. Want to know more about the health benefits of your main ingredient? Read up on Ground Beef Nutrition Facts.
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Kid and Adult Approved: The sweet-and-savory combination is a hit with every age group.
Ingredients You Will Need
You only need a few simple, highly flavorful ingredients to pull these epic sandwiches together.
For the Filling:
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Ground Beef (1 lb): Lean ground beef (80/20) works best so your sliders don’t become soggy from excess grease.
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Onion (½ cup, diced): Adds a fantastic savory depth to the meat mixture.
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Velveeta or American Cheese (8 oz): You want a cheese that melts flawlessly into a creamy sauce. Standard cheddar can separate and become oily, but processed cheese gives you that iconic, gooey texture!
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Mayonnaise (¼ cup): Spread on the rolls to lock in moisture and add a tangy richness.
For the Rolls and Glaze:
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Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (1 pack of 12): The sweetness of the bread perfectly balances the salty, savory filling.
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Butter (¼ cup, melted): The base of our flavorful topping.
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Worcestershire Sauce (1 tsp): Adds a kick of umami to the buttery crust.
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Garlic Powder & Onion Powder (½ tsp each): For seasoning the tops of the rolls.
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Sesame Seeds (1 tbsp): Gives the sliders a classic “burger bun” appearance!
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep the Oven and Rolls Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Take your entire slab of Hawaiian rolls and, using a long serrated bread knife, slice them entirely in half horizontally so you have one solid “top” piece and one solid “bottom” piece. Place the bottom half into a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Brown the Beef Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your ground beef and diced onions. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a wooden spoon, until the beef is fully browned and the onions are soft and translucent. Crucial Step: Drain the grease thoroughly! If you leave the fat in the pan, your slider buns will turn into a soggy mess.
3. Make It Cheesy Reduce the heat to low. Cut your Velveeta or American cheese into cubes and add it directly to the hot ground beef in the skillet. Stir continuously until the cheese is completely melted and coats the beef in a thick, velvety sauce.
4. Assemble the Sliders Spread the mayonnaise in an even layer across the bottom half of the Hawaiian rolls waiting in your baking dish. Next, pour the warm, cheesy beef mixture over the rolls, spreading it out to the edges. Place the top half of the rolls onto the beef layer.
5. Glaze and Bake In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. Use a pastry brush to generously coat the tops of the rolls with this savory butter mixture. Sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds.
Bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the tops of the rolls are deeply golden brown, slightly crispy, and the cheese is bubbling around the edges.
6. Slice and Serve Remove the pan from the oven and let it sit for about 5 minutes. This gives the molten cheese a moment to set so the sliders don’t fall apart. Use a sharp knife to cut along the seams of the rolls, pull them apart, and serve hot!
Cheesy White Trash Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 pack (12 count) Hawaiian sweet rolls
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup white onion finely diced
- 8 oz Velveeta or American cheese cubed
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally and place the bottom half into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and diced onion until fully browned. Drain excess grease.
- Reduce heat to low and add cubed cheese. Stir until fully melted and combined with the beef.
- Spread mayonnaise over the bottom rolls. Spoon the beef and cheese mixture evenly over the top. Place the top buns on.
- In a bowl, whisk melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. Brush over the tops and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Let rest 5 minutes, then slice and serve.
Notes
Expert Tips and Variations
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Add Pickles: For a true cheeseburger experience, layer dill pickle slices over the beef mixture before placing the top buns on!
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Bacon Lover’s Dream: Stir ½ cup of crispy, crumbled bacon into the beef and cheese mixture for an incredibly smoky upgrade.
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Make Ahead: You can brown the beef and onions up to 2 days in advance, storing the mixture in the fridge. When you are ready to party, simply reheat the beef, melt in the cheese, and assemble!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
If you happen to have any of these addictive White Trash Sliders left over, wrap the baking dish tightly in aluminum foil or transfer the sliders to an airtight container. Keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, avoid the microwave if possible, as it will make the bread tough and chewy. Instead, place the sliders on a baking sheet, cover them loosely with foil to prevent burning, and bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes until warmed completely through.