About this recipe

Juicy, bite-sized beef sliders with melty American cheese, caramelized onions, and a tangy special sauce — all tucked into soft slider buns. These crowd-pleasing mini burgers are perfect for game day, family dinners, or any casual gathering. Easy to make in big batches and gone in minutes!

Instructions

1. 1

   In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, dill pickle relish, white wine vinegar, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use — it gets better as it sits.

2. 2

   Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over ^[medium-low heat]. Add the sliced yellow onions and kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20–25 minutes until the onions are deeply golden, soft, and sweet. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce in the last minute of cooking. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. 3

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix gently with your hands until just combined — do not overwork the meat, or the patties will be tough.

4. 4

   Divide the meat mixture into 12 equal portions (about 2 oz each). Roll each into a ball, then flatten into a round patty slightly wider than your slider buns — they will shrink as they cook. Make a small dimple in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent puffing.

5. 5

   Heat the same large skillet over ^[medium-high heat] until hot. Working in batches if needed, cook the patties for 2–3 minutes per side without pressing them down. Flip once when a deep brown crust forms on the bottom. In the last 30 seconds of cooking, lay a half-slice of American cheese on each patty and cover the pan briefly to melt. Remove and set aside.

6. 6

   Preheat your oven to ![350°F]. Slice the entire sheet of slider buns in half horizontally (keeping them connected is fine if using Hawaiian rolls). Place the bottom halves in a baking dish or on a baking sheet. Spread a generous layer of the special sauce on the bottom buns.

7. 7

   Layer the caramelized yellow onions evenly over the sauced bottom slider buns. Place a cheese-topped patty on each bun. Add dill pickle chips and shredded iceberg lettuce if using.

8. 8

   Spread or spoon a little more special sauce on the underside of the top slider buns, then place them on top of the patties.

9. 9

   Mix the melted butter with garlic powder. Brush generously over the tops of all the buns. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.

10. 10

    Bake the assembled sliders at ![350°F] for 8–10 minutes, until the buns are golden and toasted and the cheese is fully melted. Remove from the oven, let cool for 2 minutes, then cut or pull apart and serve immediately.