Cowboy Sliders

Cowboy sliders are a flavorful, crowd-pleasing option that combines savory ingredients with a buttery, herby finish. Perfect for parties or casual meals, this recipe is easy to make and packed with satisfying textures in every bite.

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Prep Time20

Cook Time35

Total Time55

Servings sliders

Table of Contents

Cowboy Slider Ingredients
What Is Cowboy Butter?
The Best Meat For Cowboy Sliders
Tips For Making These Beef Sliders
Customize These Cowboy Sliders
How To Store Cowboy Butter Sliders
Cowboy Sliders Frequently Asked Questions
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Cowboy sliders combine the bold flavors of ground beef, crispy bacon, and melty cheese tucked into buttery slider rolls. What sets this recipe apart is the homemade cowboy butter infused with fresh herbs and a hint of smoky spice that takes every bite to the next level. If you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser, these impressive sliders are the perfect to serve family and friends.

What You Need To Know

MAIN INGREDIENTS: ground beef, King’s Hawaiian rolls, sharp cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, cowboy butter, french fried onions, jalapeno slices, hamburger seasoning
QUICK STEPS: Make cowboy butter, cook the beef mixture, layer rolls with butter and toppings, and bake sliders until golden brown
TOTAL TIME AND YIELD: 55 minutes, makes 12 sliders

Cowboy Slider Ingredients

Cowboy Sliders raw ingredients that are labeled

Cowboy Butter

Salted butter: Creates a rich base for the sliders.
Honey Dijon mustard: Adds a touch of tangy sweetness.
Fresh chopped chives: Provides a mild onion flavor.
Fresh chopped parsley: Adds a fresh, herby touch.
Fresh thyme leaves: Brings a slightly minty and earthy flavor.
Minced garlic: Enhances the savory profile of the butter.
Kosher salt: Balances and enhances the flavors.
Fresh cracked black pepper: Adds subtle heat.
Paprika: Contributes mild spice and vibrant color.
Ground chipotle powder: Brings a smoky kick.

Sliders

King Hawaiian Rolls: Soft, slightly sweet rolls perfect for sliders.
Ground beef: The base for the hearty filling.
Finely chopped sweet yellow onion: Adds sweetness and texture to the beef.
Minced garlic: Boosts the savory flavors of the meat mixture.
Hamburger seasoning: For bold flavor.
Worcestershire sauce: Adds depth to the beef.
Freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese: Creates melty, cheesy goodness.
Bacon: Cooked crispy and crumbled. Brings a smoky crunch to every bite.
French fried onions: Crispy fried onions add texture and flavor.
Jalapeno: Seeded and sliced into rings. Provides a mild, fresh heat.

What Is Cowboy Butter?

Our flavorful compound butter takes this recipe up a notch. It’s made by melting salted butter and blending it with fresh herbs, spices, and seasonings.

Ingredients like chives, parsley, thyme, garlic, and paprika create a savory, aromatic base, while a hint of chipotle powder and black pepper adds a subtle kick of heat.

Adding honey Dijon mustard ties everything together with a slightly tangy sweet flavor.

More Recipes That Pair Perfectly With Cowboy Butter

Buttermilk Biscuits: Fluffy, homemade biscuits that are perfect for any meal. Serving them warm with a generous spread of cowboy butter adds a flavorful twist to this classic side.
Cowboy Casserole: This comforting casserole combines ground beef, tater tots, and cheese. Drizzling cowboy butter over the top before baking adds a savory richness that ties all the flavors together.

The Best Meat For Cowboy Sliders

Choosing the proper ground beef is essential for creating the perfect cowboy sliders. The meat you select will directly impact the sliders’ flavor, texture, and juiciness, so it’s worth taking a little extra time to pick the best option.

What Ground Beef To Use

For this recipe, we recommend an 80/20 blend of ground beef. This ratio means the beef contains 80% lean meat and 20% fat, striking the ideal balance between flavor and juiciness. The fat content helps keep the sliders moist and adds richness, while the lean meat ensures they don’t become overly greasy.

If you prefer a slightly leaner option, 88/12 or 90/10 blends also work but may require careful attention to cooking time to avoid drying out.

How To Pick The Best Ground Beef

Look for Freshness: Choose ground beef that is bright red in color. Avoid packages with gray or brown spots, as these may indicate the beef is past its prime.
Check the Packaging: The beef should be cold to the touch, securely sealed, and free of excess liquid in the package. Vacuum-sealed options often stay fresher longer.
Inspect the Grind: Coarsely ground beef works best for cowboy sliders, as it provides the right texture for cooking.
Buy From a Butcher When Possible: If you have access to a local butcher, ask for freshly ground beef. This ensures better flavor and quality compared to pre-packaged options.

Tips For Making These Beef Sliders

Slicing The Rolls: Chill the rolls for 15-20 minutes before slicing to make them firmer and easier to cut. Use a serrated knife and keep the rolls connected for even layers.
Use a Pastry Brush: A pastry brush makes it easier to coat the rolls with butter and helps distribute the flavors evenly.
Prevent the Bottom Rolls from Getting Soggy: Toast the bottom buns lightly before assembling to help them hold up better against the moisture from the beef mixture.

Customize These Cowboy Sliders

One of the best things about cowboy sliders is how easy they are to customize. You can add extra ingredients to make them your own and suit different preferences.

Onions: Add a layer of sweet, golden caramelized onions for a touch of richness. Our frizzled onions are another delicious option. Raw white, yellow, or red onion can also offer a great crunch to these mini sandwiches.
BBQ Sauce: A drizzle of barbecue sauce brings a tangy, smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with the beef and bacon.
Pickles: Add some crunch and tang with dill pickle slices or spicy pickled jalapenos.
Sliced Avocado: Creamy avocado slices add a fresh, buttery texture.
Cheese: Swap out the sharp cheddar cheese for pepper jack or havarti cheese.
Mushrooms: Sautéed mushrooms make an excellent addition for a savory, earthy flavor.
Hot Sauce: A hot sauce or sriracha splash can add an extra kick for spice lovers.

How To Store Cowboy Butter Sliders

Cowboy sliders are a fantastic choice for feeding a crowd, and the good news is they’re easy to store and reheat. Whether you want to make them ahead of time or save leftovers, following these tips will help keep them fresh and delicious.

MAKE AHEAD: Cowboy sliders can be prepped in advance for convenience. Assemble the sliders as instructed but stop before baking. Cover the prepared sliders tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes if needed to reach a golden brown finish.

IN THE FRIDGE: Once cooked, leftover sliders should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh for up to three days. Be sure the sliders have cooled to room temperature before transferring them to the fridge to avoid condensation.

IN THE FREEZER: Cowboy sliders freeze well if you want to save them for later. Wrap each slider tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe airtight container or bag. They can be frozen for up to three months. To reheat, thaw the sliders in the fridge overnight and then follow the reheating instructions below.

REHEATING:

Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place sliders on a baking sheet, cover them with aluminum foil, and heat for about 10-15 minutes until warmed through.
Microwave: Place a slider on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a damp paper towel to retain moisture. Heat for 30-60 seconds, checking for warmth.
Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Heat the sliders for three to five minutes until hot and the tops are crisp.

Cowboy Sliders Frequently Asked Questions

How spicy are cowboy sliders with the jalapeno slices?

The jalapeno slices add a mild heat. You can remove the seeds or omit the jalapenos if you prefer less spice.

For more spice, consider adding red pepper flakes to the beef mixture. Start with ¼ teaspoon and add more according to your preference.

What can I substitute for bacon if I don’t eat pork?

You can use turkey bacon or beef bacon as a substitute. Both provide a crispy texture and a smoky flavor that works well in this recipe.

How can I make the tops of the sliders extra crispy?

To make the tops of the sliders extra crispy, you can broil them for one to two minutes after baking. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.

Cowboy Sliders

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 35

Total Time 55

Servings sliders

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Ingredients

Cowboy Butter

½ cup salted butter, sliced into pats
1 tablespoon Honey Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon ground chipotle powder

Sliders

12 King Hawaiian Rolls
1 pound ground beef,
½ cup finely chopped sweet yellow onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons hamburger seasoning,
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ cups freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 slices smoked bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
1 cup french fried onions
1 medium-sized jalapeno, seeded and sliced into 12 rings

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Add the sliced butter to a small (2-3 quarts) saucepan over medium heat. Allow the butter to completely melt. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
Whisk in the honey Dijon mustard, chopped chives, chopped parsley, thyme leaves, minced garlic, kosher salt, cracked black pepper, paprika and chipotle powder. Continue whisking just until well incorporated. (The butter may have a slightly curdled appearance, but that is normal)
Carefully slice the King Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the rolls connected. Place the bottom half in the prepared baking dish.
In a 10-12 inch nonstick skillet over medium high heat, cook the ground beef, onions and garlic stirring constantly, breaking up the ground beef as you go until the ground beef is cooked through and no longer pink. Drain any excess oil.
Stir in the hamburger seasoning and Worcestershire sauce.
Use a pastry brush to coat the bottom half of the rolls with the cowboy butter.
Spoon the ground beef mixture over the butter layer.
Next, evenly sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese.
Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the shredded cheese layer.
Evenly sprinkle the french fried onions over the bacon layer.
Finally place 1 jalapeno ring on top of the french fried onions for each slider.
Top the sliders with the top half of the buns.
Use the pastry brush to coat the top buns with the remaining cowboy butter.
Cover the sliders with heavy duty aluminum foil. Bake covered for 15 minutes. Uncover the sliders and continue to bake for another 10 minutes until the tops are a golden brown. Check at the 8 minute mark to prevent the tops from burning.
Allow the sliders to rest in the pan for 5 minutes, before carefully slicing each portion of sliders. Serve while hot.

Notes

Add red pepper flakes to the cowboy butter for a spicier version.
Substitute plain yellow onion for the sweet yellow onion if you prefer.
You can substitute ground chicken or turkey for ground beef.
You can substitute garlic powder for the minced garlic.
You can substitute regular premade dinner rolls, or regular slider buns, if you are not able to find the King Hawaiian Rolls.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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