Cheeseburger Sliders

By Gabriel H. Sanchez

Updated May 7, 2026

  • Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. Prop Stylist: Megan Hedgpeth.
Media 1 of 1
Ready In
20 min
Rating
5(163)
Comments
Read comments

Keeping meals quick and fun can mean the difference between a relatively chill evening and pure chaos in my house, so these quick-cooking sliders are a great way to feed my three kids under 6. To make the patties, roll ground beef into small meatballs, then press them into 3-inch patties and give them plenty of seasoning before cooking. A large 12-inch pan can handle an impressive number of these patties, which helps to keep the cleanup to a minimum. Toasted Hawaiian rolls offer a sweet cushion for the burgers, which are finished with a melty blanket of cheese and your favorite toppings (we prepare caramelized onions ahead of time to garnish along with dill pickle chips). Served alongside baked French fries or a handful of potato chips, it’s a quick meal that’s always a perfect match for my little ones’ tiny hands.

Featured in: 7 Busy Parents Share Their Quickest Go-To Dinners

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

    or to print this recipe.

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:3 to 4 servings

  • 8 Hawaiian sweet rolls (from a 12-ounce package)

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (10-percent fat)

  • Salt and black pepper

  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

  • 4 slices American cheese, cut into quarters

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (3 to 4 servings)

362 grams carbs; 109 milligrams cholesterol; 2442 calories; 23 grams monounsaturated fat; 14 grams polyunsaturated fat; 20 grams saturated fat; 66 grams fat; 1 gram trans fat; 17 grams fiber; 3981 milligrams sodium; 92 grams protein; 12 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare the buns: Heat the broiler to high, with a rack positioned 6 inches from the heat source. Separate and cut the Hawaiian rolls into halves, arranging them evenly cut-side down across a baking sheet. Brush the top portions of the buns with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

  2. Step 2

    Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 30 to 45 seconds, until toasty and golden brown. Keep a careful eye on the rolls so they don’t burn. Remove from the oven, flip the bottom buns cut-side up and set the baking sheet aside in a warm place.

    1. Step 3

      Divide the beef into 8 equal portions, then roll each portion into a large meatball. Place the meatballs on a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Cover the meatballs with a second sheet of parchment and use a sturdy spatula to flatten each meatball into a patty, about 3 inches wide and ½-inch thick. Remove the top layer of parchment and liberally season both sides of the patties with salt and pepper. (You can also flatten the patties by hand to save a bit of time!)

    1. Step 4

      Add the oil to a 12-inch skillet (not non-stick) and heat over medium until hot. Working in batches if needed, add 8 patties to the pan and cook until the underside is browned with a slight char, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the burgers and cook until almost done to your liking, 2 to 3 minutes more. When patties have about 1 minute remaining, arrange 2 squares of cheese on each patty and cover the pan with a lid until cheese is fully melted.

    1. Step 5

      Assemble the sliders and garnish with your favorite toppings and condiments. Enjoy the sliders warm.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

5 out of 5
163 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

Gary -

This can be done more easily by keeping the bread intact, slice horizontally. Form the meat into a large rectangle slightly larger than the bread and then bake the meat on a parchment covered pan. Add mayo/ketchup mix to the bottom layer of bread, place cooked meat on followed by pickles and then topped with the cheese and finally the other half of the bread. Brush with the butter/ sesame seed mix and bake in a 375-400 degree oven until the cheese melts. Slice into individual sliders and serve.

Vince, L.A.

Trader Joe's sells Angus beef meatballs in the fresh meat section. Seems they would be ideal for this dish. I combine two meatballs and make smash burgers!

Jeff B

Roll the beef into balls, place a ball into the top ring of a Mason jar lid and press it down with your hand. Lift the ring, and you have a perfect slider patty, all uniform shape. I also prefer to griddle the buns in the skillet with a little butter until golden brown vs under the broiler.

Jennifer

Simple, quick and a teenager favourite in our house. To be repeated.

Lucky Dan

Holy! This is a great example of how some cookbooks make the simplest meals labor-intensive. There’s no need to fuss with the rolls. Making little cheeseburgers isn’t rocket science. If you really want to enhance this, mince some onions and fry them along with the burgers. Don’t forget the pickle.

Ed

Are we really considering little cheeseburgers a recipe? Anxiously awaiting your next culinary masterpiece- The Ham & Cheese Sandwich.

Jennifer

I liked the recipe! Quick inspiration for a hustling mama, and a starting point to add my own creativity to the recipe. My teens loved it. Real cheddar for the win though.

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.