Ingredients
Meat and Cheese Mixture
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 lb. hot or mild sausage
- 1 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
Rolls
- 1 (12 ounce) pkg. King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls, halved lengthwise
Butter Sauce
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, cubed
- 2 tablespoons finely minced onion
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Optional Garnish
- Poppy seeds
- Chopped fresh herbs
Instructions
- Cook the meat: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and sausage until the meat is no longer pink, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Once cooked, drain off the excess grease to avoid a greasy mixture.
- Melt in the cheese: Add the cubed Velveeta cheese to the skillet with the meat. Stir constantly over medium-low heat until the cheese is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the baking dish: Line a deep 11 x 7-inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing some overhang to use as handles for easy removal later. This step is optional but recommended for convenience.
- Assemble the sliders: Place the bottom halves of the Hawaiian rolls in a single layer in the prepared dish. Spoon the warm meat and cheese mixture evenly over the bottom halves. Then place the top halves of the rolls over the meat mixture to form sandwiches.
- Make the butter sauce: In a small skillet, melt the cubed butter over medium heat. Add the finely minced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add flavorings: Whisk in the brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder into the melted butter and onions. Continue stirring until the brown sugar has dissolved completely, creating a sweet and savory glaze.
- Top the sliders: Pour the butter sauce evenly over the assembled sandwiches. Sprinkle with poppy seeds and any optional fresh herbs if desired for extra flavor and presentation.
- Chill before baking: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. This helps the flavors meld and the sliders to firm up for cutting after baking.
- Bake covered: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Bake the sliders covered with foil for 25 minutes, allowing them to heat through and the flavors to meld without drying out.
- Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes uncovered, or until the tops are golden brown and slightly crispy.
- Rest and serve: Let the sliders rest in the pan for about 10 minutes to set. Use the parchment sling to lift the entire slab out onto a serving board, or serve directly from the baking dish. Cut into individual sliders and pull them apart to serve warm.
Notes
- Using parchment paper makes removal of sliders easier and keeps them intact.
- Refrigerating the assembled sliders before baking helps meld flavors and improves slicing.
- Adjust the sausage from hot to mild depending on your preferred spice level.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute Velveeta with a vegan cheese alternative, though texture and flavor will vary.
- If poppy seeds or fresh herbs are not available, feel free to omit or use sesame seeds for garnish.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American