These cheesy roast beef sliders are topped with lots of leftover roast beef, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions and a simple horseradish mayo. Always a hit for both dinner or game day!
Just a little while back, I shared a recipe for caramelized onions. Besides enjoying them straight out of the pan, what did I do with them?
I made a delicious beef slider recipe!! Well, beef sliders with caramelized onions, plenty of ooey gooey cheese and a horseradish mayo. Hungry yet?
Hubby and I started making sliders for Halloween. We usually pick between this roast beef slider recipe or sloppy joe sliders.
Random, right?
I don’t know why we started having sliders for Halloween, but it’s definitely not a bad idea!
And if you’re looking for something to go with these, homemade potato wedges are always a good choice!
What Are Sliders?
Sliders are basically little burgers or sandwiches.
Because they’re little (typically two inches across), if they’re the main course for dinner, then one would typically enjoy a few.
And, forgetting all these technicalities, don’t ya think mini food is the cutest?
How To Make This Beef Slider Recipe
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Carefully use a knife to cut the buns in half through the middle (so you have a bottom half and top half, leaving individual buns intact). Then spread horseradish mayo over the cut sides of both the bottom portion and top portion of buns. Place the bottom portion into a baking dish, while setting the top potion aside while you start to assemble the sliders.
- Distribute roast beef (that has been shredded) and caramelized onions over top of the bottom buns.
- Layer on cheese slices.
- Place the top buns over the cheese, then brush the buns with a little melted garlic butter.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake (partway through, remove foil).
- Once the shredded beef sliders are heated through and the cheese is melted, carefully remove them from the oven, then cut into individual sliders and serve.
Best Bun To Use for Sliders
Many grocery stores now carry small buns specifically for this purpose.
I picked up brioche buns, but choose whatever variety you like best.
Can’t find slider buns? Use dinner rolls! If there’s too much bread, just cut out some of the centre so you have a thinner top and bottom. Easy!
Can I Use Store Bought Beef Instead?
Absolutely!
Aside from preparing roast beef at home, you can totally use store-bought cooked roast beef instead. Just go to your grocery deli and ask them to cut some off for you! Shaved or sliced deli roast beef works great.
How To Make Horseradish Mayo
All that’s needed for this horseradish mayo is horseradish, mayonnaise and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
Use as little or as much horseradish as you like, depending on your preference.
Tip: Squeeze out any excess moisture from the horseradish so you don’t water down the mayo.
You basically mix the ingredients together in a bowl until combined and use on these sliders.
Not into horseradish mayo? Mix things up! Add either hot sauce, BBQ sauce or Dijon mustard to the mayonnaise instead. Or just have the mayonnaise as is. Either works wonderfully with these pulled beef sliders!
Tips and Variations
- These are beef sliders for a crowd, but you could easily half the recipe if you prefer.
- Don’t have garlic butter on hand? Infuse some butter with minced garlic and heat up to get that garlic going. Not a fan of garlic? Use regular butter.
- Swiss cheese was used here, but you could use your favourite melty cheese. Cheddar, mozzarella or Gouda would also be delicious options.
- Don’t have caramelized onions on hand or don’t have time to make them? Try fried onions instead. They’re quicker to prepare and you’ll still get an onion flavour.
- Add some texture! Sprinkle some sesame seeds or poppy seeds onto those buttered buns before baking.
- If you have leftover au jus from your roast beef dinner, heat that up and serve alongside so they’re like French dip sliders!
More Cheesy Recipes
- Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas
- Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas
- Cheesy Ground Turkey Quesadillas
- Refried Bean Quesadillas
- Pizza Grilled Cheese
If you make this roast beef slider recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!
Cheesy Roast Beef Sliders With Caramelized Onions
Ingredients
Horseradish Mayo
- 6 to 8 tablespoons prepared horseradish, squeezed of excess moisture (use less if you want less of a horseradish flavour)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- pinch freshly ground black pepper
- pinch salt
Beef Sliders
- 18 to 24 mini slider buns, brioche buns are great here
- 2 pounds cooked roast beef, shredded or roughly chopped (about 5.5 to 6 cups)
- 1 to 1.5 cups caramelized onions, depending on how much onion flavour you want (or you can use fried onions, if you like)
- 12 ounces Swiss cheese slices, or 3 cups shredded Swiss cheese
- 2 to 3 tablespoons garlic butter, melted
Instructions
Horseradish Mayo
- Squeeze excess moisture from horseradish (placing it in a clean tea towel and squeezing the excess water out is a great trick to do this). This helps prevent your mayo from being watered down.
- In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, prepared horseradish, black pepper and salt together until well combined. Set aside.Note: Add a tablespoon or so of horseradish at a time until you've reached your desired flavour.
Beef Sliders
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Carefully cut buns in a half horizontally (so you have a bottom portion and top portion and leaving individual buns intact). Note: This recipe makes about 18 to 24 sliders (depending on how much toppings you want on them). Also, if you pile on less (or more) toppings onto your buns, the quantity you yield may vary. You can easily half the recipe if you like.
- Spread horseradish mayo over the cut sides of the top and bottom buns. Place bottom buns (cut side up) in a baking dish large enough to hold the buns (use two baking dishes if needed, one for each set of 12 buns).
- Distribute cooked roast beef over buns. Top with caramelized onions and cheese. Then place top buns over top (cut side down). Brush with melted garlic butter.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Carefully remove aluminum foil and bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the sliders are heated through.
- Cut out the individual sliders, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Prep time does not include caramelizing onions. If you are including those and do not already have on hand, they take about 60 minutes to prepare.
- These are beef sliders for a crowd, but you could easily half the recipe if you prefer.
- Don’t have garlic butter on hand? Infuse some butter with minced garlic and heat up to get that garlic goin’. Not a fan of garlic? Use regular butter.
- Swiss cheese was used here, but you could use your favourite melty cheese. Cheddar, mozzarella or Gouda would also be delicious options.
- Don’t have caramelized onions on hand or don’t have time to make them? Try fried onions instead. They’re quicker to prepare and you’ll still get an onion flavour.
- Add some texture! Sprinkle some sesame seeds or poppy seeds onto those buttered buns before baking.
- If you have leftover au jus from your roast beef dinner, heat that up and serve alongside so they’re like French dip sliders!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Sue
I shredded leftover pot roast, enough for six sliders. Placed parchment paper in the bottom of the pan which worked real well. No sticking, and no burning on the bottom. It was delicious!
Dawn | Girl Heart Food
Thanks Sue! I’m happy you enjoyed!!
Debbie
Im going to make them for New Years
Dawn | Girl Heart Food
Sounds like a delicious plan!! Happy New Year!!
Lindsay
Do you use cooking spray or anything for the bottom of the pan?
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Hi Lindsay! I don’t usually, but feel free to grease the baking dish a little if you like. 🙂
Lindsay
Thanks Dawn! I can’t wait to make these!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
My pleasure, Lindsay! Hope you enjoy them! Have a great weekend!
Valentina
Dawn, these look AMAZING! Love that you can make so many at once. I would eat SO many. I love food traditions, and sliders on Halloween is an awesome one! 🙂 ~Valentina
Kevin
These sliders would be a hit at any holiday or even any time of the year! Such mouth watering photos, I can see how these would be gone in no time!
Matt - Total Feasts
I remember seeing these on Insta and thinking, I need to get the recipe. Give me some of those and a cold beer, and I’d be a very happy person!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Hope you love them, Matt!!
Marissa
These beef sliders are entirely drool worthy, Dawn! Talk about dreamy game day fare. And great for the holidays too, when everyone tires of leftover turkey. 😉 Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks so much, Marissa! Have a lovely week 🙂
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl
Making sliders on Halloween sounds like an amazing tradition to me…especially when they look THIS delicious!! That melted cheese…the tender beef…those delicious caramelized onions, I’M SOLD!!! So delicious, my friend, as always!! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Right?? Thank you Haylie!!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
This is my idea of a perfect Halloween dinner! Loving the caramelized onions!! So cheesy and delicious. I especially love that you can use leftover beef for the recipe! Pinning! Have a good Halloween my friend!! (And weekend)! XO
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thank you Katherine! XOXO
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
These are so cute and I’m sure, unbelievably delicious 🙂 You can’t go wrong with beef, horseradish mayo and cheese 🙂 Great football watching food!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thank you Jennifer 🙂
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
Mini food is totally the cutest! And honestly, I’m pretty sure it tastes better too :). These look fantastic; your gooey cheese pics always make me salivate! Have a great weekend, Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I agree!! Thank you so much, Kelsie 🙂 Have a great week!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
It’s 9am here and I desperately want that stack of sammies! Right NOW! They look totally mouthwatering Dawn and just perfect for football Saturday. Pinned and so excited to give these a go!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Lol! Thank you Mary Ann 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
Talk about a mouthful of flavor! I love how these are assembled in one big slab. These would be perfect for a crowd and for watching weekend football – or for Halloween! 🙂 Love all that cheesy goodness.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thanks Kathy 🙂
annie@ciaochowbambina
Sliders for Halloween?! I’m in!! You are the sandwich queen, my friend! These look so soft and tasty! My family will love them! Have a wonderful weekend! xoxo
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks so much, Annie! So happy to hear that! XOXO
David @ Spiced
I love the sliders for Halloween idea! It’s an easy dinner to eat while waiting on ghouls and goblins to ring the doorbell. (Maybe get some earplugs for the pup this year??) Pizza seems to be pretty popular down here on Halloween, but I would go for these sliders in a second! This is my definition of the perfect comfort food sandwich!! I’m thinking a bit of smoked cheese would be good in this one, too, yes?
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Good idea 😉 Pizza is always great too!! Love the idea of smoked cheese too! Thanks David 🙂
Leanne
Sliders for Halloween is a great tradition! We always order pizza and eat a few Hawkins cheesies! 😉 I’ll have to find a place for these beef sliders in our dinner rotation. My husband would love them!