Ultimate Hawaiian Rolls Smash Burger Sliders

Here’s my go-to recipe for Hawaiian rolls smash burger sliders, featuring juicy beef patties smashed until crispy, melted cheese, and all the classic burger toppings tucked into soft, slightly sweet Hawaiian rolls.

These mini burgers have become our family’s favorite weekend treat, especially during game days. I usually make a double batch because they disappear so quickly – and let’s be honest, cold sliders make pretty great midnight snacks too!

What Kind of Ground Beef Should I Use?

For juicy, flavorful smash burgers, you’ll want to stick with ground beef that has a decent amount of fat – either 80/20 or 85/15 lean-to-fat ratio works great here. The fat content is really important because when you smash these burgers thin, they can easily dry out if there’s not enough fat to keep them moist. Regular ground beef from the grocery store is perfectly fine, but if you want to take it up a notch, ask your butcher to freshly grind chuck beef for you. Just avoid using super lean ground beef (like 93/7) for smash burgers, as they’ll end up too dry and won’t give you those crispy, caramelized edges that make smash burgers so special.

Options for Substitutions

This slider recipe is pretty adaptable – here are some handy swaps you can try:

• Hawaiian rolls: While Hawaiian rolls give these sliders their signature sweet taste, you can use regular slider buns or dinner rolls. Just know the final taste won’t be quite as sweet – but still tasty!
• Ground beef: Feel free to swap the beef with ground turkey or chicken, but stick to versions with some fat content (93/7 or higher) to keep the burgers juicy. For turkey/chicken, you might want to add an extra tablespoon of olive oil to the meat mixture.
• Burger cheese: Any melty cheese works here – try cheddar, pepper jack, provolone, or American cheese. Each will give your sliders a different but equally good flavor.
• Sweet onion: Red onions or yellow onions can step in for sweet onions. If using regular yellow onions, you might want to add an extra pinch of brown sugar when caramelizing them.
• Bacon: No bacon? Try turkey bacon, or leave it out entirely. You could also use pre-cooked bacon bits in a pinch – about 3 tablespoons will do the trick.
• Dill/sweet pickle: Pickle relish works just as well in the sauce, or you can skip it if you’re not a pickle fan. For a different twist, try finely chopped pepperoncini.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making smash burgers is not getting your pan or griddle hot enough – you need screaming hot temperatures to achieve that perfect crust, so let your cooking surface heat up for at least 5 minutes before adding the meat. Another common error is overworking the ground beef when mixing in seasonings, which can lead to dense, tough burgers – instead, gently combine the ingredients with your hands just until mixed. When smashing the burgers, do it immediately after putting the meat on the hot surface and use parchment paper between your spatula and the meat to prevent sticking (a heavy, flat spatula works best). For the caramelized onions, resist the urge to rush the process – cook them low and slow for about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, to develop that sweet, golden-brown color and rich flavor.

What to Serve With Smash Burger Sliders?

These little sliders are perfect party food, and they pair wonderfully with classic burger sides that everyone loves. French fries are the obvious choice – whether they’re regular, sweet potato, or even crispy tater tots. For a lighter option that still feels fun, try a simple coleslaw or a bowl of crispy potato chips. If you’re serving these at a casual get-together, put out some pickle spears and a few different dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce so everyone can customize their plate. These sliders are pretty filling on their own, so keeping the sides simple is totally fine!

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These sliders are best enjoyed right after making them, but if you have leftovers, wrap them individually in foil and pop them in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just keep in mind that the buns might get a bit soft from the burger juices.

Prep Ahead: Want to get a head start? You can prep the burger patties and special sauce up to a day ahead. Shape the seasoned meat into patties, separate them with wax paper, and keep them covered in the fridge. The sauce will actually taste even better after the flavors have time to mingle overnight!

Warm Up: To enjoy leftover sliders, wrap them in foil and warm them in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes. You can also zap them in the microwave for 30 seconds, though the buns might get a little softer this way. Either way, they’ll still make a tasty quick meal!

Preparation Time	15-25 minutes
Cooking Time	30-40 minutes
Total Time	45-65 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2500-2800
• Protein: 120-140 g
• Fat: 150-170 g
• Carbohydrates: 150-170 g

Ingredients

For the caramelized onions:

• 1 medium sweet onion (thinly sliced for even caramelization)
• 1 tbsp olive oil

For the burger sauce:

• 1 1/2 tsp finely chopped dill pickle (adds a nice tang)
• 2 tsp ketchup
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise (I prefer Hellmann’s mayonnaise)

For the butter glaze:

• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp sesame seeds
• 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup melted butter (unsalted is best for controlling sodium)

For the ground beef:

• 1 tsp salt
• 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean to fat ratio, for juicy burgers)
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/8 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 1/8 tsp onion powder

For the sliders:

• 3 slices cooked bacon (crispy is ideal)
• 6 sweet Hawaiian rolls (I use King’s Hawaiian rolls)
• 3 slices burger cheese (halved, for easy melting)

Step 1: Caramelize the Onions

Thinly slice the onions and place them in a non-stick skillet with olive oil.

Cook on medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes or until they start to brown.

Add 1/2 cup of water to the pan and stir, letting the water evaporate.

Continue adding 1/2 cup of water and allowing it to cook off until the onions brown and caramelize.

This process can continue while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

Step 2: Prepare the Sauces and Glaze

In a small bowl, stir together the pickle, mayonnaise, and ketchup, then set aside.

In another bowl, melt the butter and add Worcestershire, mustard, brown sugar, and sesame seeds.

Stir well and set aside.

Step 3: Cook the Bacon and Prepare the Rolls

Cook the bacon until crispy and set it aside.

Prepare a baking pan by placing a long piece of aluminum foil on it.

Break apart the Hawaiian rolls and place them on the pan.

Cut off the tops of the rolls and set them aside.

Add the mayonnaise sauce to the bottom halves of the rolls and spread it out evenly.

Step 4: Prepare and Cook the Burger Patties

In a mixing bowl, combine the burger meat.

In a separate small bowl, mix together the paprika, Worcestershire, onion powder, brown sugar, ketchup, salt, and pepper.

Add this mixture to the meat and combine until just mixed.

Divide the burger into 8 discs or balls, even though the recipe calls for making 6 sliders.

This allows for 2 extra burgers.

Heat a large skillet with enough oil to lightly coat the pan.

Place 3 hamburger discs in the skillet and use a spatula to press the burgers thin.

Cook on medium heat for 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another minute until the internal temperature reaches 132°F (medium-rare) or 137°F (medium).

Do not overcook.

Keep the rest warm while repeating the process for all burgers.

Step 5: Assemble the Sliders

Add the cooked burgers to the prepared bread bottoms.

Place 1/2 slice of cheese on each burger followed by 1/2 slice of bacon.

Divide the caramelized onions and place them on top of the bacon.

Then, add the roll tops back onto the sliders.

Step 6: Bake the Sliders

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Stir the topping glaze and brush it all over the tops and sides of the rolls until the glaze is used up.

Fold the aluminum foil up over the burgers and place them in the oven.

Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the rolls are warm.

Serve immediately for the best taste and texture.