Loose Meat Sliders with Cheese
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These Loose Meat Sliders are one of my go-to ground beef recipes when I’m looking for an easy weeknight meal. They’re also a great choice for entertaining and can be used for party appetizers, too.
I love cheeseburger sliders on Hawaiian rolls but when you make them the traditional way, they are more time consuming than regular burgers. Then I think if you’re spending all this time making slider patties, why not just make them full sized?
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
So I set out to find found a way to make the easiest sliders with ground beef. And I wanted them to be super cheesy so they have 2 layers of cheese. Because a burger NEEDS lots of melty cheese, right?!
The loose meat mixture is similar to what you would find in a Maid Rite sandwich. Popular in the Midwest, Maid Rites resemble a sloppy joe without the sauce. These tasty sandwiches were a staple growing up in Illinois (and many Midwestern states).
Your entire family will love these loose meat sliders! And they’re perfect if you’re hosting a weekend gathering, game day party or want a simple, but filling dish to serve like these beef brisket sliders. Then all you’ll have to do is add one of these unique pasta salad recipes to round out the meal.
For more loose meat sandwiches be sure to try my ground beef Philly cheesesteak sliders, old fashioned sloppy joes and Big Mac Sloppy Joes recipes.
Loose Meat Sliders Ingredients
- lean ground beef – go with a 93% or 96% blend.
- onion
- Montreal steak seasoning – if you don’t have this seasoning, keep reading on how to make your own.
- slider buns – Brioche rolls are my first choice and they taste phenomenal. You can also use Hawaiian rolls or dinner rolls.
- mayonnaise – what’s a burger without mayo?!
- American cheese – super melty but you can swap this for your favorite cheese slices.
- butter – adds rich flavor to the buns.
- sesame seeds – give that fast-food vibe to your burger buns.
- optional toppings: ketchup, mustard, dill pickle slices, lettuce, sliced tomato.
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Sliders with Loose Meat Hamburger
While your oven is preheating, start browning the ground beef and onion and sprinkle with the Montreal seasoning. You’ll want to chop the meat into fine crumbles (I use a ChopStir to do this). Cook until you no longer see pink in the meat, then drain.
While the meat is browning, go ahead and slice your slider buns with a serrated knife. Prepare your casserole dish by lining it with parchment paper or using a non stick spray. Then add the bottom buns to the dish.
Add the cheese slices to the bottom buns, then spoon the ground beef mixture on top and add another layer of cheese. Spread the mayo on the cut side of the top buns and place on top of the assembled sliders.
Use melted butter to brush the bun tops, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake until the cheese is melted. Let them rest about 5 minutes before serving.
Tips for Making Loose Meat Cheeseburger Sliders
- Make sure you break up the meat into small, even pieces as it cooks. I use a ChopStir to do this quickly.
- Drain any excess grease to keep the sliders from becoming too greasy.
- If you’ve got picky eaters or are feeding a crowd, set up a “slider bar” with the toppings so everyone can dress their own burgers.
How To Make Homemade Montreal Burger Seasoning
If you don’t have this seasoning on hand, you can make a similar blend at home. And you probably have all of the ingredients on hand.
Combine 1/2 teaspoon sea or kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper & 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder into a small bowl and stir together.
Feel free to make extra and store it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh for up to six months. This is the seasoning blend I use on steaks, ribs and recipes using ground beef.
How to Make Loose Meat Sliders Ahead of Time
Preparing for a party (and sometimes dinner!) can be a lot of work. If you like to get the prep out of the way before it’s time to cook, here’s what I recommend:
- Brown the meat mixture and keep it refrigerated until you are ready to make the sandwiches.
- Precut the buns ahead of time and store them in the bag they came in.
- Take care of the prep work for the additional toppings you are going to use. Store in separate containers in the refrigerator.
- All that’s left to do is assemble the sliders before baking.
Can I use other meats to make loose meat sliders?
Yes! You can use ground turkey, chicken or plant-based crumbles for a meatless version. Season the meat the same to get those tasty burger flavors.
What to Serve with Loose Meat Cheeseburgers
These simple sandwiches go well with traditional burger sides like French fries and air fryer frozen tater tots. If you’re looking for an outside-the-box idea, serve them with country style potato salad and finish with a big bowl of fruit cocktail salad.
How To Store and Reheat Leftover Mini Burgers
Like all burgers, these are best eaten fresh. If you have leftovers you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat: wrap sliders in a paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds; continue in 15 second intervals until hot. Use a microwave plate cover if you have one – it keeps the buns nice & soft.
Originally published 7/9/21.
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Loose Meat Sliders with Cheese
Ingredients
Sliders
- 1 pound lean ground beef, 93 or 96% blend
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
- 12 slider buns, brioche, Hawaiian rolls or dinner rolls
- 12 slices American cheese
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Optional Toppings
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Pickle slices
- Lettuce
- Tomato slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, onions & Montreal seasoning. Cook until meat is cooked through, breaking up meat while cooking (I use a ChopStir to get a fine crumble like a Maid Rite sandwich). Drain the grease.1 pound lean ground beef, ¼ cup chopped onion, 1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
- While the meat is cooking, use a serrated knife to cut the slider buns in half horizontally. Set the bun tops aside. Line a 9×13 casserole dish with parchment paper and spritz with non-stick spray. Place bottom buns in the casserole dish, cut side up.12 slider buns
- Place 6 slices of cheese over the bottom buns. Layer with the ground beef mixture and top with remaining 6 slices of cheese.12 slices American cheese
- Spread mayonnaise over the cut side of the top buns and place on top of sliders.2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- Brush melted butter over buns and sprinkle with sesame seeds.1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cheese is melted. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- If you don’t have Montreal Steak seasoning, make your own: 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper and 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt and mix together.
- Recipe can be easily doubled.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- To reheat: wrap sliders in a paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds; continue in 15 second intervals until hot. Use a microwave plate cover if you have one – it keeps the buns nice & soft.
- Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
