These Hawaiian Roll Sliders combine tender roast beef, sweet caramelized yellow onions, and shredded Gruyère nestled within soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls. Infused with butter, olive oil, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce these sliders bring a perfect balance of savory and subtle sweetness that I simply had to share.
I recently came across a twist on the classic slider and I just had to share it. Imagine biting into a tender roast beef slice on a pillow of a sweet Hawaiian roll, all layered with caramelized yellow onions that have been slowly cooked in butter and olive oil with a touch of sugar, salt, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
With 1 lb of thinly sliced roast beef and 8 oz of shredded Gruyère cheese melting over it, these French Onion Beef Sliders are a game changer. They remind me a bit of a hearty French onion soup in slider form, but with a modern twist for parties or game day.
I love how the ingredients come together creating an easy to make, yet super satisfying, slider that will have everyone asking for seconds. Trust me, you’ll be surprised how fast these goodies disappear from the table.
Why I Like this Recipe
I love this recipe because first, the sweet Hawaiian rolls get toasted just right so they soak up all the flavors, which makes every bite super satisfying. Second, when I combine the tender roast beef with the caramelized onions, it creates a mix of sweet and savory that I can’t resist. Third, the gooey melted Gruyère cheese gives the whole thing a rich, melty texture that makes it taste like a gourmet treat even though its so simple to make. Lastly, I dig that this recipe comes together quickly, so I can have an awesome game day snack without spending hours in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- Hawaiian rolls add a sweet, soft, carbohydrate-rich base perfect for layering savory flavors.
- Thinly sliced roast beef provides lean protein and rich, meaty flavor that really satisfies.
- Yellow onions deliver natural sweetness, extra fiber, and a tangy bite when slowly caramelized.
- Olive oil contributes healthy monounsaturated fats and enhances the dish with a subtle richness.
- Gruyère cheese adds a nutty, creamy melt along with extra savory depth to these sliders.
- Unsalted butter helps caramelize onions and gives a rich, smooth finish to the mix.
- A splash of Worcestershire sauce injects tangy umami flavors, uniting the savory, sweet, and rich ingredients.
Ingredient Quantities
- 12 sweet Hawaiian rolls
- 1 lb thinly sliced roast beef
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- A little splash of Worcestershire sauce
- 8 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded
How to Make this
1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. In a large skillet, melt the butter along with the olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add the thinly sliced onions, sugar, salt, and a few grinds of black pepper to the skillet.
4. Cook the onions slowly for about 20 minutes until they get nice and caramelized, stirring a few times and adding a splash of Worcestershire sauce near the end.
5. While the onions are cooking, cut each of the 12 Hawaiian rolls in half and arrange them on a baking sheet.
6. Place a few slices of roast beef on the bottom half of each roll.
7. Spoon a generous helping of those sweet, savory onions over the roast beef.
8. Evenly sprinkle the shredded Gruyère cheese on top of the onions.
9. Put the top halves of the rolls over and slide the tray into the oven for about 5 to 7 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and everything’s warm.
10. Remove the sliders from the oven, let them cool slightly, and then serve ’em up hot for game day. Enjoy!
Equipment Needed
1. Oven
2. Large skillet
3. Spatula or wooden spoon
4. Knife
5. Cutting board
6. Baking sheet
7. Measuring spoons
FAQ
French Onion Beef Sliders Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Instead of sweet Hawaiian rolls, try using brioche buns or slider rolls for a richer, buttery taste
- If you cant find thinly sliced roast beef, thin slices of deli turkey or even brisket work great and add a unique twist
- You can swap yellow onions for red onions if you want a slightly sharper flavor in your onions
- Not got unsalted butter? Use salted butter or margarine instead which still gives you that smooth melt
- If Gruyère cheese is hard to source, Swiss or Jarlsberg cheese are good alternatives that melt nicely
Pro Tips
1. When you’re caramelizing those onions, be sure to cook them low and slow. If you crank up the heat too high, they might burn and lose that rich, sweet flavor. It helps to stir ’em occasionally and keep an eye on ’em so they turn the perfect shade of golden brown.
2. A neat trick is to let the roast beef warm up gently before you pile it onto your Hawaiian rolls. This way you get a consistent flavor and you avoid the meat from drying out when reheated too much in the oven.
3. Once your sliders come out of the oven, let ’em sit for a minute or two. This little rest time not only stops you from burning your tongue on hot melted cheese, but also lets all the flavors meld together better.
4. If you’re feeling extra creative, try adding a tiny splash more Worcestershire sauce or even a hint of mustard on the beef. It gives an extra kick that complements the sweetness of the rolls and onions real nicely.

French Onion Beef Sliders Recipe
These Hawaiian Roll Sliders combine tender roast beef, sweet caramelized yellow onions, and shredded Gruyère nestled within soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls. Infused with butter, olive oil, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce these sliders bring a perfect balance of savory and subtle sweetness that I simply had to share.
12
servings
327
kcal
Equipment: 1. Oven
2. Large skillet
3. Spatula or wooden spoon
4. Knife
5. Cutting board
6. Baking sheet
7. Measuring spoons
Ingredients
-
12 sweet Hawaiian rolls
-
1 lb thinly sliced roast beef
-
2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
-
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
-
1 tablespoon olive oil
-
1 teaspoon sugar
-
1/2 teaspoon salt
-
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
-
A little splash of Worcestershire sauce
-
8 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter along with the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the thinly sliced onions, sugar, salt, and a few grinds of black pepper to the skillet.
- Cook the onions slowly for about 20 minutes until they get nice and caramelized, stirring a few times and adding a splash of Worcestershire sauce near the end.
- While the onions are cooking, cut each of the 12 Hawaiian rolls in half and arrange them on a baking sheet.
- Place a few slices of roast beef on the bottom half of each roll.
- Spoon a generous helping of those sweet, savory onions over the roast beef.
- Evenly sprinkle the shredded Gruyère cheese on top of the onions.
- Put the top halves of the rolls over and slide the tray into the oven for about 5 to 7 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and everything's warm.
- Remove the sliders from the oven, let them cool slightly, and then serve 'em up hot for game day. Enjoy!
Notes
- Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 155g
- Total number of serves: 12
- Calories: 327kcal
- Fat: 14.6g
- Saturated Fat: 4.1g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Polyunsaturated: 2g
- Monounsaturated: 6g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
- Sodium: 400mg
- Potassium: 450mg
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2.2g
- Sugar: 5g
- Protein: 43g
- Vitamin A: 300IU
- Vitamin C: 2mg
- Calcium: 300mg
- Iron: 2mg