Description
These French Onion Beef Sliders are a perfect crowd-pleaser, combining caramelized sweet onions and seasoned ground beef topped with melted Gruyere cheese, all nestled inside soft slider buns. Enhanced with a savory beefy butter glaze and aromatic herbs, these sliders are easy to prepare, baked to perfection, and ideal for gatherings or game days.
Ingredients
Beef and Onion Mixture
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, divided
- 2 large sweet onions, sliced
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 tablespoons beef base (such as Better than Bouillon), divided
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, divided
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Slider Assembly
- 24 slider buns
- 12-16 ounces Gruyere or Swiss cheese, shredded
Topping
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly caramelized and soft, about 25-30 minutes. If the onions begin to dry out or burn, add a tablespoon of water to keep them moist.
- Prepare Beef Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with half of the beef base and half of the Worcestershire sauce. Season generously with kosher salt and black pepper, then mix until well combined.
- Cook Beef and Onions: Add the seasoned ground beef mixture to the skillet with the caramelized onions. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, breaking up the beef and stirring frequently, until the beef is fully browned. Drain off any excess grease once cooked.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Buns: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet. Separate the tops from the bottoms of the slider buns. Arrange the bottom buns tightly together on the baking sheet.
- Assemble Sliders: Evenly distribute the beef and onion mixture over the bottom buns. Top each slider with a generous amount of shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese, then cover with the top buns.
- Make Beefy Butter Glaze: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the remaining butter with the leftover beef base. Stir in the remaining Worcestershire sauce until well combined. Using a pastry brush, generously brush this glaze over the tops of the slider buns.
- Add Toppings and Bake: Sprinkle the glazed tops with sesame seeds, fresh thyme, onion powder, and garlic powder. Bake the sliders in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the bun tops are lightly browned.
Notes
- If you prefer, you can substitute Swiss cheese for Gruyere.
- Make sure to stir the onions occasionally while caramelizing to prevent burning and to ensure even cooking.
- You can add a splash of water or broth if the pan dries out during caramelization to help keep the onions moist.
- For easier cleanup, line the baking sheet with parchment paper or foil before assembling the sliders.
- These sliders can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking; just add a few extra minutes to baking time if baking cold.
- To enhance the flavor, consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika to the beef mixture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
