Description
These French Onion Beef Sliders combine tender caramelized onions, savory ground beef infused with beef base and Worcestershire sauce, and melted gruyere or Swiss cheese, all sandwiched between soft slider buns. Perfect for feeding a crowd, these sliders are baked to golden perfection with a flavorful butter glaze topped with sesame seeds, fresh thyme, onion powder, and garlic powder for an irresistible appetizer or party snack.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Caramelized Onions:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 large sweet onions, sliced
For the Beef Mixture:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 tablespoon beef base (such as Better than Bouillon)
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Sliders Assembly:
- 24 slider buns
- 12-16 ounces gruyere or Swiss cheese, shredded
For the Topping Butter Glaze:
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon beef base (such as Better than Bouillon)
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: Melt 2 tablespoons of 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 start to dry out or burn, add a tablespoon of water to the pan to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Beef Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with half of the beef base and half of the Worcestershire sauce. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste, then mix gently to combine.
- Brown the Beef with Onions: Add the beef mixture to the skillet containing the caramelized onions. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, breaking up the beef with a spatula, until browned and cooked through. Drain off any excess grease from the pan once the beef is fully browned.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet and separate the slider buns by removing the tops from the bottoms. Arrange the bottom buns tightly on the baking sheet to form the base for the sliders.
- Assemble Sliders: Evenly spread the beef and onion mixture over the bottom buns. Generously top the beef with shredded gruyere or Swiss cheese. Place the top buns over the cheese to close each slider.
- Prepare Butter Glaze: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the remaining beef base and Worcestershire sauce until fully combined. Using a pastry brush, evenly brush this flavorful butter mixture over the top buns of all sliders.
- Add Seasoning and Bake: Sprinkle the top buns with sesame seeds, fresh thyme, onion powder, and garlic powder to add texture and flavor. Bake the sliders in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tops are lightly browned and toasted.
Notes
- If you want deeper caramelized onion flavor, cook the onions slowly on low heat and consider adding a pinch of sugar to enhance caramelization.
- Gruyere cheese melts beautifully and adds a nutty flavor, but Swiss cheese is a great substitute.
- Use fresh thyme for brightness, but dried thyme can be used if fresh is unavailable.
- These sliders are best served warm right out of the oven but can be reheated gently in the oven to retain texture.
- For a lower sodium version, reduce the amount of beef base and Worcestershire sauce or choose low-sodium alternatives.
