Introduction

These Cheesy French Onion Pull-Apart Sliders are a flavorful crowd-pleaser, combining caramelized onions, seasoned ground beef, and melted provolone cheese on soft slider buns. Perfect for game days, parties, or a delicious family meal, they are easy to assemble and bake to gooey, savory perfection.

A white baking tray filled with 15 golden brown slider buns arranged in a 3 by 5 grid, each bun split in the middle and stuffed with a filling of ground meat mixed with cooked onions and melted white cheese. A woman's hand is pulling up one slider from the center, stretching the melted cheese in long, gooey strands. In the background, there is a white plate with two slider halves that show the same meat and cheese filling inside. The tray sits on a wooden board over a blue and white checkered cloth, all on a white marbled textured surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

8 tablespoons Unsalted Butter

2 Vidalia Onions

1 teaspoon Kosher Salt

1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

1 teaspoon Balsamic Vinegar

2 pounds 80/20 Lean Ground Beef

2 Onion Soup Dry Packets

2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

2 teaspoons Onion Powder

2 teaspoons Garlic Powder

2 teaspoons Dried Thyme

24 Slider Buns

8 ounces Provolone Cheese Slices

Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced Vidalia onions, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 7 minutes until onions are translucent.

Step 2: Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking the onions, stirring occasionally, for another 30 minutes until they are caramelized. Stir in balsamic vinegar and remove the skillet from heat.

Step 3: In a large bowl, combine ground beef with onion soup packets, onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper. Mix well until evenly blended.

Step 4: Add the beef mixture to the skillet and cook over medium heat, breaking the meat apart as it browns. Drain off any excess grease when done.

Step 5: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease a sheet pan with cooking spray.

Step 6: Melt 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl and set it aside for brushing.

Step 7: Using a serrated knife, carefully slice the slider buns horizontally through the middle, keeping the individual rolls attached. Arrange the bottom halves on the sheet pan with cut sides facing up. Brush the tops and bottoms of the buns with the melted butter, reserving some for the tops.

Step 8: Evenly spread the caramelized onion and beef mixture over the bottom buns. Layer provolone cheese slices evenly on top of the beef.

Step 9: Place the top halves of the buns over the cheese, brush them with the remaining melted butter, and bake the sliders in the oven for 20 minutes. Bake until the cheese is melted and the top buns are golden and lightly browned. Serve warm.

Tips & Variations

Use sweet onions like Vidalia for the best caramelized flavor; yellow onions also work well.

Try adding a dash of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper to the beef mixture for a slight smoky or spicy kick.

Swap provolone cheese with Swiss or Gruyère for a different cheesy twist.

For extra richness, stir a little Dijon mustard into the butter before brushing the buns.

FAQs

Can I prepare the caramelized onions ahead of time?

Yes, caramelized onions can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat gently before assembling the sliders.

What if I can’t find slider buns?

You can use small dinner rolls or mini sandwich buns as a substitute. Just adjust the quantity to match the amount of filling.

Dinner

Cheesy French Onion Pull-Apart Sliders Recipe