Smoked Cheeseburger Sliders

These Smoked Cheeseburger Sliders take traditional burgers and turn them into an easy slider recipe packed with smoky flavor, melted pepper jack cheese, crispy bacon, and caramelized onions.

Instead of cooking individual patties, the entire beef mixture smokes as one large patty, making this sliders recipe an easy way to feed the entire family. Then, everything gets finished with a creamy, smoky baconnaise sauce for an amazing taste in every bite.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

First, these smoked cheeseburger sliders are incredibly easy to make. Rather than shaping individual burgers, you simply press the meat mixture into the tray from the slider rolls and then transfer it onto a wire rack.

Next, smoking the burger at 250°F adds incredible smoke flavor while the pepper jack cheese melts right into the beef mixture. Meanwhile, crispy bacon and caramelized onions bring even more savory flavor and texture.

Finally, the homemade baconnaise sauce ties everything together. With sweet relish, ketchup, hot honey, mustard, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and crispy bacon, this special sauce adds a sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy finish.

Whether you are planning game day, a weeknight dinner, or your next party, these sliders are a great recipe to have ready.

Ingredients For Smoked Cheeseburger Sliders

Smoked Cheeseburger Sliders

• 1½ pounds 80/20 ground beef
• 1 package King’s Hawaiian Pretzel Rolls
• 2 tablespoons burger seasoning
• 4 ounces pepper jack cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes
• 1 large egg
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced

Baconnaise Sauce

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup crispy bacon, crumbled
• ¼ cup sweet relish
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon hot honey
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon chives, finely sliced
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

These simple ingredients work together to create juicy burgers with plenty of flavor. In particular, the pepper jack cheese cubes melt throughout the beef mixture instead of sitting on top like traditional cheese slices.

How to Make Smoked Cheeseburger Sliders

1. Make the Beef Mixture

First, add the ground beef, cubed pepper jack cheese, egg, and breadcrumbs to a large bowl. Then, sprinkle in the burger seasoning.

Mix everything thoroughly until the beef mixture is evenly combined. Be careful not to overwork the meat, because keeping the mixture loose will help create tender, juicy burgers.

2. Form the Slider Patty

Next, remove the Hawaiian pretzel rolls from their packaging. Keep the rolls together, then use the white tray they came in to shape the beef mixture.

Press the meat mixture evenly into the tray, making sure it reaches all the edges. This creates one large patty that will fit perfectly beneath the slider buns.

3. Smoke the Burger

Meanwhile, lightly oil a wire rack. Carefully transfer the beef mixture from the packaging onto the rack.

Place the rack on your smoker and cook at 250°F for approximately 45 minutes. During this time, the burger develops a delicious smoky flavor while the pepper jack cheese begins melting throughout the meat.

4. Cook the Bacon

While the burger smokes, cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy.

Once the bacon is finished, remove it from the skillet and place it on a paper towel-lined pan. Allow it to cool slightly, then crumble it into small pieces for the baconnaise sauce.

5. Caramelize the Onions

Do not clean the skillet yet. Instead, use the flavorful bacon grease to cook the onions.

Add approximately 2 tablespoons of bacon grease to the skillet, then add the thinly sliced onion. Cook over medium heat for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions become soft and golden brown.

6. Make the Baconnaise Sauce

While the onions cook, combine the mayonnaise, crispy bacon, sweet relish, ketchup, hot honey, yellow mustard, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chives, and black pepper in a small bowl.

Mix thoroughly until all the ingredients are combined.

Then, refrigerate the sauce until you are ready to assemble the sliders.

7. Check the Burger

After approximately 45 minutes, check the burger’s internal temperature.

Remove the burger from the smoker once it reaches 150°F internal temperature. Let it rest briefly before assembling the sliders.

8. Assemble the Sliders

Now comes the fun part.

Toast the slider rolls until the tops and bottom buns are lightly golden brown. Next, spread a generous layer of baconnaise sauce over the bottom half of the rolls.

Place the smoked burger patty on top.

Then, add another layer of baconnaise sauce followed by the caramelized onions.

Finally, place the top half of the rolls over the burger.

9. Slice and Serve

Using a sharp knife, slice through the entire slider block to separate each slider individually.

Serve immediately while the cheese is melty and the burger is warm. Then, dig in and Enjoy!

Expert Tips on Smoked Cheeseburger Sliders

• Use 80/20 ground beef: The extra fat helps create juicy burgers while adding rich flavor.
• Keep the rolls together: This makes it much easier to create one large patty that fits the slider buns.
• Do not skip the bacon grease: Cooking the onions in bacon grease adds another layer of savory flavor.
• Check the internal temperature: Always use an instant-read thermometer to verify the burger reaches 150°F.
• Chill the sauce: Refrigerating the baconnaise sauce gives the flavors time to come together.
• Toast the rolls: Golden brown slider buns provide a slightly crisp texture that balances the tender beef.

Smoked Cheeseburger Sliders Variations

There are plenty of delicious ways to customize these sliders. For example, swap the pepper jack cheese for cheddar cheese if you prefer a more traditional cheeseburger flavor.

For more heat, add extra red pepper flakes or use a spicy hot honey. You can also add crispy onion rings, jalapeños, or your favorite toppings.

If you are serving these for game day, set out additional baconnaise sauce so everyone can add a little extra to their own sliders.

Storage

Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For the best texture, store the burger and sauce separately from the slider buns when possible.

When you are ready to eat, gently reheat the burger before assembling the sliders again. Add fresh sauce and toppings before serving.

FAQs About Smoked Cheeseburger Sliders

Can I use regular slider buns? Absolutely. While King’s Hawaiian Pretzel Rolls add extra flavor and texture, regular slider buns work just as well.

Can I make these sliders ahead of time? Yes. You can prepare the baconnaise sauce and caramelized onions ahead of time. Then, smoke the burger closer to serving so the sliders stay warm and juicy.

What cheese works best for smoked cheeseburger sliders? Pepper jack cheese is a great choice because it melts throughout the beef mixture while adding a mild kick. Cheddar cheese is another excellent option.

What should I serve with cheeseburger sliders? Serve these sliders with fries, onion rings, potato salad, or a crisp side salad. For game day, crunchy chips also make an easy side dish.

Final Thoughts on Smoked Cheeseburger Sliders

These Smoked Cheeseburger Sliders bring everything you love about a cheeseburger into an easy, shareable meal. First, the smoky beef delivers rich BBQ flavor. Then, the melted pepper jack cheese adds creaminess, while crispy bacon and caramelized onions provide savory texture.

Finally, the homemade baconnaise sauce pulls every flavor together. So, whether you are feeding the family on a busy weeknight or preparing food for your next party, these sliders are an easy recipe everyone will want seconds of.

More Delicious Slider Recipes

Raspberry Jalapeno Ham and Cheese Sliders – Sweet raspberry jalapeño jam, smoky ham, and melted Swiss cheese come together on Hawaiian rolls for an irresistible sweet-and-spicy slider perfect for parties or leftovers.

Smoked Birria Sliders – Tender smoked beef, melty Oaxaca cheese, onions, and cilantro are piled onto slider buns, then served with rich birria consommé for the ultimate smoky, cheesy bite.

Hot Italian Sub Sliders – Ham, salami, pepperoni, melted provolone, pepper jack, and tangy banana peppers come together on soft Hawaiian rolls for an easy, cheesy Italian-inspired slider everyone will love.

Grilled Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders – Juicy grilled chicken, crispy bacon, melted cheese, and ranch seasoning come together on soft Hawaiian rolls for an easy slider recipe perfect for game day or weeknight dinners.

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