10 Crowd-Pleasing Slider Recipes for Game Day

Whenever I’ve got people coming over, sliders are one of the first things on the menu. They’re easy to make, easy to serve, and they always disappear the fastest. I nearly always make two different kinds because people love trying a bit of everything!

This collection has plenty of options to choose from so you can absolutely make sliders your thing without getting bored, from classic cheeseburger sliders and spicy Buffalo chicken to slow-cooked Mississippi pot roast and Italian deli-inspired favorites. Whether you’re hosting game day, feeding a hungry crowd, or just want something fun and easy for dinner, I think you’re going to love these ideas. 

Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders 

These sliders taste just like your favorite bacon cheeseburger, only they’re even easier to serve to a crowd! Juicy seasoned beef, crispy bacon, plenty of melted cheddar, and soft Hawaiian rolls make them the game day food everyone reaches for first.

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

• 1½ lbs lean ground beef (85/15)
• ½ large onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
• ⅓ cup burger sauce or secret sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 12 King’s Hawaiian rolls
• 12 slices cheddar cheese, divided

Butter Topping:

• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• Sesame seeds, for topping

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet or baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic, and cook until the beef is browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
3. Stir in the burger sauce, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder until well combined.
4. Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the tops and bottoms connected. Place the bottom half on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Layer 6 slices of cheddar cheese over the rolls, followed by the beef mixture, the remaining 6 slices of cheddar, and the crumbled bacon. Place the tops of the rolls back on.
6. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Brush the mixture generously over the tops of the rolls, then sprinkle with sesame seeds.
7. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 15–20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes, if desired, until the tops are golden and lightly toasted.
8. Serve warm with burger toppings like pickles, sliced red onion, tomato, shredded lettuce, and extra burger sauce.

Italian Deli Sub Sliders

If you always orders the Italian sub at the deli, these sliders are for you. They’re packed with layers of ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone, and tangy pepperoncini, all baked into soft Hawaiian rolls. I like adding the shredded lettuce after baking so it stays crisp, just like a proper deli sandwich!

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

• 12 King’s Hawaiian rolls
• ½ lb deli ham
• ½ lb sliced salami
• ¼ lb sliced pepperoni
• 12 slices provolone cheese
• ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
• ½ red onion, chopped
• ½ cup sliced pepperoncini peppers, drained
• 1½ cups shredded lettuce

Butter Topping:

• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet or baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the tops and bottoms connected. Place the bottom half on the prepared baking sheet.
3. Layer the ham, salami, pepperoni, and provolone cheese over the rolls. Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, then top with the chopped tomatoes, red onion, and pepperoncini peppers. Place the tops of the rolls back on. (If you prefer crisp lettuce, wait and add it after baking.)
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Brush the mixture over the tops of the rolls, then sprinkle with the grated Parmesan.
5. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 15–20 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes, if you’d like the tops extra golden.
6. If you waited to add the lettuce, lift off the top buns, scatter over the shredded lettuce, then replace the tops.
7. Slice into individual sliders and serve warm.

BBQ Chicken Sliders 

Sweet, smoky BBQ chicken and crunchy coleslaw are a combination that never gets old. These sliders are easy enough for a weeknight but they’re even better when you’ve got friends over to watch the game. The caramelized onions are worth the extra few minutes – they add so much flavor!

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, sliced
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 12 King’s Hawaiian rolls
• 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (skin and bones removed)
• 1 cup BBQ sauce

Butter Topping:

• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon dried parsley

Coleslaw:

• 2 cups coleslaw mix
• 3 tablespoons coleslaw dressing

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet or baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion with a pinch of salt and pepper, then cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly caramelized.
3. Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the tops and bottoms connected. Place the bottom half on the prepared baking sheet.
4. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, caramelized onions, and BBQ sauce until the chicken is evenly coated. Spread the mixture over the bottom buns and place the tops back on.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, and parsley. Brush the mixture over the tops of the rolls.
6. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 15–20 minutes, until heated through. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes, if desired, for a more toasted top.
7. Meanwhile, toss the coleslaw mix with the dressing.
8. Remove the tops of the sliders, spread the coleslaw over the BBQ chicken, replace the tops, then slice and serve warm.

Buffalo Chicken Tender Sliders 

 

Cranberry Turkey Sliders 

BLT Sliders 

Sometimes the simplest sliders are the first to disappear. Crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, crunchy lettuce, and plenty of mayo are all you need to turn a classic BLT into an easy party snack. Serve them alongside chips and pickles and watch the tray empty in no time.

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

• 12 slider rolls
• 12 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and halved
• ¾ cup mayonnaise
• 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced about ⅛-inch thick
• Shredded iceberg lettuce

Optional Garnish:

• 12 cherry tomatoes
• 12 small kale leaves

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Slice the slider rolls in half horizontally and place the tops and bottoms cut-side up on a baking sheet. Toast for 5–7 minutes, or until lightly golden.
3. Spread about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise over the cut side of each top bun.
4. Layer the bottom buns with the tomato slices, followed by two pieces of bacon on each slider.
5. Top with a generous handful of shredded iceberg lettuce.
6. Place the top buns over the lettuce.
7. If desired, secure each slider with a toothpick topped with a cherry tomato and a small kale leaf.
8. Separate the sliders and serve immediately.

Big Mac Sliders 

If Big Macs are your fast food order of choice, you’re going to love these. They’ve got all the flavors of the real thing – seasoned beef, melty American cheese, pickles, shredded lettuce, onions, and that famous-style burger sauce – but they’re much easier to make for a crowd.

Serve: 12

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 12 Hawaiian rolls
• 6 slices American cheese
• ½ cup diced white onion
• 5 oz shredded iceberg lettuce
• ½ cup sliced dill pickles

Butter Topping:

• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Big Mac-Style Sauce:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 3 tablespoons pickle relish
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet or baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper, and cook for about 10 minutes, breaking up the meat as it browns. Drain any excess grease if needed.
3. Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the tops and bottoms connected. Place the bottom half on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Layer the American cheese over the rolls, then spread the cooked beef evenly on top. Sprinkle over the diced onion and place the tops of the rolls back on.
5. Brush the tops with the melted butter and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Bake for about 12 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the tops are lightly toasted.
6. Meanwhile, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, pickle relish, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika until smooth.
7. Remove the sliders from the oven and carefully lift off the top buns. Add the shredded lettuce, drizzle generously with the Big Mac-style sauce, and top with the sliced dill pickles.
8. Replace the tops, slice into individual sliders, and serve immediately.

Breakfast Sliders 

These breakfast sliders are brilliant for early kickoffs, but they’re great at any time of the day if you want something a bit different! Packed with sausage, bacon, fluffy eggs, and melty cheese on soft pretzel buns, they’re hearty enough to keep everyone going. The maple butter brushed over the tops is a small touch that makes a big difference.

Serves: 9

Ingredients:

• 9 mini pretzel slider buns, sliced into tops and bottoms
• 4–5 strips bacon
• 16 oz ground pork sausage
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of freshly cracked black pepper
• 4 slices Colby Jack cheese

Maple Butter Topping:

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Optional Garnish:

• Fresh chopped parsley

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking dish or baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
3. Drain most of the bacon grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the skillet. Add the sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Remove from the heat.
4. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a second skillet over medium heat, then gently scramble the eggs until just set.
5. Arrange the bottom halves of the pretzel buns in the prepared baking dish. Layer with the cooked sausage, scrambled eggs, Colby Jack cheese, and bacon. Place the tops of the buns back on.
6. Melt the remaining butter and stir in the maple syrup. Brush the mixture over the tops of the buns.
7. Bake uncovered for 10–15 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the sliders are heated through.
8. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired, and serve warm.

Try a few of these at your next game day gathering and be sure to come back and let me know how they go down with your crowd! If you’ve got any questions about any of these recipes, just leave them below and I’ll get back to you ASAP.