These Big Mac Sliders are even better than fast food! With juicy beef, melted cheese, and creamy special sauce topped off with crisp lettuce and pickles on soft Hawaiian buns, these mini Big Mac sliders are great for parties or easy dinners. Everyone will love them!
When I need to serve an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer, these mini Big Mac Sliders deliver! They’re a terrific handheld food that’s perfect for game days, birthdays, or just about any party. The only problem is that people always want more!
Honestly, these Big Mac sliders with Hawaiian rolls are great for quick and easy dinners, too. Serve them up with a batch of potato wedges or herb-roasted potatoes and a veggie side and dinner’s on the table in 30 minutes!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Easy to make – Sliders might be two-or-three-bite size burgers, but you don’t have to make them one at a time! Grab some buttery Hawaiian rolls, slice them in half, bake your sliders in one big block, then tear them off and eat. Seriously SO easy!
- Done in 30 minutes – These copycat Big Mac sliders take just a half hour to make. That’s maybe even faster than a trip to McD’s and no drive-thru to deal with!
- They taste JUST like a Big Mac! – Everyone will think they’re at McDonalds when they bite into these Big Mac sliders, with all the elements of the popular fast food burger made right at home.
- Perfect party food – Big Mac sliders are an amazing party appetizer, especially for game days!
Recipe Notes
This Big Mac Sliders recipe is as simple as promised! Just 30 minutes from start to finish for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Big Mac Sliders to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
For the Big Mac sauce
- Mayonnaise – Use your favorite kind of mayonnaise. Miracle Whip will work, too.
- Sweet pickle relish – Adds the perfect amount of sweetness so your special sauce tastes just like the real thing.
- Mustard – Tangy yellow mustard is what’s called for here. You can substitute Dijon, but the sauce won’t quite taste like the real thing.
- White vinegar – Adds a tangy note to the sauce.
- Smoked paprika – A bit of this flavor-packed spice adds a smoky touch.
- Garlic powder & onion powder – For loads of flavor! You can sub in a clove of finely minced fresh garlic and/or 2 teaspoons of finely minced onion instead.
For the sliders
- Hawaiian rolls – Buttery and soft Hawaiian rolls make the most amazing slider “bun!” Brioche rolls work well here, too.
- American cheese – Pre-sliced American cheese gets melty and perfect on these Big Mac sliders. You can sub in cheddar cheese if you like.
- Onion – Yellow or white onion work well.
- Lettuce – Classic iceberg lettuce adds the right amount of crispness and is most authentically Big-Mac-like. You can swap in thinly shredded Romaine lettuce if you prefer.
- Dill pickles – Sliced dill pickles are a Big Mac must! If you prefer sweet pickles, they’ll work too.
For the glaze
- Butter – Melted butter brushed on the buns adds flavor and gives the sesame seeds something to adhere to.
- Sesame seeds – Found in the spice section of the grocery store, sesame seeds sprinkled on top of the rolls give a Big-Mac-bun appearance. They’re delicious, too!
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Dairy-Free Big Mac Sliders– Leave the American cheese off or replace it with a dairy-free American cheese substitute, and use olive oil or dairy-free butter to brush the buns.
- Double Big Mac Sliders– Double the amount of ground beef. They’ll be messy, but they’ll also be amazing!
- Mushroom Swiss Big Mac Sliders– Replace the American cheese with slices of Swiss cheese and top the ground beef with sautéed mushrooms before baking.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Big Mac Sliders.
Cut slider rolls in half and arrange the bottoms cut-side up in a casserole dish. Top with the slices of cheese in a single layer.
Spread the cooked ground beef over the top along with the onions. Add the roll tops, brush with butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake until warmed through.
Remove the top of the rolls and cover the warm filling with lettuce, sauce, and pickles.
Place the tops of the rolls, cut-side down, back over the top, and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Go with 10% or 7% fat ground beef – Lean ground beef works well for these sliders. If you prefer ground beef with more fat, you can use that, just be sure to spoon out all of the extra liquid while cooking to avoid soggy buns.
- Don’t stir the ground beef too much when cooking it – Letting the beef form a brown crust when cooking it will give these homemade Big Mac sliders the most flavor.
- Put the cheese UNDER the meat – This makes it easier to take the top off when you add your lettuce and pickles and helps prevent the rolls from getting soggy.
- Add the sesame seeds RIGHT after you brush the rolls with butter – If you wait too long after brushing them, the sesame seeds won’t stick.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use store-bought Thousand Island – When you’re short on time, Thousand Island dressing mixed with pickle relish will work well in place of the homemade Big Mac sauce.
- Do some prep ahead of time – Cook the ground beef and refrigerate it up to 3 days ahead of time. You can also make and refrigerate the Big Mac sauce up to 3 days ahead of time.
- Use pre-shredded lettuce – Instead of cutting the lettuce yourself, buy pre-shredded lettuce in the produce section of the grocery store.
- Buy sliced pickles instead of whole pickles – Avoid having to do any slicing by selecting pre-sliced pickles .
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this Big Mac Sliders recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 1 month.
- Assemble the sliders up to the point of adding the sesame seeds. Place the layer of tops over the top and cover tightly with foil.
- Transfer to the freezer for up to 1 month.
- Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours. Proceed with baking the sliders, then adding the lettuce and pickles.
What to Serve with Big Mac Sliders
Since this protein-based dinner has the delicious flavors of classic cheeseburgers, it will pair well with many of your favorite all-American side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
Big Mac Sliders Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Recipe FAQ’s
What is the closest thing to Big Mac sauce?
Thousand Island dressing mixed with pickle relish makes a sauce very close in looks and taste to Big Mac special sauce.
Can I make Big Mac sliders in the air fryer?
If you have a large enough air fryer, yes! Watch your Big Mac sliders closely as they will warm faster in the air fryer vs. the oven. If you don’t use the casserole dish, make sure you have something in place to catch any leaks.
What makes a burger a slider?
A slider is a smaller version of a traditional burger. They’re served up on small (2-3″) buns or on rolls vs. a full-size burger bun.
How many sliders should I plan on per person?
It’s safe to plan on an average of 1-2 sliders per person, for an an appetizer, 2-4 for a meal.
More EASY Slider Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy sandwich and slider recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
- Meatball Parmesan Sliders
- Hawaiian Roll Cheeseburger Sliders
- Italian Grinder Sliders
Big Mac Sliders
Ingredients
For the Beef
- 1 lbs ground beef
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
For the Big Mac Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- 2 tsp mustard
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
For the Glaze
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
For the Sliders
- 12 slider rolls, Hawaiian rolls, or brioche rolls
- 6 slices American cheese
- 1/4 yellow onion, finely diced
- 5 oz iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 1/4 cup dill pickles, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until the meat is cooked through and browned. Drain the beef, then return to the skillet, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- To make the sauce, combine the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, mustard, vinegar, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder and mix until evenly combined.
- Cut the slider rolls in half. Arrange the bottoms in a casserole dish. Place the cheese over the bottoms, then spread the ground beef over the top and sprinkle with onion. Place the roll tops on the rolls then brush with melted butter and sprinkle sesame seeds on top.IMPORTANT: Make sure to put the cheese under the meat, or it will de difficult to take the tops off the rolls to add the veggie toppings. If you accidentally put the cheese on top, I recommend placing the roll tops on a separate baking sheet next to the bottoms so that they can all heat/toast without sticking together.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the Big Mac Sliders are heated through and golden. Remove from the tops from the sliders and top with shredded lettuce, Big Mac sauce, and pickles. Replace the tops and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Mayonnaise: Miracle whip can be used in place of the mayo.
- Cheese: Sliced cheddar can be used instead of American cheese.
- Rolls: Potato rolls can be used in place of the Hawaiian or Brioche rolls.
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