When it comes to casual entertaining, game day parties, or just feeding a hungry family on a busy weeknight, you simply cannot beat the appeal of a warm, cheesy slider. If you are looking for a recipe that is pure, unadulterated comfort food, you have to try these incredibly popular White Trash Sliders.
Don’t let the quirky, unconventional name fool you this retro recipe (sometimes called Hanky Panks or Loose Meat Sliders) is an absolute masterpiece of flavor and simplicity. Made with a savory blend of ground beef and beef sausage, seasoned to perfection, and smothered in rich, melty Velveeta cheese, this meat mixture is scooped onto soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls for the ultimate bite.
Why You Will Love This Slider Recipe
If you need a recipe that requires minimal effort but delivers maximum flavor, this one checks every single box. Here is why these easy sliders will become a permanent fixture in your recipe rotation:
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Incredibly Fast: From start to finish, you only need about 20 minutes. Just brown the meat, melt the cheese, and assemble the rolls!
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Budget-Friendly: By mixing ground beef with beef sausage and using an affordable block of Velveeta, you can feed a massive crowd for just a few dollars. It makes 24 individual sliders!
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Crowd-Pleasing: Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love melted cheese and savory meat on a sweet bun? Kids love the gooey texture, and adults love the rich, nostalgic flavor.
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Perfect for Meal Prep: You can easily make the cheesy meat mixture a day or two in advance. When it is time to eat, simply reheat the filling and spoon it onto fresh slider buns.
Ingredients You Will Need
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You only need a handful of basic, affordable ingredients to create a massive tray of delicious sandwiches.
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Ground Beef: 1 pound of lean ground beef (80/20 or 90/10 works best to avoid excess grease).
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Ground beef Sausage: 1 pound of mild beef breakfast sausage. Tip: Avoid using Italian sausage or sage-flavored sausage, as those bold spices will overpower the cheese and clash with the other flavors!
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Velveeta Cheese: 16 ounces (a standard 1-pound block) of Velveeta cheese, cut into large cubes. Velveeta is essential here because it melts down into a perfectly smooth, creamy sauce that binds the loose meat together.
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Worcestershire Sauce: 1 to 2 teaspoons. This adds a deep, savory, umami flavor that elevates the ground beef.
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Seasonings: 1 teaspoon of black pepper and ½ teaspoon of onion powder. You generally do not need to add extra salt, as the sausage and Velveeta are already quite salty.
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Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: 24 slider buns. The sweetness of the Hawaiian rolls perfectly balances the salty, savory filling.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making these sliders is essentially a one-pan process, making cleanup an absolute breeze.
1. Brown the Meat
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your ground beef and beef sausage to the pan. Use a wooden spoon or a meat chopper to break the meat apart into very small crumbles as it cooks. Cook for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until the meat is completely browned and cooked through.
2. Drain the Grease
This is a crucial step! Because you are using beef sausage and ground beef, there will be excess fat in the pan. To prevent your sliders from becoming soggy and greasy, carefully drain off as much of the fat as possible, leaving just a tiny bit behind for flavor.
3. Add the Flavor and Cheese
Reduce your stovetop heat to medium-low. Add the Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and onion powder to the browned meat and stir to combine. Next, add your cubes of Velveeta cheese.
4. Melt It Down
Continuously stir the mixture over low heat until the Velveeta cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and acts as a thick, creamy sauce coating all of the meat. Once the cheese is melted, remove the skillet from the heat.
5. Assemble the Sliders
Take your sweet Hawaiian rolls and slice them in half horizontally (if they aren’t pre-sliced). You can assemble these as one giant pull-apart sheet, or separate the rolls first. Generously spoon the hot, cheesy meat mixture over the bottom halves of the rolls, spreading it out to the edges. Place the top buns over the meat, serve warm, and enjoy the messy, gooey goodness!
Easy White Trash Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 lb mild beef sausage
- 1 lb mild pork sausage not sage or Italian
- 16 oz Velveeta cheese cut into cubes
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 24 sweet Hawaiian rolls slider buns
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef and beef sausage, breaking it into crumbles, until fully browned.
- Drain excess grease thoroughly from the skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and onion powder.
- Add cubed Velveeta cheese and stir continuously until fully melted and smooth.
- Slice Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally.
- Spoon the hot cheesy meat mixture onto the bottom halves of the rolls.
- Place the top buns over the filling and serve immediately.
Notes
What to Serve with White Trash Sliders
Because these sliders are so rich and savory, they pair wonderfully with fresh, crisp sides or fun, party-themed appetizers. If you are hosting a summer barbecue or a potluck, try serving these alongside a cool, refreshing dessert like our Walking Strawberry Pretzel Salad.
For holiday parties, especially summer gatherings, nothing finishes off a slider feast quite like a spectacular, colorful dessert. We highly recommend checking out our festive Patriotic Poke Cake.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
To Store: If you have leftover sliders, it is actually best to store the meat mixture separately from the buns so the bread doesn’t get soggy. Store the cheesy beef mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To Reheat: Simply scoop the cold meat mixture into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals until hot and bubbly. Spoon onto fresh slider buns and serve!