Introduction

Cowboy Butter Steak Sliders are a delicious and hearty treat perfect for gatherings or a special weeknight dinner. Featuring tender ribeye steak, rich flavored butter, caramelized onions, and creamy Havarti cheese, these sliders bring bold flavors together in a perfect handheld bite.

Cowboy Butter Steak Sliders Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds boneless steak such as ribeye, filet, or sirloin
Neutral oil, as needed
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
3 sweet onions, thinly sliced
9 slider buns
3/4 pound sliced Havarti cheese
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon chives, minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the steaks by trimming any excess fat and silver skin. Rub them with neutral oil and season generously on all sides with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Thicker steaks benefit from heavier seasoning.
Step 2: Wrap the seasoned steaks in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to penetrate.
Step 3: Make the cowboy butter by melting the butter over low heat in a saucepan, whisking continuously. Stir in the lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, paprika, cayenne, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes.
Step 4: Remove the butter mixture from heat, then stir in the minced chives and fresh parsley. Season with kosher salt and pepper to taste.
Step 5: Spoon out a few tablespoons of the cowboy butter into a small bowl for basting the steaks during grilling. Set the remaining butter aside for brushing the slider buns.
Step 6: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat with an indirect heat zone. Take the steaks out of the fridge and let them rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Step 7: Grill the steaks over direct heat for 2-3 minutes per side, avoiding charring. If flames flare, move the steaks to the indirect heat zone until the flames subside.
Step 8: Brush both sides of the steaks with the reserved cowboy butter as they cook. After about 5-6 minutes total, move the steaks to indirect heat until they reach your preferred doneness.
Step 9: Remove the steaks from the grill and let them rest on a plate tented with foil for 10 minutes before slicing thinly.
Step 10: To caramelize the onions, place a cast iron skillet on the grill over direct heat. Add a few tablespoons of butter and once melted, add the sliced onions.
Step 11: Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized, about 15 minutes.
Step 12: Preheat your oven’s broiler and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 13: Separate the slider buns and brush the inside of each bun with the remaining cowboy butter. Place slices of Havarti cheese on both the top and bottom buns. Add a layer of caramelized onions to each bottom bun.
Step 14: Arrange a few strips of sliced steak on each bottom bun. Place the buns on the baking sheet and broil for 1-2 minutes until the cheese starts to melt.
Step 15: Top with the remaining slider buns, slice if desired, and serve immediately to enjoy warm, flavorful sliders.

Tips & Variations

For extra smoky flavor, consider using a charcoal grill or adding wood chips to your gas grill.
Swap Havarti cheese with sharp cheddar or pepper jack for a different cheese profile.
Make the cowboy butter in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days; soften before using.
To add crunch, layer in pickled jalapeños or crispy fried onions within the sliders.

Storage

Store any leftover steak and onions separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Slider buns should be kept wrapped to maintain freshness. Reheat steak gently in a skillet or microwave and re-toast buns before assembling again. Avoid assembling sliders far ahead to keep buns from becoming soggy.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a different cut of steak for these sliders?

Yes, you can use filet, sirloin, or even flank steak. Just adjust cooking times based on thickness and desired doneness.

How spicy are these sliders?

The red pepper flakes and cayenne add a mild heat that complements the rich flavors. To make it less spicy, reduce or omit those ingredients from the cowboy butter.

Cowboy Butter Steak Sliders Recipe

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4.5 from 64 reviews

These Cowboy Butter Steak Sliders are a deliciously flavorful and indulgent appetizer or meal featuring juicy grilled ribeye steaks topped with a zesty homemade cowboy butter, caramelized onions, and creamy Havarti cheese, all nestled in soft slider buns. Perfect for entertaining or a hearty snack, these sliders combine bold seasoning with melt-in-your-mouth textures for an unforgettable bite.

Author: Elias
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 9 sliders (serves 4) 1x
Category: Appetizer
Method: Grilling
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

For the Steaks

1 1/2 pounds boneless steak such as ribeye, filet, or sirloin
Neutral oil (as needed for rubbing)
Kosher salt (to taste)
Freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)

For the Cowboy Butter

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon chives, minced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

For the Sliders

3 sweet onions, thinly sliced
9 slider buns
3/4 pound sliced Havarti cheese

Instructions

Prepare the Steaks: Trim any excess fat and silver skin from the steaks if necessary. Rub each steak generously with neutral oil and season all sides liberally with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Thicker steaks should be seasoned more heavily for best flavor.
Marinate the Steaks: Wrap the seasoned steaks tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the seasoning to penetrate the meat deeply.
Make Cowboy Butter: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter while whisking constantly. Stir in the lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, paprika, cayenne, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes.
Finish Cowboy Butter: Remove the butter mixture from heat and fold in the minced chives and fresh parsley. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Transfer a few tablespoons into a small bowl to brush on steaks during cooking; reserve the rest for buttering the slider buns.
Preheat the Grill: Set up your grill with a medium-high heat zone for direct cooking and an indirect heat zone for finishing steaks. Remove steaks from the fridge and allow them to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling.
Grill the Steaks: Place steaks over direct heat and cook 2–3 minutes per side without charring. If flare-ups occur, move steaks to indirect heat to let flames subside. Brush steaks on both sides frequently with the reserved cowboy butter. After about 5–6 minutes, transfer steaks to the indirect heat zone and cook until desired doneness is reached.
Rest the Steaks: Remove steaks from the grill and tent with foil. Let rest for 10 minutes to redistribute juices before slicing.
Caramelize the Onions: Place a cast iron skillet on the grill over direct heat and add a few tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add the thinly sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and caramelized, about 15 minutes.
Prepare Sliders: Preheat your oven’s broiler and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice open the slider buns and generously brush the insides with the remaining cowboy butter. Layer Havarti cheese on both top and bottom buns, and arrange the caramelized onions on the bottom buns.
Assemble and Broil Sliders: Place several strips of sliced steak on the bottom buns over the onions. Place the prepared buns on the baking sheet and broil for 1–2 minutes, or until the cheese starts to melt. Top with the buttered top buns, slice the assembled sliders if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

For the best flavor, allow steaks to rest at room temperature before grilling.
If you don’t have a grill, a cast iron skillet can be used on the stovetop to cook the steaks and caramelize onions.
Adjust cayenne and red pepper flakes in the cowboy butter to control the level of spiciness.
Use high-quality slider buns for optimal texture and flavor.
Letting the steaks rest after cooking is crucial for juicy, tender slices.

Keywords: steak sliders, cowboy butter, caramelized onions, slider recipe, grilled steak, Havarti cheese, appetizer, party food