Juicy pineapple, tangy BBQ sauce, and a thick slice of bacon meld into a uniquely intense flavor atop my Hawaiian sliders. Ready in 30 minutes, you can prepare this recipe on the stove or outside on the grill.
Love today’s recipe? Our grilled huli huli chicken is a favorite in our family. Or give our kalua pork recipe for another hawaiian inspired meal.
Why These Hawaiian Sliders Are Best
We love making easy sliders for dinner. Whether it’s a batch of my copycat White Castle Sliders, or this easy Buffalo Chicken slider recipe.
You may ask, WHY I love them so much?
They can quickly feed a crowd and are the type of dish that your guests will be talking about afterward.
If you’ve ever been to Meatheads, these will remind you of their Hawaiian burger!
- Easy to assemble, and quick to cook!
- Homemade pineapple salsa adds a bright and fresh flavor to a classic burger everyone loves.
- Everything is better with bacon, and this recipe is no exception.
Love sliders? Be sure to add our french dip sliders to your menu next!
Important Ingredients
- Ground Beef – Reach for “lean” ground beef for this recipe, around a 90/10 ratio of lean meat to fat.
- Bacon – Extra fat from the bacon topping is critical for meshing all of the flavors in this recipe.
- Pineapple Salsa – Store-bought pineapple salsa will work for this recipe, but my homemade pineapple salsa is the best match. It takes 30 minutes to prep and is loaded with fresh ingredients. Whatever you use, make sure it’s fresh!
- Cheese Slices – I love sliced pepper jack for this recipe. You can also substitute with manchego or swiss gruyere, which are great pairs for pineapple.
- BBQ Sauce – Look for a tangy BBQ Sauce. I love Sweet Baby Ray’s original sauce, but any sweet and tangy sauce will do here.
- Steak Seasoning – Season your meat! Yes, there are plenty of flavors packed into the toppings, but there’s really no reason not to add a little more to the sliders themselves. You’ll thank me later.
- Slider Buns – If you can find them, try Hawaiian rolls for your slider buns. The fluffy, sweet interior of the roll will melt in your mouth and add a new dimension to this meal.
How to Make Hawaiian Sliders
- Prep The Toppings – Once you start the grill, your sliders will be coming off quickly! Prep your toppings first, so they’re ready to go before the meat. Set up your serving station too, so it’s easy to plate the patties as they come off the fire.
- Start Your Grill – Fire up the grill, or a grill pan on your stovetop, so that it’s hot and ready for the patties as soon as they are formed. If you are using a wood or charcoal grill, expect this process to take longer. You might consider lighting it before topping prep instead.
- Form The Patties – In a large stainless steel or glass mixing bowl, combine the ground beef with your steak seasoning. Make sure it is well-mixed because you won’t want to end up with the intensity of a whole heap of seasoning in a single bite. Shape the patties by hand into an equal size and thickness, resting them on a plate until the grill is ready.
- Fire & Serve – Add your patties to the grill or a hot grill pan for 4-5 minutes per side or until you reach the desired doneness. Top and serve immediately! They are best when still hot.
How to Serve Hawaiian Sliders
One of my favorite parts of this meal is the number of suitable side pairings.
- Fries – I like baked french fries and sweet potato fries, but you could also warm up frozen tots.
- Potato or Pasta Salad – Try my German Potato Salad or seven-layer Orzo salad. Our classic potato salad is a perfect pairing.
- Macaroni Salad – Any macaroni salad goes great with this meal. The simple Hawaiian version made with mayo and carrots is divine.
Easy Potluck Recipes
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Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 Tablespoon steak seasoning
- 6 slices bacon cooked until crispy (or desired texture)
- 3 slices pepperjack cheese
- ½ cup bbq sauce I love Sweet Baby Rays
- 1 cup pineapple salsa
- 6 slider buns
Instructions
- Preheat grill pan or grill until hot for burgers!
- Combine ground beef with steak seasoning in a large bowl, using your hands. Divide the meat into 6 equal sized portions. Pat them into patties, a little larger than your slider buns (they will shrink slightly while cooking). Press your thumb into the center of the patty to make an indent.
- Heat on hot grill pan for about 4-5 minutes per side (until desired doneness). We like ours medium well done.
- To serve, to each burger with a half a slice of pepperjack cheese, a slice of cooked bacon, a little bit of bbq sauce and a dollop of fresh Pineapple Salsa. EAT and enjoy warm!
Great idea for simple healthy recipe, thanks so much!!
Love the idea of putting pineapple salsa on a burger! These sliders are perfect for a summer gathering!
It was the perfect addition!
Great idea for simple healthy recipe, thanks so much!!
Yummy! I love your Pineapple Salsa recipe. It’s my favorite on fish tacos!
We love it on fish tacos too!!! Or with chips. Or on chicken…and now on burgers 🙂