Description
Cowboy Butter Steak Sliders are a savory and indulgent appetizer featuring tender grilled ribeye steak, sweet caramelized onions, creamy Havarti cheese, and a zesty, herb-infused buttery sauce. Perfectly seasoned and served on soft slider buns, these sliders combine smoky, juicy steak with rich, flavorful toppings for an unforgettable bite-sized treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Steak and Seasoning
- 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
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 freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Additional Ingredients
- 3 sweet onions, thinly sliced
- 9 slider buns
- 3/4 pound sliced Havarti cheese
- Butter, for caramelizing onions (a few tablespoons)
Instructions
- Prepare Steaks: Trim excess fat and silver skin from the steaks if needed. Rub the steaks with neutral oil and season generously on all sides with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. For thicker steaks, season more heavily for optimum flavor.
- Chill Steaks: Wrap the seasoned steaks tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours. This resting period allows the seasoning to penetrate the meat deeply for better taste.
- Make Cowboy Butter: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the unsalted butter while whisking continuously. Stir in lemon juice and zest, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, paprika, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes until fully blended. Remove from heat.
- Add Fresh Herbs: Stir in minced chives and fresh parsley to the melted butter mixture. Season with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Set aside a few tablespoons of this cowboy butter in a small bowl for use while grilling the steaks, and reserve the remainder for brushing on the slider buns later.
- Preheat Grill and Rest Steaks: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and create an indirect heat zone. Remove the steaks from the refrigerator and allow them to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Grill Steaks: Place the steaks over direct heat on the grill and cook for approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Avoid charring by moving steaks to indirect heat if flare-ups occur. Brush both sides generously with the reserved cowboy butter as they cook.
- Finish Cooking: After about 5-6 minutes of total direct grilling, move steaks to the indirect heat zone to continue cooking until they reach your desired doneness. Remove steaks from the grill and tent loosely with foil. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
- Caramelize Onions: Place a cast iron skillet on the grill directly over heat. Add a few tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the thinly sliced sweet onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden and caramelized, about 15 minutes.
- Prepare Slider Buns: Preheat your oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Gently separate slider buns and brush the insides generously with the remaining cowboy butter.
- Assemble Sliders: Place a slice of Havarti cheese on both the top and bottom halves of each slider bun. Add a layer of caramelized onions on the bottom bun halves, followed by a few slices of the grilled steak. Place the top buns over the steak.
- Broil to Melt Cheese: Arrange the assembled sliders on the prepared baking sheet and broil in the oven for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese just begins to melt. Remove from oven, slice if desired, and serve immediately while warm and flavorful.
Notes
- Allowing the steaks to rest after seasoning and before grilling enhances flavor and tenderness.
- Resting the steak again after cooking helps retain juices for a moist bite.
- Using a cast iron skillet on the grill is ideal for even caramelization of the onions.
- Adjust the amount of cayenne and red pepper flakes in the cowboy butter to control the spice level.
- Broiling just melts the cheese without drying out the buns—watch closely to avoid burning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cowboy Butter, Steak Sliders, Grilled Steak, Caramelized Onions, Slider Recipe, Appetizer, Havarti Cheese, Summer grilling
