Description
These Cowboy Butter Steak Sliders feature perfectly grilled tender steak, caramelized onions, and melty havarti cheese, all sandwiched between buttery slider buns smothered in a zesty-herby cowboy butter. These sliders are perfect for gatherings, game days, or a delicious family meal!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sliders:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless steak (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
- ¾ pound havarti cheese, sliced
For the Cowboy Butter:
- 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon chives, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
- Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
. Prepare the Steaks:
- Trim any excess fat and silver skin from the steaks.
- Rub with neutral oil and season generously on all sides with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Wrap steaks in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours to enhance seasoning penetration.
2. Make Cowboy Butter:
- In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter while whisking continually.
- Add lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, Dijon mustard, and dry seasonings.
- Remove from heat and stir in chives and fresh parsley.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Set aside a few tablespoons for brushing the steaks while grilling; keep the rest for the slider buns.
3. Cook the Steak:
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat with an indirect heat zone.
- Remove steaks from the fridge and let them rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Grill steaks over direct heat for 2-3 minutes per side, avoiding charring.
- If high flames appear, move steaks to indirect heat until flames subside.
- Brush both sides with cowboy butter as they cook.
- After 5-6 minutes total cook time, transfer steaks to indirect heat and continue grilling until the desired internal temperature is reached:
- 125°F (52°C) for rare
- 135°F (57°C) for medium-rare
- 145°F (62°C) for medium
- Remove steaks from the grill, tent with foil, and rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
4. Caramelize the Onions:
- Place a cast iron skillet on the grill over direct heat.
- Melt a few tablespoons of butter in the skillet.
- Add the thinly sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized (about 15 minutes).
5. Prepare & Assemble Sliders:
- Preheat oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Separate the slider buns and brush the inside with remaining cowboy butter.
- Place havarti cheese on both top and bottom buns.
- Layer the caramelized onions on the bottom buns.
- Add sliced steak to each bottom bun.
- Broil for 1-2 minutes, or until cheese begins to melt.
- Top with slider bun tops, slice, and serve warm!
Notes
Cast Iron Skillet Cooking Method (Alternative to Grilling):
- Use avocado oil due to its high smoke point.
- Allow steaks to come to room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Pat steaks dry with a paper towel, then season with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1-2 tablespoons avocado oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Cook steaks undisturbed for 4 minutes on one side.
- Flip and cook for another 4 minutes on the other side.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, add cowboy butter, and continuously baste the steaks.
- Remove steaks when they reach 5°F below the desired doneness, as they continue cooking while resting.
- Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve with extra cowboy butter, garlic, and rosemary.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 95mg