Bring the iconic taste of White Castle into your home with this top-notch copycat recipe for their legendary sliders. These little bites of heaven perfectly mirror the original sliders with their steaming bed of onions, tender burger patty, and that signature onion flavor that White Castle fans adore. As you stack the melty American cheese and pickle on the slider rolls, you’ll find the size just right for a quick snack or to serve guests at your next party.
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Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card or tap “Jump to Recipe” at the top of the page.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
The best part about this recipe is its simplicity and nostalgic taste—you don’t need to hunt down a White Castle when you can whip up these cheeseburger sliders at home!
With just lean ground beef, a bit of Lipton onion soup mix, and classic white dinner rolls, you can recreate the real deal. These sliders are quick to make, baked to golden perfection with melty cheese oozing over the sides and crisped buns on top.
And let’s not forget the sides—serve them with a pile of crispy air fryer french fries with homemade fry sauce or dill pickle chips for a complete fast-food restaurant experience right from your kitchen. You might also want to try these Animal Style Sliders as well!
White Castle Slider Ingredients
*Ingredient amounts are located in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Lean Ground Beef: Forms the tender, juicy base of the slider.
- Diced Onion: Adds a sweet, caramelized essence when cooked beneath the beef.
- Lipton Onion Soup Mix: Infuses the beef with savory, herby undertones.
- American Cheese Slices: Melt to creamy perfection for that signature cheese pull.
- Dill Pickle Chips: Insert a punch of tanginess in each bite.
- White Dinner Rolls or Hawaiian Rolls: These soft, slightly sweet buns complement the savory burger and melty cheese.
- Butter: Brushed on top of the buns for a golden, toasty finish.
How to Make White Castle Sliders
[Step 1] Place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish or 10×15 jelly roll pan. Dice the onion a sprinkle over the parchment paper.
[Step 2] Mix the onion soup mix into the ground beef and spread the meat mixture out over the chopped onion in the baking dish to make a large patty pressed to the edge of the pan. (The meat will shrink as it cooks)
[Step 3] Bake the hamburger meat at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
[Step 4] While the meat is cooking, prepare the rolls by cutting them in half lengthwise and placing the bottom buns on a separate baking sheet or baking dish.
[Step 5] Remove the hamburger patty from the oven and reduce the heat to 350 degrees. Use pat with a paper towel to remove excess grease. Use two spatulas to lift the meat off the parchment paper and place on the bun bottoms.
[Step 6] Place the cheese slices over the top of the meat, followed by a pickle slice over each bun bottom. Place the bun tops over the pickles and brush the tops with melted butter.
[Step 7] Bake for 15 more minutes until the rolls are toasted and the cheese has melted. Allow the sliders to rest for 5 minutes, before cutting into individual sliders and serve!
How to Keep Sliders Warm
- Preheat Your Oven: Before your guests arrive, set your oven to a low temperature, around 175°F. This gentle warmth acts as a cozy blanket, keeping the sliders snug without further cooking them.
- Layered In Comfort: Stack your cheese sliders on a baking sheet and tent them lightly with aluminum foil. The foil reflects heat and distributes it evenly, ensuring your white castle hamburgers don’t lose their tenderness.
- Water Bath Technique: If you’ve got a warming tray, use it to your advantage. A pan of water underneath the tray will add moisture to the air, kindling that same steamy environment that makes white castle restaurant the real deal.
- Slide into a Slow Cooker: Use a slow cooker set to ‘warm’ if you have one. Just place the tray of sliders inside and close the lid. The enclosed space keeps in the heat without dialing up the cooking process.
Tips & Tricks
- Use Hawaiian Rolls: For an extra touch of sweetness and softness, choose Hawaiian rolls as your slider buns. Their texture and flavor are close matches for that distinct White Castle taste.
- Lipton Onion Soup Mix: This secret weapon adds a rich onion flavor to your beef, creating a savory bed of onions that’s unmistakable in any white castle sliders recipe.
- Perfect Size Matters: A cookie cutter can help shape your burger patties to the perfect size, ensuring they cook evenly and fit flawlessly on your slider rolls.
- Cheese Selection: Opt for thinly sliced American cheese to achieve that classic, melty consistency. It’s the glue that holds together those delightful cheese sliders.
- Scaling Up: When prepping for your next party, simply multiply the ingredients based on the number of guests. Keep the patties to their iconic rectangle shape to ensure consistent cooking.
- Add A Personal Twist: If you crave variety, top your sliders with more than just dill pickle chips. Consider jalapeños for heat, or perhaps a slice of avocado for creaminess.
- Prep Ahead: For a quick snack, assemble these little sliders in advance and reheat them in the oven. Keep them covered in foil on a tray to retain their onion flavor and moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make these White Castle sliders ahead of time for my party? You sure can! Prep the burger patties and build the sliders without baking. Cover them tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Bake them fresh when ready to serve, ensuring your sliders have the melty cheese and warm bun every guest craves.
- What if I can’t find slider buns? Any substitutes? No problem at all! Hawaiian rolls are a fantastic alternative, offering a hint of sweetness that complements the savory burger. Just keep an eye on the size; if they’re too large, slice the sides to create the perfect square.
- Is it necessary to use lean ground beef for this recipe? It’s not a strict requirement. However, lean ground beef helps to minimize grease pooling at the bottom of the pan. If a juicier burger is your goal, a higher fat content will do, but you may need to drain the excess grease.
- How do I achieve the distinctive onion flavor White Castle is known for? That unique taste comes from the bed of onions the burger patty cooks on top. Make sure not to skimp on the onions, and consider using Lipton onion soup mix for an extra punch of flavor.
- I’m struggling to get the rectangle shape of the sliders right. Any tips? A good approach is to pat the meat mixture onto a baking tray with parchment paper. Draw a rectangle as your guide or use a ruler for precision. Aim for an even layer to ensure consistent cooking and perfect size sliders.
Final Thoughts
You’ve just uncovered the secret to recreating the iconic taste of a fast-food sensation with this homemade white castle sliders recipe. Crafting these little sliders promises a delightful kitchen adventure, blending nostalgia with the joy of cooking. With the savory onion flavor nestled beneath the burger patty and the melty cheese oozing over the top bun, every bite is a tribute to the real thing.
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White Castle Sliders
Ingredients
- 2 Pounds Ground Beef
- 1 Package Onion Soup Mix
- 1 Onion diced
- 6-9 Slices American or Cheddar Cheese
- 12 Dill Pickle Slices
- 12 Dinner Rolls
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
Instructions
- Place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish or 10×15 jelly roll pan. Dice the onion a sprinkle over the parchment paper.
- Mix the onion soup mix into the ground beef and spread the meat mixture out over the chopped onion in the baking dish to make a large patty pressed to the edge of the pan. (The meat will shrink as it cooks)
- Bake the hamburger meat at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
- While the meat is cooking, prepare the rolls by cutting them in half lengthwise and placing the bottom buns on a separate baking sheet or baking dish.
- Remove the hamburger patty from the oven and reduce the heat to 350 degrees. Use pat with a paper towel to remove excess grease. Use two spatulas to lift the meat off the parchment paper and place on the bun bottoms.
- Place the cheese slices over the top of the meat, followed by a pickle slice over each bun bottom. Place the bun tops over the pickles and brush the tops with melted butter.
- Bake for 15 more minutes until the rolls are toasted and the cheese has melted. Allow the sliders to rest for 5 minutes, before cutting into individual sliders and serve!
