If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing recipe that delivers big flavor with minimal stress, these roast beef sliders with caramelized onions are it. First, a chuck roast is seasoned simply and seared for extra flavor. Then, it cooks low and slow in the crockpot until fork-tender and juicy.
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Meanwhile, the beef gets piled onto soft Hawaiian rolls with sweet caramelized onions, melty provolone cheese, creamy garlic aioli, and garlic butter brushed right on top. As a result, these sliders are perfect for game day, race day parties, or casual entertaining.

Table of contents
Why You’ll Love These Roast Beef Sliders
These roast beef sliders with caramelized onions check every box when it comes to comfort food and entertaining.Because the chuck roast cooks low and slow, which creates tender, flavorful beef without extra effort. Cooking the onions separately allows them to caramelize properly, adding sweetness that balances the savory beef. Hawaiian rolls makes assembly quick and easy, while baking the sliders as a slab keeps everything warm and melty.
Best of all, this recipe feeds a crowd and always disappears fast.

Ingredients You’ll Need
Slow-Cooked Roast Beef
- 3–4 lb chuck roast
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 bay leaves
- 2–3 sprigs fresh thyme
Caramelized Onions
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Pinch of salt
Garlic Aioli
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2–3 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated
- 1–2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Garlic Butter (Optional but Highly Recommended)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 small clove grated garlic)
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (optional)
- Pinch of salt
For Assembly
- 1 package Hawaiian rolls (12-count)
- Provolone cheese slices

How to Make Roast Beef Sliders with Caramelized Onions
Season and Sear the Chuck Roast
Season the chuck roast generously on all sides with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the roast until a deep brown crust forms on all sides, then transfer it to the slow cooker.
Slow Cook the Roast Beef (Crockpot Method)
Add beef broth, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, bay leaves, and thyme to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours, until the beef shreds easily with a fork.
Remove the roast, discard the bay leaves and thyme stems, then shred the beef. Return the shredded beef to the cooking liquid to keep it juicy and flavorful.
Oven Option
To cook the roast in the oven, place the seared chuck roast in a Dutch oven. Add all remaining roast ingredients, cover tightly, and cook at 300°F for 3½–4 hours, until fork-tender. Shred the beef and return it to the juices before assembling the sliders.
Caramelize the Onions
While the roast cooks, melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, for 25–30 minutes until the onions turn soft, golden, and deeply caramelized.
Make the Garlic Aioli
In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Assemble the Sliders
Keep the Hawaiian rolls connected. Using a long serrated knife, carefully slice the entire pack of rolls in half horizontally to create a top and bottom slab. Place the bottom slab on a baking sheet.
Evenly layer the shredded roast beef over the rolls, followed by caramelized onions and provolone cheese. Bake at 350°F or broil just until the cheese melts, about 3–5 minutes.
Spread garlic aioli on the inside of the top slab of rolls. Place it on top of the sliders. If using garlic butter, brush it generously over the tops. Bake an additional 5–7 minutes until warmed through and lightly golden. Slice into individual sliders and serve warm.
Tips for the Best Roast Beef Sliders
Spoon a little of the cooking liquid over the beef before assembling the sliders for extra moisture. Provolone cheese melts beautifully, but Swiss or mozzarella also work well. These sliders can be assembled ahead and baked just before serving, which makes them ideal for entertaining.
FAQ
Can I use individual slider buns instead of Hawaiian rolls?
Yes. Individual slider buns work just fine, but Hawaiian rolls make it easier to assemble, bake, and serve the sliders all at once.
Can I make roast beef sliders with caramelized onions ahead of time?
Absolutely. Cook and shred the beef up to a day ahead and store it in the cooking liquid. Reheat gently before assembling the sliders.
What cut of beef works best for roast beef sliders?
Chuck roast works best because it becomes tender and flavorful when cooked low and slow.
Final Thoughts
These roast beef sliders with caramelized onions are rich, comforting, and perfect for feeding a crowd. Whether you’re serving them for game day, race day parties, or a casual weekend gathering, they’re guaranteed to be a hit.
👉 Don’t forget to brush those rolls with garlic butter—trust me on this one.
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Roast Beef Sliders (with Caramelized Onions)
Ingredients
Roast Beef
- 3 lb chuck roast
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
Carmelized Onions
- 2 large large onions thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Pinch of salt
Garlic Aioli
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2-3 cloves garlic finely minced or grated
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Garlic Butter
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 small clove grated garlic
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped-optional
- Pinch of salt
For Assembly
- 1 package Hawaiian rolls 12-count
- 6 Provolone cheese slices
Instructions
- Season the chuck roast generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned.
- Transfer the roast to a slow cooker. Add beef broth, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, bay leaves, and thyme.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6–8 hours, until the beef shreds easily with a fork.
- Remove the roast, discard bay leaves and thyme stems, shred the beef, and return it to the cooking liquid.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt. Cook for 25–30 minutes until caramelized.
- Stir together melted butter, garlic powder, parsley, and salt to make the garlic butter.
- Keep Hawaiian rolls connected and slice the entire pack in half horizontally. Place the bottom slab on a baking sheet.
- Layer roast beef, caramelized onions, and provolone cheese over the rolls. Bake at 350°F or broil just until the cheese melts.
- Spread garlic aioli on the inside of the top slab, place it on the sliders, brush with garlic butter, and bake 5–7 minutes until warmed through.
- Slice into individual sliders and serve warm.
Notes
Notes
- Garlic butter is optional but highly recommended for extra flavor.
- Store leftover beef in its cooking liquid for best results.