In my recently released The Southern Sympathy Cookbook, I included a recipe for perfect little baked sliders, because several people told me they had always called them “funeral sandwiches.” The book version includes a delicious country ham spread, cheese and a sweet buttery topping. Working on that recipe, I realized what a great concept they are – perfect flavor-packed hearty bites that feed, and please, a crowd. So I have been a little crazy creating different fillings and toppings. This is one of my favorite iterations – tangy and cheesy, sweet and savory, gooey and rich. Little sandwiches like these are often thought of as snack food or party appetizers, but they make a great meal too. They can be made a day ahead and heated up when ready to eat. Serve with a salad or a bowl of soup (tomato is particularly good).
Use the shredded mozzarella from a bag here, not the fresh Italian variety. The melty mozzarella helps hold the sandwiches together without overpowering the blue cheese flavor. Choose a good roast beef from the deli, I find a roasted London broil I like, and have it thinly sliced. Whole wheat rolls add a nice touch here, but regular rolls are just fine.
Roast Beef, Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Baked Sliders
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, divided
3 yellow onions
2 dozen honey wheat Hawaiian rolls
½ pound thinly sliced deli roast beef
8 ounces crumbled blue cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella from a bag
¼ cup light brown sugar
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Melt ¼ cup (½ stick) of the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions soften and begin to brown. Pour in ½ cup of water, stir well and cook until the liquid is evaporated and the onions are a rich caramelized amber color. Leave the onions to cool. They can be prepared up to a day in advance.
Line a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with foil with ends hanging over. This makes it easier to lift out the cooked sandwiches. Use a high-sided brownie pan, not a shallower glass casserole.
Use a long, sharp bread knife to slice each package of rolls in half horizontally. Do not separate the individual rolls, slice open the whole rectangle. Spread caramelized onions in an even layer over both bottom halves, spreading evenly to the edges of the bread. Carefully transfer the covered bread to the prepared pan. They will fit snuggly and you may have to wiggle them in and press them down. Layer the roast beef evenly over the onions, covering the entire surface. Sprinkle the blue cheese in an even layer over the roast beef, then sprinkle over the mozzarella cheese, making sure to reach the edges of the bread. Place the top halves of the rolls over the cheese. Use a thin knife to run through the separations in the rolls to make them easier to pull apart when cooked.
For the topping:
Melt the remaining stick of butter, brown sugar, mustard and pepper together in a small saucepan. When the butter is melted, bring the mixture to a boil and cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Drizzle the topping evenly over the sandwiches in the pan, using a spatula to spread it out evenly if needed. Leave to cool, then cover the pan with foil and refrigerate overnight.
When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the sandwiches, covered, for 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sandwiches are heated through. Uncover and cook for a few minutes, just until the tops are lightly toasted – be careful, the topping can brown easily. Use the overhanging foil to lift the sandwiches from the pan, then separate them and arrange on a platter.
Yum! Perfect to make tomorrow and take to Super Bowl party on Sunday! Thank you!
My daughter was looking for something to make for a trivia night treat and I suggested this. It was a big hit! My husband was drooling over her pan that left the house, so I made 1/2 recipe for him/us and they are delicious! Thanks.
Sounds delicious. But where’s the recipe?
Fixed!
Thanks. I can’t wait to make this.
I made half a batch for Pandemic Super Bowl and these are keepers!! I have always been a fan of the ham sliders, but these bring it up a BIG notch. The blue cheese and the topping…..oh my.
I’m having a couple this morning for breakfast.