Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders

Every time I make Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders, they disappear faster than I expect. Soft Hawaiian rolls come out beautifully golden, the roast beef is tender and warm, provolone melts into every layer, and those crispy French fried onions add the most satisfying crunch. Warm, cheesy, savory, and completely gone.

A baking dish filled with twelve golden brown dinner rolls, perfect for making Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders, is topped with sesame and poppy seeds and sits on a wooden board next to a small bowl and an air fryer.
Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders. Photo Credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

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I make these for Super Bowl spreads, game day gatherings, and weekend get-togethers when I need something hearty that feeds a group without a lot of work. They’re also perfect for using up leftover roast beef after a holiday dinner or Sunday roast. The air fryer gets them hot, golden, and melty in just minutes. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in the air fryer for best results.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders are arranged on a table, including Hawaiian rolls, roast beef, provolone cheese, butter, salt, Worcestershire sauce, au jus mix, French fried onions, and bagel seasoning.
Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders Ingredients. Photo Credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

How to Make Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders with Step-By-Step Instructions

Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.

Let me walk you through each step so your sliders come out golden, cheesy, and packed with flavor every single time.

Prep Your Pan and Slice the Rolls

Start by greasing a 9×13-inch ceramic baking dish or one that fits in your air fryer basket with 2 tablespoons of butter, then line it with parchment paper.

Using a sharp serrated knife, slice the Hawaiian roll sliders in half horizontally, keeping all the rolls connected as one sheet. Place the bottom half of the slider rolls into the prepared baking dish.

Layer the Fillings

Now comes the fun part. Lay 6 slices of provolone cheese across the bottom layer, covering them evenly.

Add the thinly sliced roast beef across the cheese layer, then scatter the French-fried onions on top of the beef for that satisfying crunch. Finish with the remaining 6 cheese slices before placing the top half of the slider buns back on.

A white baking dish filled with overlapping slices of cooked roast beef, perfect for making Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders, arranged neatly on top of a light-colored base.
Lay provolone cheese on the bottom buns, then add roast beef and fried onions.
A rectangular baking dish filled with layers of cooked meat, perfect for Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders, and topped with overlapping slices of provolone cheese.
Top with remaining cheese slices and place the top buns over everything.

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Make the Butter Glaze

In a small bowl (a microwave-safe prep bowl), melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the microwave. Add the au jus mix, Worcestershire sauce, and everything bagel seasoning, then whisk everything together until combined.

A baking dish filled with sesame-topped bread rolls, some being topped with a ladle of light-colored sauce, ideal for serving Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders, with a bowl of extra sauce and a bowl of salt beside it.
Melt butter, then whisk in au jus mix, Worcestershire sauce, and everything bagel seasoning. Brush most of the mixture over the tops and sides of the rolls.

Spread about three-quarters of the melted butter mixture evenly over the tops and sides of the rolls by pouring or brushing it on with a silicone pastry brush, making sure every surface gets coated. Set the rest aside for serving.

Air Fry Until Golden

Place the dish in the air fryer and cook the roast beef cheese sliders uncovered at 160°C (320°F) for 10 minutes, or until you see fully melted cheese and the top buns are golden brown. Keep an eye on them toward the end since air fryer models can vary slightly.

A baking dish filled with twelve golden-brown Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders topped with seeds, next to an air fryer on a light countertop.
Air-fry roast beef cheese sliders at 160°C (320°F) for 10 minutes until cheese melts and buns turn golden.

Slice and Serve

Remove the cheesy roast beef sliders from the air fryer and use a serrated bread knife to cut them into individual squares along the roll divisions. Serve immediately with that reserved butter mixture on the side for dipping or drizzling while they’re warm, and enjoy!

This Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders recipe with melty cheese travels really well, which makes them a great option for potlucks, tailgates, and casual gatherings. Leave them in the 9×13-inch baking pan and cover tightly with foil to keep the heat in.

If you’re driving more than 20 minutes, wrap the pan in a thick kitchen towel or tuck it into an insulated carrier to hold the warmth.

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A serving spatula lifts a cheesy Air Fryer Roast Beef Slider with a seeded bun from a baking dish filled with similar sliders in front of a black kitchen appliance.

Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders

Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders are one of my favorite ways to use leftover roast beef. They come out cheesy, savory, and golden fast. Layers of provolone, French fried onions, and tender beef get stacked on soft Hawaiian rolls and finished with a buttery everything bagel and au jus glaze that soaks right into the tops. The air fryer gives them that perfect golden crust without heating up the whole kitchen. I make these for game days, quick weeknight dinners, and anytime I need something that feeds a lot of people without a lot of effort.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air Fryer Beef Sliders, Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders
Servings: 12
Calories: 159kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 12-count packaged Hawaiian/soft rolls
  • 1 pound roast beef thinly sliced (leftover roast beef)
  • 12 slices provolone cheese divided
  • 1 cups French fried onions
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon au jus mix divided
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon everything bagel seasoning

Instructions

  • Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with 2 tablespoons butter and line with parchment paper.
  • Using a serrated knife, slice the Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally, keeping the rolls attached. Place the bottom half of the rolls in the prepared pan.
    1 12-count packaged Hawaiian/soft rolls
  • Layer with 6 slices of cheese, roast beef, French-fried onions, the remaining 6 slices of cheese, and then place the top half of the rolls on top.
    1 pound roast beef, 1 cups French fried onions, 12 slices provolone cheese
  • In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter. Add 1 tablespoon of au jus mix and the remaining ingredients for the butter mixture. Whisk to combine.
    4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon au jus mix , 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon everything bagel seasoning
  • Spread the butter mixture evenly over the top and sides of the rolls, using about ¾ of the mixture. Reserve the rest for serving.
  • Bake the sliders uncovered in the air fryer at 160ºC (320°F) for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tops of the rolls are golden brown.
  • Remove the sliders from the air fryer and cut into squares along the roll divisions with a sharp knife.

Notes

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up from making these sliders more than once
Keep the rolls connected: Don’t separate the individual rolls before slicing or layering. Keeping them as a single connected sheet holds everything together during assembly and makes it much easier to evenly coat the tops with the butter glaze.
Layer cheese above and below the beef: Placing 6 slices of provolone under the roast beef and another 6 slices on top isn’t just for extra cheesiness. The bottom layer keeps the rolls from getting soggy, and the top melts over the beef and onions as it cooks.
Reserve a portion of the butter glaze: The recipe sets aside about a quarter of the butter mixture after glazing the tops and sides. Don’t skip this step because that reserved glaze is excellent for dipping or drizzling on the sliders right before serving.
Watch your air fryer closely: Air fryer models vary in how they circulate heat, so start checking the sliders at the 8-minute mark. You’re looking for a deep golden top and fully melted cheese. Pull them out as soon as they hit that point so the rolls don’t over-brown.
Use a serrated knife for clean cuts: A serrated knife slices through the soft Hawaiian rolls without squishing or tearing them, both when you’re halving the rolls before assembly and when you’re cutting the finished sliders into individual squares.
Store properly: Transfer fully cooled sliders to an airtight container or wrap the dish well with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days, or wrap them individually and freeze in freezer bags for up to 2 months. Once thawed in the fridge, reheat in the air fryer.

Nutrition

Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 792mg | Potassium: 157mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

DO MORE WITH YOUR

AIR FRYER

This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.

Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.

Stylized yellow chef hat above a pocket with a fork symbol on the right side, outlined in black and white.
The cover of
Four baked stuffed red bell peppers filled with a cheesy mixture and garnished with chopped herbs, placed on a parchment-lined baking tray.

∙  Cheesy Egg Bites

∙  Broccoli Cheddar Soup

∙  Asparagus Casserole

∙  Crack Chicken Casserole

∙  Coffee Cake

...and much more!

Includes ad-free recipes like:

How to Store Leftovers

If you’re storing leftovers or making these sliders ahead of time, let them cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container or cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 320°F for about 3 to 4 minutes or in a 325°F oven for about 5 to 8 minutes until warmed through and the tops crisp back up.

You can wrap individual sliders in plastic wrap and freeze them in a zip-top bag for up to 2 months, though the rolls may lose some of their softness. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the air fryer so the rolls don’t get soggy from a quick microwave thaw.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Roast Beef Sliders

These sliders are filling enough to be the star of the spread, but a few simple sides make the whole meal feel more complete. A bowl of creamy coleslaw or a simple green salad balances out the richness of the beef and cheese really well.

You could also pair them with a big bowl of French onion soup or a warm pot of tomato soup for dipping. For a party food setup, keep it casual with a side of potato chips, waffle fries, or crispy sweet potato fries for dipping alongside that reserved butter glaze.

Pickles, sliced jalapeños, or a tangy horseradish sauce on the side are also excellent additions if you want to give guests options to customize their own sliders.

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