Prepare the Beef Mixture

1. Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet or heavy pan over medium-high heat. A thicker pan helps develop a good sear on the beef for extra flavor.
2. Add the ground beef (slightly more than a pound if you prefer) directly into the skillet. Don’t immediately stir the beef; instead, let it sit in a loose layer with some gaps to allow browning. This step caramelizes the surface, developing a richer beef flavor.
3. After 2-3 minutes, start breaking up the meat gently with a spatula, stirring occasionally to brown all the meat pieces evenly.
4. Once the beef is halfway cooked, tilt the pan carefully and drain excess rendered fat, leaving only about a tablespoon. This keeps the sliders juicy but prevents greasiness.
5. Return the heat to medium and add minced yellow onion to the skillet with the beef. The fat remaining in the pan will sauté the onions perfectly, adding sweetness and texture.
6. Toss in your steak seasoning or chosen blend, ensuring the meat and onions are evenly coated. Seasonings without salt are ideal to better control salt balance later.
7. Cook everything until beef is fully browned and onions are soft, then turn off the heat.

Incorporate Cream Cheese to Bind

8. Add the cream cheese directly into the warm beef and onion mixture. Mixing it in while the pan is off but still warm will gently melt the cream cheese, acting as an edible glue to help hold the beef together in the slider when served.
9. Stir thoroughly until the cream cheese has blended fully with the beef, creating a creamy, rich texture.

Prepare the Compound Butter

10. In a small bowl, combine your melted butter, freshly minced garlic, and a pinch of Italian seasoning. This butter mixture will be brushed on the Hawaiian rolls for extra flavor and moisture.
11. If desired, add a splash of Worcestershire sauce into the butter for a subtle umami kick. This combination enhances the savory notes of the sliders beautifully.

Prepare the Rolls

12. Slice the Hawaiian rolls horizontally in half, keeping all the sliders in one pack to handle easily.
13. Spread or brush a generous amount of the garlic Italian compound butter on the bottom halves of the rolls.
14. Place a layer of American cheese on top of the buttered rolls. Laura Vitale notes that American cheese is a classic choice for cheeseburgers, truly melting well and offering a creamy texture that holds the sliders together. Feel free to add more cheese based on your preference.

Assemble the Sliders

15. Spoon the beef and cream cheese mixture evenly over the cheese layer on the bottom buns.
16. Add another layer of American cheese on top of the beef mixture for double cheesiness and to help bind the meat to the bread.
17. Cover with the top halves of the Hawaiian rolls.
18. If you want, add condiments such as mayo or ketchup before topping with the final bun layer, or leave those as optional add-ons at serving time.

Final Preparation and Baking

19. Brush the tops of the slider buns liberally with the remaining compound butter. This will help the tops brown nicely during baking and add a tasty garlic aroma.
20. Optional embellishments like everything bagel seasoning or sesame seeds sprinkled on top can give extra texture and flavor.
21. Cover the entire slider tray tightly with foil to keep moisture in.
22. Bake these sliders at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes covered, then remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes to let the tops toast up beautifully.