If you are in need of a last-minute meal with a quick cooking time, I’ve got the best venison sliders with Hawaiian rolls recipe just for you!

With only a few ingredients and minimal prep time, you can whip up this savory dish in less than an hour! Whether I am cooking for myself, which is not often, or for unexpected guests, this recipe is a go-to option for a hassle-free meal.

A hand holding a ground deer meat slider with melted cheese over a pan full of sliders.

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Table of Contents

Venison Slider Ingredients

1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. The oil will help prevent the meat and onions from sticking to the cast-iron skillet and help to develop a nice sear. If you would prefer a healthier option, you can use avocado or olive oil.
1/4 cup of diced yellow onion (about 1/4 of an onion). Adding onions to ground meat is simply a must, in my opinion.
1 pound of ground venison. If you have venison in your freezer, that will work perfectly, but if not, you can pick some up at your local butcher for this recipe. (or see substitutions below)
Worcestershire sauce. I love adding just a touch of Worcestershire sauce to help eliminate any gamey taste. Another good option is a tangy Hawaiian BBQ sauce that helps to get the same effect.
Sea salt and ground black pepper. You have to add salt and pepper to any venison recipe.
1/8 cup of mayonnaise (approx 2-3 tbsp). Not only does this condiment contribute to the delicious sauce for the sliders, but it actually helps hold the meat together.
Sliced Cheese. You can definitely buy pre-cut cheddar cheese, but I prefer slicing my own blocks of cheese because it adds so much extra flavor.
12 Hawaiian rolls. Besides the wild game meat, Hawaiian rolls are essential for the dish, though both contribute to the flavor. Feel free to substitute for your favorite rolls or even homemade rolls!
2 tablespoons of melted butter. I do love salted butter, but you can use unsalted as well. I like to use a microwave-safe bowl, combine butter, and melt for 30 seconds.

Venison Sliders Instructions

Create a slider that will just melt in your mouth simply by following the steps below.

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Step 2. Saute the onions in a large skillet with vegetable oil on medium heat.
Step 3. Add ground meat and brown it.
Step 4. While it’s browning, stir in salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Continue cooking until all the liquid is cooked out.
Step 5. Once the ground deer meat is cooked through, remove it from the heat to cool slightly and then stir in the mayonnaise. (I’ll let it cool for about 5 minutes)
Step 6. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Step 7. Slice the rolls in half and place the bottom half in the baking dish.
Step 8. Top the bottom half with cheese slices, add the ground venison mixture, then add cheese slices in a single layer. Finally, place the top half of the rolls on top.
Step 9. Brush the tops with melted butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds, optional.
Step 10. Bake for 10-15 minutes. The tops should be golden brown, and the cheese should be melted.

Hawaiian rolls in a baking pan topped with sliced of cheese.

In a baking pan are lined Hawaiian rolls topped with cheddar cheese slices and ground venison.

How will I know when the ground venison is cooked?

I like to use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the ground venison is 160°F. It should be pretty much all browned.

What Do Venison Sliders Taste Like With Hawaiian Rolls?

Ah, just thinking about the tastes makes my mouth water. On my favorite sweet slider buns is melted cheese topped with a venison mixture that is sweet and tangy.

The taste of the venison isn’t gamey at all, and the irresistible flavor has me craving more.

Deer meat sliders stacked on a silver tray.

Do I have to use ground venison for the sliders?

So, I love these with ground venison, like a loose meat burger. But you can make it with a thinly sliced backstrap or tenderloin. You’ll just want to sear them quickly in a cast iron skillet before adding them to the rolls.

You can even skip the venison altogether and make it with ground beef. Compared to venison, it is greasier and has more beef fat.

If you use ground beef, the grease should be drained before adding it to the sliders. You can use paper towels to quickly soak up the unwanted grease and excess liquid.

Fresh out the oven are cheesy venison sliders on a serving dish.

Take Your Venison Sliders To The Next Level

By adding one or more of these suggestions, you can make your venison sliders go from great to phenomenal.

#1: Blend of spices. If you want your sliders to be top-notch in flavor, consider adding fresh thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder.

#2: If you really want to add some flair, top the buttered rolls with sesame seeds. They’ll stick to the butter and won’t fall off the roll. Even though this is an optional step, it truly enhances the look.

#3: Add cooked bacon slices, or my personal preference, crumbled bacon on the cheese slices before cooking in the oven. You can even add some slices of dill pickles.

Cheesy deer meat on golden brown rolls with sesame seed on top.

Storing The Leftovers

If you have leftovers, which is unlikely, they should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. If you don’t have a fitted lid, you can simply put plastic wrap over the top of the pan, once cooled.

Dig into those venison sliders.

It amazes me how my family is completely satisfied after eating these mini venison burgers. I usually cook up a batch of french fries and call it good. I only have to make this one dish in order for it to be a full meal.

Together, these deer meat sliders and fries create a hearty and delicious full meal that never fails to hit the spot.

Whether it be your first time making venison or your millionth, there are always a few recipes that you should try in your career, and below are my top choices.

How to Make the Best Venison Sliders With Hawaiian Rolls