Hearty Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders are a tasty 20-minute twist on the traditional open-faced turkey sandwich that’s perfect for parties!
Easy, cheesy, savory, Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders are one of the best appetizer recipes you’ll ever run across! Featuring a luscious, creamy Pecorino Romano sauce sandwiched between sweet Hawaiian dinner rolls, tender turkey breast, crispy bacon, and fresh tomato slices, this knife-and-fork sandwich turned fabulous finger food will win over any party crowd!
The Hot Brown is a Kentucky Classic
Whether celebrating your Southern roots or crafting a killer Kentucky Derby Party, Hot Browns (or Hot Brown Sliders) are a MUST for the menu! Along with Derby Pie, Fried Chicken, Bourbon Balls, and Beer Cheese Dip, melty Hot Brown Sliders with a Pecorino-Romano Mornay sauce are a mouthwatering addition to the menu!
Other Derby Day Recipes
- The cool, crisp Mint Julep is the traditional bourbon-and-bitters cocktail essential for your Kentucky Derby party!
- A rich, nutty, classic Pecan Pie is the ultimate southern dessert – perfect with a scoop (or two!) of homemade vanilla ice cream!
Ingredients
Bread: Hawaiian Dinner Rolls, with their slight sweetness, make absolutely amazing slider buns! Others will work, but these are the best!
Sandwich Items: We’re filling these finger-food sandwiches with sliced turkey (deli or holiday leftovers), fresh tomatoes, and crisp bacon.
Cheese Sauce: The sauce is the star of this sandwich show! We’ll make it with Pecorino Romano cheese, butter, flour, and heavy cream, then season it with nutmeg, garlic, and salt & pepper. INCREDIBLE!
Garnish: I love to sprinkle the finished sandwiches with chopped parsley for a pretty presentation!
How to Make Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders
STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Remove the rolls from the package and place them in a block. Then cut the rolls in half horizontally to create a top and bottom half. Set the rolls aside for now. In a medium saucepan, melt 1 ½ tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour to form a roux, stirring continuously for 2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium, and then slowly whisk in the heavy cream. Cook until it begins to simmer, about 3 minutes, whisking often.
STEP TWO: Remove the pan from the heat and slowly whisk in the Pecorino-Romano cheese. Finally, season with the nutmeg, and a little salt & pepper. Set aside.
STEP THREE: Add ¼ cup of butter and the minced garlic to a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir until the butter is melted.
STEP FOUR: Place the bottom halves of the rolls in a 9×13 baking dish and brush the cut sides with half of the garlic butter. Layer the turkey slices, then the tomato slices, placing one tomato slice on each roll. Then pour half of the cheese sauce over the tomatoes and top with bacon slices.
STEP FIVE: Place the roll tops over the filling and brush the remaining garlic butter on top. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and sprinkle the sliders with a little more Pecorino Romano. Bake for 2 more minutes.
STEP SIX: Remove from oven and garnish with chopped parsley. Use a knife to cut the sliders into individual portions. Serve with the remaining cheese sauce in a bowl for dipping. These are just FABULOUS!
Tips for Success
- If tomatoes are out of season, try Roma tomatoes for the best flavor, or stir some sun-dried tomatoes into the cheesy Mornay sauce.
- After slicing, place the tomato slices on a paper towel to absorb excess moisture.
- Make sure the cheese sauce is thick before adding it to the sliders. To thicken it, either add a little more flour or stir over low heat for another minute or two.
- For cleaner & quicker preparation, cook the bacon in the microwave on paper towels for about a minute per slice for extra-crispy bacon.
Why is it called a Hot Brown?
A Hot Brown is an open-faced sandwich that got its name, not from its color, but from the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, where it was created. The famous sandwich began in the 1920s as a luxurious late-night menu item and consisted of two slices of thick toast, sliced turkey, cheesy Mornay sauce, ripe tomato slices, and crispy bacon, broiled to a bubbling-hot Kentucky classic that’s now enjoyed worldwide.
Are There Other Variations for Making a Hot Brown?
Sure! While the traditional Kentucky Hot Brown uses toast, turkey, tomato slices, and crispy bacon with a cheese sauce, you can still get creative and invent your own version! In place of the tomato, you could try sun-dried tomatoes, avocado slices, or even a smear of raspberry jam or hot pepper jelly! Ham makes a great meaty addition to the turkey! Pecorino Romano can be substituted with Parmesan or cheddar. You can also triple the meat, top it with the cheese sauce, and serve it as a casserole!
Other Simple-but-Spectacular Slider Recipes!
- Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
- Baked Reuben Sliders
- Spinach Artichoke Dip Sliders
- Pulled Pork Sliders
- Chicken Parmesan Sliders
- Baked Jalapeno Popper Chicken Sliders
*This post originally posted on 01/11/2016.
Ingredients
- 12 King's Hawaiian savory butter dinner rolls
- 5 ½ tablespoons salted butter divided
- 1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup Pecorino Romano cheese grated, plus extra for garnish
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 8 ounces deli-sliced turkey breast
- 8 slices bacon cooked crispy
- 2 roma tomatoes cut into 6 slices each
- Fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the rolls from the package and cut them in half horizontally, creating a top half and a bottom half. (This is easiest if you don't separate them.) Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt 1 ½ tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour to make a roux and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Whisk in the heavy cream a little at a time (to prevent lumps). Turn the heat up to medium and cook until the cream begins to simmer, about 2-3 minutes, whisking frequently. Remove from the heat and slowly whisk in Pecorino-Romano cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Add the minced garlic and the remaining ¼ cup of butter to a small saucepan. Place over medium heat and cook until the butter is melted.
- Place the bottom half of the rolls onto an ungreased 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish and brush with half of the melted garlic butter. Arrange the turkey slices evenly over the rolls. Arrange the tomato slices so there is one on each roll. Pour half of the cheese sauce over the tomatos and then top with bacon. Put the roll tops over the filling and brush the remaining garlic butter over the tops.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the foil and sprinkle the tops with additional pecorino romano. Bake for 2 more minutes.
- Remove from the oven. Garnish with chopped parsley and cut into individual sliders. Serve warm with a bowl of the remaining cheese sauce for dipping.
Sacha says
Can these be made ahead of time? They look so delicious!