Cowboy Butter Steak Sliders (Printable)
Flavorful steak sliders with zesty homemade herb butter, fresh arugula, and red onions on toasted slider buns.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Steak & Marinade
01 - 1.5 lbs flank steak or ribeye, trimmed of excess fat
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp kosher salt
04 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Cowboy Butter
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
08 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
09 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
11 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
12 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
13 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
14 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
15 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
16 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
17 - Zest of 1/2 lemon
→ Slider Assembly
18 - 8 slider buns
19 - 1 cup arugula or baby spinach
20 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
21 - 1-2 tbsp olive oil for toasting buns
# Steps:
01 - Rub the flank steak evenly with olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper. Allow the meat to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes to reach even temperature before cooking.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine softened butter with minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, chopped parsley, chives, dill, red pepper flakes, and salt. Mix thoroughly until fully incorporated and smooth. Keep at room temperature for easy spreading.
03 - Heat a grill pan or cast-iron skillet over high heat until smoking hot. Sear the steak for 3-4 minutes per side for medium-rare doneness, or adjust timing to preferred internal temperature. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
04 - Brush the cut sides of slider buns lightly with olive oil. Place in a hot skillet cut-side down and toast until golden brown and crispy, approximately 1-2 minutes.
05 - Spread a generous layer of cowboy butter on both the top and bottom buns. Arrange arugula on the bottom bun, followed by slices of steak and thin red onion rings. Cap with the top bun and press gently.
06 - Arrange sliders on a serving platter and serve immediately while warm. Cowboy butter can be passed separately for guests who prefer extra.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The zesty garlic herb butter melts into the warm steak creating an incredible flavor explosion in every single bite
- These sliders come together in just 35 minutes but taste like you spent all day in the kitchen
- Perfect for feeding a crowd without the fuss of individual steaks
02 -
- Always slice the steak against the grain, which means cutting perpendicular to the muscle fibers for tender bites instead of chewy ones
- Letting the steak rest after cooking is absolutely essential or all those delicious juices will end up on your cutting board instead of in your sliders
- Cowboy butter can be made up to 5 days ahead and kept in the fridge, making party prep incredibly streamlined
03 -
- For the most tender steak, take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking to ensure even temperature throughout
- If your butter firms up in the fridge, give it 10 minutes at room temperature before spreading for perfect coverage