Steak Sliders

Juicy and deliciously flavorful, my steak sliders are a terrific pick to offer up during grilling season. Made with hoisin-marinated flank steak piled onto a Hawaiian slider roll, then topped with fresh, crunchy, quick-pickled radishes, this mouthwatering slider recipe packs a flavor punch in just a few bites!

Sliders that slide down oh-so deliciously

The saying “good things come in small packages” is definitely one that I can get behind, especially when it comes to food.

I love finger foods and tasty morsels that are diminutive—two or three bites—because they leave me wanting more, and are all too easy to nibble on and enjoy without getting too full.

Take these steak sliders, for example...

They're absolutely packed with Asian-inspired flavor, made with tender, juicy slices of flank steak and crisp, pickled radishes nestled into soft, sweet, fluffy Hawaiian rolls. Talk about packing a lot of punch in just a few bites!

Perfect for the warmer season when we get a hankering to use our grill pan or outdoor grill. These steak sliders are irresistible served up with some cool potato salad or coleslaw, to keep things fresh and light.

Just so you know, if you're anything like me, you'll probably need at least a couple of these sliders to nibble on!

My recipe for steak sliders

Flank steak is probably one of my favorite cuts to grill up and enjoy in sandwich form, which makes it a fantastic candidate for these steak sliders.

To create lots of flavor, I marinate the steak for about 20 to 30 minutes (even overnight) in a handful of Asian-inspired ingredients. Hoisin sauce, BBQ sauce for smokiness, honey, garlic, lime juice, rice vinegar, and sesame oil all have a cozy home in my delicious marinade.

The steak soaks up all that flavor, becomes delectably tender, and is out-of-this-world delicious once grilled and sliced thinly against the grain into strips.

A good steak slider recipe can always benefit from something fresh and zippy added to the mix. So I love whipping up some quick-pickled radishes tossed together with a little rice vinegar, sweet chili sauce, honey, sesame oil and green onion. Those delightful ingredients bring in some bright, vibrant notes which balance out the richness of the steak and the sweet, butteriness of the Hawaiian slider rolls. They also provide some crunchy texture.

Put these colorful little steak sliders out on a platter for your next grilling season gathering, and I promise you there won't be one slider left!

Here's a sneak peek at my steak sliders recipe:

(or just jump to the full recipe...)

1. To get started, I marinate my flank steak in my marinade ingredients for about 20 to 30 minutes, reserving some of this marinade to coat the grilled steak with.
2. While the steak marinates, I prepare my quick-pickled radishes and keep them chilled in the fridge until ready to use.
3. Next, I grill the flank steak for a few minutes on each side using my grill pan (though you can use an outdoor grill, if desired), then allow the meat to rest for a few minutes before slicing against the grain into thin strips.
4. I toss the steak with the reserved marinade to make it glossy and juicy, then pile the steak into warm Hawaiian rolls, and top with the quick-pickled radishes.
5. Finally, I place the steak sliders onto a platter, and serve.

Recipe

Steak Sliders

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

These juicy steak sliders with quick-pickled radishes are loaded with flavor in every bite, perfect for grilling season!

Category: Sandwich
Cuisine: Asian-American

Yield: 12 sliders

Nutrition info: 685 calories (per serving, 2 steak sliders with pickled radishes)

Prep time: 25 minutes (does not include steak marination/rest time)
Cook time: 8 minutes
Total time: 33 minutes

Steak Sliders Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds flank steak
• ¾ cup hoisin sauce
• ¼ cup BBQ sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• Olive oil or avocado oil, to drizzle on grill pan
• 12 Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Quick-Pickled Radishes Ingredients:

• 8 radishes, sliced thinly into ¼-inch-thick circles
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 green onions, sliced thin

Preparation:

1. Begin by gathering and prepping all of your steak sliders ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
2. Place the flank steak into a large bowl or into a large zip-lock bag.
3. Next, prepare the marinade/sauce by whisking together all of the ingredients from the hoisin sauce through the black pepper, and pour about half of the marinade/sauce over the flank steak, reserving the remaining half of sauce to use as a glaze after the steak is cooked and sliced.
4. Allow the steak to marinate for about 20 to 30 minutes.
5. In the meantime, gather and prep all of your quick-pickled radishes ingredients according to the ingredient list above to have ready and organized for use.
6. To prepare the radishes, combine the radishes with the remaining ingredients in a bowl and toss to coat well. Cover the radishes, and keep chilled until ready to assemble sliders.
7. Once the steak has marinated, heat a grill pan on high heat until very hot. Add a drizzle of oil, and when it begins to slightly smoke, add in the marinated flank steak, and cook for about 4 minutes per side, for medium rare.
8. Remove the steak from the grill pan onto a clean platter, and allow it to rest for about 10 minutes lightly tented with foil.
9. While the steak rests, place the 12 Hawaiian rolls into a large bowl, and cover with a hot, damp kitchen towel to steam them a bit, or use the “warm” setting of your oven to warm them for a few minutes.
10. Once the grilled steak has rested, slice it into thin strips against the grain for tender results. Using the reserved marinade/sauce, coat the slices of steak to make them glossy and extra flavorful.
11. Slice the 12 Hawaiian rolls in half, and add equal portions of the steak to one half of each Hawaiian roll. Top the steak with some of the pickled radishes, and top with the other half of Hawaiian roll.
12. To serve, place the steak sliders onto a platter, and serve on their own, or with your favorite accompaniment such as slaw or salad.

Tips & Tidbits for my steak sliders recipe:

• Flank steak for lean, tender results: When I'm looking for a leaner cut of steak, I opt for flank steak. When marinated and quickly grilled to medium-rare doneness, flank steak is tender, juicy, and mouthwatering. It's also easy to slice and stuff into slider rolls. However, feel free to use ribeye steak, or your favorite cut.
• Radishes for crunch and color: Keeping with an Asian-inspired taste theme here, I like to prep some quick-pickled radishes for color and crunch, plus sweet-tangy flavor. These can be prepped ahead and kept cold in the fridge, if desired. Or, you can use other crisp veggies such as cucumber, bok choy, or shredded cabbage, and pickle those instead.
• Hawaiian slider rolls for pillowy texture: Nothing beats Hawaiian rolls for these steak sliders. They're wonderfully tender, buttery and soft. You can certainly use other slider rolls, if desired, or even cut soft French bread into tiny sections for a similar size experience.

Craving more cozy sandwiches? Check out my Smoked Salmon Sandwich recipe, my Roast Beef Sandwich with Cheddar Sauce recipe, my Steak Sandwich recipe, my Short Rib Sandwich recipe, my Turkey Club Sandwich recipe, or even my Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Pesto recipe!

Cook's Note: This recipe was originally published in 2012, and has been updated with even more love!