Maple Sausage Sliders

Pillowy Hawaiian rolls filled with smoky sausage, fluffy eggs, gooey cheese, and a brush of sweet maple butter take on tasty wood smoke to make these breakfast sliders truly amazing. I lean on these when I want a super easy and crowd-pleasing morning meal—there's no stress, just tasty bites for everyone.

I took these to an early morning tailgate once and they vanished straight out of the lot—everyone kept stealing extras and wanted to know how I made them right there.

Irresistible Ingredients

• Cooking spray: Stops the eggs sticking to your dish; neutral oil spray is all you need
• Hot sauce: A dash if you want heat; or try a mild honey hot sauce for a twist
• Pure maple syrup: For that rich, caramelly sweetness—make sure it’s real, grade A or B both taste great
• Butter: Use real butter and brush it on top for golden, yummy tops
• American cheese: It melts just right, but swap for cheddar if you’re into bold flavors
• Salt and black pepper: Only way to season eggs right—fresh cracked pepper makes it better
• Large eggs: The eggs add a soft, rich layer—go pasture-raised for color and flavor if you can
• Breakfast sausage: Squeeze into patties matching your bun shape; pick ones with simple ingredients for a punchy taste
• King's Hawaiian rolls: Grab the squishiest bag you can, no dry edges, for the best sweet roll to balance the smoky filling

Easy How-To

Final Smoke:

Get your finished sandwiches back on the smoker for another 10 to 15 minutes so the cheese goes all gooey and the tops look shiny and golden. Enjoy them hot after slicing.

Make Maple Butter Glaze:

Mix the melted butter and leftover maple syrup. Brush this all over your slider tops so they’ll get glossy and caramel-smelling as they smoke.

Add Cheese and Tops:

Lay cheese slices over the eggs, then set the tops of the rolls on to finish the stack.

Assemble Layers:

Place the bottom half of the rolls on a baking tray. Stack with the sausage patty, put on the egg slab, drizzle on some maple syrup (and hot sauce if you’re feeling spicy!)

Smoke Sausage and Eggs:

Heat your smoker to 250 and put the sausage and the dish of eggs on different racks. Smoke using your favorite wood for about an hour; the sausage should be done at 160 inside and the eggs should look set.

Prepare the Eggs:

Beat eggs with salt and pepper, spray your baking dish well, and pour in the eggs so they cook up light and pop right out.

Shape the Sausage:

Squish the sausage into one big, even slab using the roll bag for the shape; makes for easy, even sandwich layers.

Prep the Rolls:

Carefully slice all the rolls across so you’ve got one big top and bottom piece. Makes it easier to keep those sliders from sliding apart.

Save

I always sneak on more maple syrup at the end—that’s what my mom did for me and my brother. It was her thing on weekends, and honestly I still love licking the extra glaze off my fingers.

Save for Later

If you’ve got leftovers, pop them in the fridge for up to three days. Heat them up wrapped in foil at three hundred until warm—about ten minutes. To freeze, double wrap single sandwiches in both plastic and foil, thaw in the fridge overnight, and then warm them back up in the oven.

Swaps and Switches

Brioche or another soft roll works if you can’t find King’s Hawaiian. Wanna lighten it up? Use turkey sausage. If sharp cheese is more your thing, swap in pepper jack or cheddar. Dairy-free? Try almond milk butter for the glaze instead.

How to Serve

These go great next to crispy hashbrowns, a big bowl of fruit, or some briny pickled jalapenos. Set up brunch bar style with hot sauce and an extra pot of maple butter so everyone can build their perfect slider.

Save

Family & Tradition

These sliders are kind of a legend at Midwest and Southern get-togethers. They mix the sweetness of special-occasion casseroles with smoky backyard flavors. Folks gather around the grill—especially during football or the holidays—passing around trays of gooey, warm sandwiches. There’s nothing like easygoing weekend breakfast vibes!

Recipe FAQs

→ Can I swap the sausage for another kind?

Of course! Try turkey, chicken, or plant-based sausage to change up the flavor while keeping the same comforting vibe.

→ How do I make these without a smoker?

No smoker? No problem. Bake the sausage and eggs at 350°F in your oven, then use a dash of liquid smoke for a similar taste.

→ What kind of cheese works best?

American cheese melts beautifully, but cheddar, Swiss, or provolone also bring their own twist to the mix.

→ Can I make these ahead of time?

You sure can! Prepare the sausage and eggs earlier, then build the sliders and cook them right before serving for that fresh-out-of-the-oven goodness.

→ What’s a gluten-free option for Hawaiian rolls?

Simply swap in your favorite gluten-free rolls, and keep everything else just as it is for a tasty alternative.