Copycat White Castle Sliders (Easy Air Fryer Recipe)
Description
These copycat White Castle sliders taste just like the drive-thru original — thin square patties steamed over a bed of rehydrated onions, melty American cheese, a dill pickle, and a soft square bun. Made in the air fryer in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
For the patties
- 1 lb ground beef, 80/20
- ½ cup dried minced onion
- ½ cup water or beef broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For assembly
- 12 soft square dinner rolls or slider buns
- 6 slices American cheese, cut in half
- 12 dill pickle slices
- Yellow mustard and ketchup, optional
Instructions
- Rehydrate the onions. Combine ½ cup dried minced onion with ½ cup water or beef broth in a small bowl. Let sit 10 minutes until plumped. Do not drain.
- Season and press the beef. Gently mix the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper into 1 lb ground beef. Line an air fryer–safe pan with parchment and press the beef into an even rectangle about ¼ inch thick.
- Score and poke. Score the beef into 12 squares without cutting all the way through. Poke 5 holes in each square with a chopstick or straw.
- Build the onion bed. Spread the rehydrated onions and their liquid in the bottom of the parchment-lined pan, then lay the beef sheet directly on top.
- Air fry. Cook at 375°F for 8–10 minutes, until the beef reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Do not flip.
- Add the cheese. Lay the half-slices of American cheese over the beef and cook 1 more minute until melted.
- Steam the buns. Set the bun bottoms on top of the cheese, close the air fryer, and let sit in the residual heat 1–2 minutes.
- Cut and assemble. Cut through the scored lines into 12 squares. Stack bottom bun, patty with onions, pickle, and top bun. Serve immediately.
Equipment
- Air fryer–safe pan or baking dish
- Parchment Paper
- Chopstick or drinking straw
- Instant-read thermometer
Notes
- Press thinner than feels right. ¼ inch looks too thin raw and cooks up perfect.
- Don't skip the holes. They let steam pass through so the patties cook evenly without flipping.
- Work in batches if you have a 4–6 qt basket — about 6 sliders' worth at a time.
- Keep the onion liquid. The steam is what cooks the beef. Add a tablespoon of water if it evaporates early.
- No air fryer? Bake at 400°F, covered tightly with foil for 12 minutes, then uncovered 3–5 minutes.
- Storage: Wrap individually and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat wrapped at 325°F for 4–5 minutes from the fridge, 8–10 from frozen.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 229kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 15gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 570mgPotassium: 256mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 113IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 198mgIron: 3mg