A drool-worthy, classic sammie, these Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders are perfect for your Kentucky Derby party this year. They feed a crowd and disappear quickly!
Is anyone else amazed at how fast 2025 is flying by already? Or is it just me? I think as I get older I notice it more.
I mean it seems like yesterday was New Year’s Eve, and we’ve already blown by Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter! And now it’s almost May! What the heck?! I guess the old saying’s right…time flies when you’re having fun!
Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo are just a few short days away, then Mother’s Day followed by one of my favorite days of the year…the unofficial start to summer, Memorial Day! Woot woot!!
But today, let’s concentrate on how we’re going to serve up the most EPIC sliders for our Kentucky Derby party this year! These Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders are seriously drool-worthy folks!
So what is a Kentucky Hot Brown?
A Kentucky Hot Brown is a sandwich that was created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky by Fred Schmidt. Thank you Fred! It’s a variation of traditional Welsh rarebit which is a dish made of a melted cheese sauce served over toasted bread.
The traditional Hot Brown is an open-faced sandwich made of turkey and bacon that’s smothered in Mornay sauce and then baked or broiled until the bread is crisp and the sauce begins to brown.
Today, I’m sharing my spin on the Kentucky Hot Brown with my own little slider version that is sure to be a TOTAL hit!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, they’re pretty easy to make. The Mornay sauce is an extra step instead of just using sliced cheese like most slider recipes, but you’ll only need a few ingredients and just minutes to make it and it’s what’s used for the classic Kentucky Hot Brown recipe.
The classic sandwich is served open-faced, but you’ll love these because they’re in slider form. No fork and knife needed. Just slice them up into individual sliders and they’re super easy for your family and friends to enjoy.
And of course there’s bacon on these babies. And who doesn’t LOVE bacon??
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
- turkey breast
- white sharp cheddar cheese
- bacon
- tomatoes
- butter
- all-purpose flour
- milk
- kosher salt and pepper
- nutmeg
- butter
- Dijon mustard
- poppy seeds
- Worcestershire sauce
Step-By-Step Instructions
The first step is to make your creamy mornay sauce. You’ll melt your butter over medium heat and then whisk in your flour. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes, being careful not to brown. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add cheddar cheese. Remove from heat and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Keep warm and set aside.
The second step is to assemble the sammies. Start out with some King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls, my favorite for sliders. (not a sponsored post, just wanted to share what I love!) Then some thinly-sliced oven roasted turkey breast, sliced sharp cheddar cheese, crisp crumbled bacon, juicy sliced tomatoes, some rich homemade Mornay sauce, then more turkey. Sounds good so far, am I right?!
The third step is to make the topping by whisking together your melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds and some salt and pepper.
The final step is to bake your sammies.
These sliders are the perfect easy recipe for your Kentucky Derby party this year. The recipe makes 12 sliders, so if you’re having a bigger gathering just double the recipe! They’re always a hit and are guaranteed to disappear quickly!
Please let me know if you give the recipe a try. And if you have any questions about the recipe, just drop a comment below. Enjoy!
A Few Cook’s Notes for Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders
I use crumbled bacon for these sammies instead of bacon strips, so the sammies are easier to slice up and eat.
Don’t skip the butter glaze. It’s delicious!
More Delicious Sammie Recipes to Enjoy
Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1 12-count package Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, sliced in half
- 1 lb. turkey breast, thinly sliced and divided
- 12 slices white sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 slices bacon, roughly chopped into 1-inch pieces and cooked until crisp
- 12 tomatoes slices, about 1/4-inch thick (I use Campari or Roma tomatoes)
Mornay Sauce (make about 1 cup)
- 3 Tbsp. butter
- 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- dash nutmeg
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Butter Glaze
- 1/2 cup (one stick) butter, melted
- 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
- 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
Instructions
Mornay Sauce
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes, being careful not to brown. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add cheddar cheese. Remove from heat and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Keep warm and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Using a large knife, slice the rolls in half so you have a portion of tops and a portion of bottoms. You want both portions of the rolls to remain connected, so there are two slabs. Place the bottom portion in the prepared pan.
- Evenly layer 1/2 of the turkey over the rolls.
- Evenly layer the cheddar cheese slices.
- Sprinkle with the bacon.
- Layer with the tomato slices. (try to place a slice on each roll)
- Carefully spread the Mornay sauce over the tomatoes.
- Evenly layer the remaining sliced turkey, then top with top portion of buns.
Butter Glaze:
- In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper until well combined. Pour mixture evenly over top of rolls.
- Cover pan with aluminum foil and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Bake covered for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove foil and continue to cook for 5 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Cut into individual sliders and serve immediately.
Congratulations on Casey’s graduation! That is so exciting. You sure are having a busy year. These babies look perfect for feeding a crowd!
Thanks Karen! I love sliders when I’m looking to feed a crowd! They are so easy and unbelievably tasty! Hope you have an awesome weekend!
Glad to read great news. Children achievements make us so proud! :-) Enjoy happy moments ! All the best to you and your family !
Yes! Thanks so much!
Oh man! I want to party with you, my friend! So many wonderful things happening! Congratulations!
You’d LOVE these Annie! Nothing beats sliders for a crowd!
Congratulations to your son! Such great sandwiches and absolutely perfect Kentucky Derby watching food!
These are so easy Jennifer! And the combo of ingredients in the Hot Brown is hard to beat!
Yep! Time is flying…except for winter! That seems to be sticking around forever. These sliders look amazing. I love all that melty cheesy goodness! Enjoy the graduation and all the fun that comes with it!
Thanks Kathy! I hope you give these a try! They’re so good!
I totally agree. Where the heck is time going? It scares me a little just how quickly things move. Congratulations to Casey! Now pass me a slider please–I’m hungry and these look awesome!
Lol! Thanks Kelsie! You’d totally love these! I’ll swap a few for that chocolate cake you’re serving up today?! Deal??
I’ve already said congratulations privately, but I will say it publicly as well – because it is SO well deserved – CONGRATULATIONS!!! I know you are so proud of both of your children, and a graduation DEMANDS a celebration! I can’t wait to see what special treat you whipped up! Until then, I will be celebrating LIFE with these amazing sliders!!!!! Seriously, I am DROOLING! These look beyond fantastic, Mare! Only problem, I’m not going to want to share! Pinning! Cheers! XOXO
Ha! These are perfect for a crowd Chey! I love making sliders for parties. They’re always a hit. And the ingredients for the Hot Brown are fantastic, so you can’t go wrong! I’m so excited for Casey’s graduation next week! All kinds of emotions involved! Happy, a little sad the college life is over, and excitement for what the future holds for him! My boys are my best accomplishment in life! I love them and I’m so proud of who they are and what they’ve done! Happy weekend! XO
Yay! Congratulations Casey! Time certainly does fly by!
I’ve never heard of Kentucky hot brown sliders but now I need them in my life. They look freakin’ awesome! And that sauce! YUM! Pinned! Happy (almost) Friday! XOXO
Thanks Dawn! I hope you give these a try Dawn! They’re perfect for the Derby!
Brilliant idea MaryAnn! I cannot believe we are almost in May too, I feel like time goes by faster the older we get too. So not fair! My kids don’t get it, but they will someday. And so exciting for your son to be graduating!
It’s crazy it’s going to be May in a few weeks! I’m so excited for Casey! Exciting adventures ahead for him!
Oh my goodness these look delicious!! I love those rolls!
I love Hawaiian rolls too Leigh Ann! Perfect for all kinds of sliders!
Wow, Mary Ann! These look fantastic! If I show my husband these photos, I will have to make these sliders ASAP! They look like a perfect summer party snack. Good thing there are lots of occasions for celebrating over the next few months. Congrats to your son! That’s an awesome accomplishment.
Thanks Leanne! Treat your hubby! He’ll love these!
Congrats on the graduation, what a fun day that will be ~ there’s no better feeling as a mom than seeing your child graduate from college, you did your job well!! Your sliders are absolutely gorgeous, I think I could sit down and eat the whole tray, pinning and sharing!
Thanks so much Sue!
These sliders sound so good! I can’t wait to try them out!
Thanks Jennifer! Enjoy!
That looks like a pretty awesome dish of sliders right there Mary Ann. ????????
Thanks Alida!
We have a graduate too. Congrats! And yes, it is flying by. I am noticing the time just slipping by me on every front. Trying to smell the roses!
Congrats Cindy! So am I!
these look very tasty. not sure what sweet rolls are though? surely not sweetened?:) cheers sherry
Scroll down the post and take a look Sherry. I show the bag of rolls. They’re melt-in-your-mouth rolls by King’s Hawaiian. They’re buttery with just the perfect amount of sweetness, and they make for the perfect sliders! One bite and you’ll be hooked!
My cravings lately have me eating all sorts of deli meat and meat sandwiches, so I’m practically salivating over this post! These look amazing, Mary Ann! Send me a batch, won’t ya? ;)
Then you’ll absolutely LOVE these Katherine! Wish we were neighbors! I’d drop by with a batch!
I would absolutely love these good looking buns. I have never eaten anything like it but I know I like sandwiches like that. Yes, time is just flying by. I think I remember when you sent off your son to College.
Yes, you probably do Gerlinde! That was right around when I started the blog! I hope you try these sliders because I know you’d love them! Happy weekend! Perfect for the Derby!
Wow! These look fantastic! And I love how easy they are. And congrats to your son!
Thanks Kevin!
I’ve never hosted a Kentucky Derby party but you best believe I want to now! Especially if these sliders are invited to come! I like to throw a bunch of parties at my house during the summer and I’m betting these sliders would be a huge hit, no matter what the occasion! I’m 100% pinning these for later bc they NEED to make an appearance at my house in the near future!!!
I really hope you try them Christina! They’re soooo delicious! The combo of ingredients is spot on!
i’m the same!! time just is going SO fast this year. i can’t believe it. and such delicious sliders, Mary Ann!
Thanks Thalia!
These sliders look completely droolworthy – and I love your attention to detail, like adding the perfect finishing touches in the glaze! I didn’t know that your son goes to Michigan (so do I!), but congratulations to him on hitting this milestone, and let’s hope for some good graduation weekend weather!
Really Mara?! I just love Ann Arbor! I’m really going to miss it. I hope you love it there as much as Casey did! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for some warmer weather for graduation. (Really going to miss Zingerman’s!)
What a great way to feed a crowd, Mary Ann! Hot out of the oven – everyone is going to love that at your Kentucky Derby party! And congratulations to Casey – you must be so proud!
I’ll be sharing a special recipe and some awesome UMich photos this Thursday!
Can you make ahead and chill in fridge?
Hi Susan. I would probably wait to put on the cheese sauce until your ready to bake. I’d be afraid they’d get soggy. Enjoy!
I love a good Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich and these look fantastic and plan to make them Saturday or Sunday to watch some Netflix and chill. The Derby and Preakness will be a for sure these on my menu. Thanks.
Hope you enjoy them Deana! We love them!
This is one of the best sandwiches I have ever eaten. We substituted 1/2 olive oil and 1/2 margarine for the topping. It there was a little more crunch, it would be perfecto!
Thanks Rusty!
Can I make these in the morning and serve later that afternoon I’m concerned about them getting soggy from the tomatoes
Hi Kitty. I like to make mine and serve them fresh from the oven. You can make the Mornay sauce a day ahead and then just warm a smidge before adding to the sliders though. That will save you some time. Enjoy!
Can these made ahead of time or is it best served at time of the event?
Hi Tina. I like to make mine fresh. Merry Christmas!
Can you prep these a day ahead of time and then bake them or will they get soggy and gross?
You can make the sauce a day ahead, but I would put them together the day of so they’re super fresh. Enjoy!
These sound delicious! Are there any steps that can be done in advance? I hate spending Derby Day chained to my kitchen when there’s a party going on!
Hey there Caroline. Yes, you can make your Mornay sauce and then just warm it back up the day of right before you assemble the sliders. You can also add make your butter glaze and keep it in a microwave safe bowl covered with plastic wrap in your fridge and also just warm that up in the microwave when you’re ready to assemble your sliders. Enjoy!
Perfect recipe for my Kentucky Derby Party. Do you have any make ahead tip?
Hi Lorraine! Yes, you can make your Mornay sauce and then just warm it back up the day of right before you assemble the sliders. You can also add make your butter glaze and keep it in a microwave safe bowl covered with plastic wrap in your fridge and also just warm that up in the microwave when you’re ready to assemble your sliders. Enjoy!
How far in advance can I make these sliders
Hey there. You can make your Mornay sauce and then just warm it back up the day of right before you assemble the sliders. You can also add make your butter glaze and keep it in a microwave safe bowl covered with plastic wrap in your fridge and also just warm that up in the microwave when you’re ready to assemble your sliders. Assemble everything else the day of. Enjoy!!
These sliders are delicious & always disappear quickly! However, these take considerably longer than 15 minutes to prep! This year I am cooking & cutting the bacon early. Also cutting the meat & cheese into small squares as cutting the sliders after they’ve baked is difficult and messy if served on a buffet. I use Roma tomatoes & also per-cut them. This is the first year I’ve followed this specific recipe that includes the mornay sauce. I’ll make it ahead, too, keeping it thick & spreadable. I include both ham and turkey, per the original Hot Brown recipe. I’ll also assemble right before putting on my Derby finest & bake just before the party starts. Double the recipe if you are taking them to a large gathering. Keep them on a warming tray during the party.
So happy you enjoy them Dorie! Thanks so much for trying the recipe and sharing your feedback!
These were a huge hit for my family!
YAY! So happy you all enjoyed them Susie!
You said, “I guess the old saying’s right…time flies when you’re having fun!” Or, as Kermit the Frog says, “time’s fun when you’re having flies!”
Hahahaha!