Oh my goodness, y’all — thank you so much for stopping by! Whether you’re planning a festive Derby Day spread or just craving something cozy and comforting for your weeknight dinner lineup, you’re in the right place. I’m beyond excited to share these Kentucky Derby Hot Brown Sliders with you today.
These little sandwiches are my love letter to the iconic Louisville Hot Brown — reimagined in slider form for maximum crowd-pleasing power! Cheesy, savory, salty-sweet, and baked until golden and melty, they’re everything you didn’t know you needed. I mean it — Kentucky Derby Hot Brown Sliders are an absolute must-make for your party table or any time you want to impress without a lot of fuss
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make these Hot Brown Sliders:
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12 slices of bacon, cooked crispy
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2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
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1/2 cup cream cheese
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14 oz jar of pimentos, drained
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3/4 cup mayonnaise
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1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1/4 teaspoon pepper
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3/4 pound sliced smoked turkey
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12 thin tomato slices
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3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
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2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
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3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
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12 Sweet Hawaiian Rolls
How To Make Kentucky Derby Hot Brown Sliders
Step-by-step instructions:
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
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In a medium mixing bowl, combine the sharp cheddar, cream cheese, mayonnaise, drained pimentos, celery seed, salt, and pepper. Mix it up until it’s creamy and dreamy — this is your pimento cheese magic!
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Gently separate the sweet Hawaiian rolls and slice each one in half horizontally.
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Lay the bottom halves into a baking dish, cut-side up.
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Spread about a tablespoon of the pimento cheese onto each roll bottom. Smooth it out — you want that goodness in every bite!
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Layer with smoked turkey, a tomato slice, and a piece of crispy bacon.
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Spread a little more pimento cheese on the inside of the roll tops and place them on each sandwich.
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Whisk the Dijon mustard into the melted butter, then generously baste the tops of the rolls for that golden, flavorful finish.
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Sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese like confetti at a Derby party!
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Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 5-10 minutes until the tops are golden and the cheese is gooey perfection.
Helpful Tips
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Use room temp ingredients for easier mixing — especially the cream cheese!
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Don’t skip the foil step — it keeps the sliders from drying out before the cheese melts.
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Make ahead tip: Assemble up to Step 7 and refrigerate. Pop them in the oven when guests arrive!
Substitutions & Variations
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No turkey? Swap for roast chicken or ham!
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Want a kick? Add a few dashes of hot sauce to the pimento cheese.
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Different rolls? Brioche slider buns work beautifully if you’re out of Hawaiian.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
Here’s a general breakdown for one Kentucky Derby Hot Brown Slider (based on 12 servings total):
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Calories: 479
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Total Fat: 36g
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Saturated Fat: 14g
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Cholesterol: 85mg
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Sodium: 780mg
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Carbohydrates: 22g
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Fiber: 1g
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Sugar: 6g
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Protein: 18g
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! Assemble everything and refrigerate, covered. Bake when you’re ready to serve.
Can I use store-bought pimento cheese?
You sure can — just make sure it’s good and creamy!
Can these be frozen?
Technically, yes — though the texture is best fresh. If you do freeze, wrap tightly and reheat in the oven.
Storage Instructions
Got leftovers? (Lucky you!) Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a low oven (around 300°F) to crisp the tops again and melt the cheese.
More Derby-Worthy Recipes
If you give these Kentucky Derby Hot Brown Sliders a go, I’d love to hear about it! Snap a pic and tag me in your delicious creations or drop a comment below to share how they turned out.. I just know these little beauties are going to steal the show — just like a Derby winner crossing the finish line!
Print
Kentucky Derby Hot Brown Sliders Recipe
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 sliders 1x
Description
Cheesy, savory, salty-sweet, and irresistibly melty, these Kentucky Derby Hot Brown Sliders are a playful spin on the classic Louisville Hot Brown. Packed with smoky turkey, crispy bacon, creamy pimento cheese, and baked to golden, bubbly perfection on sweet Hawaiian rolls — they’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for Derby Day or any casual gathering.
Ingredients
12 slices of bacon, cooked crispy
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup cream cheese
14 oz jar of pimentos, drained
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 pound sliced smoked turkey
12 thin tomato slices
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
12 Sweet Hawaiian Rolls
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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In a bowl, mix cheddar, cream cheese, mayo, pimentos, celery seed, salt, and pepper until creamy.
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Slice rolls in half and place bottoms in a baking dish.
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Spread pimento cheese on each bottom half.
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Layer with turkey, tomato, and bacon.
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Spread more pimento cheese on the top halves and place on top.
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Whisk Dijon mustard into melted butter and brush generously over tops.
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Sprinkle with parmesan.
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Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 5–10 minutes until golden and gooey.
Notes
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Let cream cheese come to room temperature for easier mixing.
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Assemble ahead and refrigerate — bake when guests arrive!
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Feel free to substitute turkey with ham or rotisserie chicken.
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Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in the oven for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 479
- Sugar: 6g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 85mg