If you plan on celebrating our nation’s Independence Day by sharing delicious treats with great friends and family, you absolutely cannot miss out on this easy and delectable appetizer!  Our Mini Sliders with Smokey Cheddar recipe is sure to be a hit at any backyard barbeque. So fire up the grill, grab a tall class of refreshing lemonade and enjoy a miniature version of an American classic!

Mini Sliders with Smoky Cheddar Recipe

Ingredients

Cheese Mixture:
8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (can sub. 1 chipotle chopped and 1 tsp. adobo)
2 green onions, finely chopped, white and green portions
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Burgers:
3 pounds ground beef
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 Tablespoons mayonnaise
24 Parker House rolls, warmed in foil, then cut in half
Ketchup or sliced Roma tomatoes as option garnish

Methods/Steps
Preheat oven to 375°F.

Prepare Cheese: In a medium bowl, combine cheese, smoked paprika, green onions, salt, cayenne and black pepper. Refrigerate smoky cheese mixture until ready to use.

Mix and Form Patties: In another medium bowl, combine ground beef, salt and pepper. Stir in mayonnaise until incorporated. Divide meat mixture into equal portions. Gently form into 2-inch patties. Using your thumb, make a small dimple in the middle of the patty. Place on a slightly oiled baking sheet.

Cook Burgers: Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sear burgers 2 minutes on one side only, then transfer them, cooked side up to a sheet pan. Once all have been seared, transfer the sliders to the oven to finish cooking, about 4 minutes for medium rare. Drain off some of the grease from the pan into a small metal bowl so that patties are not cooking in oil.

Serve: Spoon 1 heaping Tablespoon cheese mixture onto burgers. Return to oven, and cook 1-2 minutes more or until done to your liking. Transfer sliders to rolls. Garnish with tomatoes or ketchup. Serve sliders immediately with warmed rolls.

Makes
Makes 24 Sliders

For more great holiday recipes, be sure to check out our Recipe Library!