Description
Easy and crowd-pleasing smoky bacon cheeseburger sliders perfect for Labor Day gatherings or any casual celebration. Juicy beef patties cooked with crispy bacon and sharp cheddar cheese, served on soft slider buns with a creamy smoky sauce.
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20)
- 8 slices thick-cut smoked bacon
- 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- 8 small slider buns (potato rolls preferred)
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (about 70g / 2.5 oz)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ cup mayonnaise (120ml)
- 2 tablespoons ketchup (30ml)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (15ml)
- Pickles, sliced (optional)
- Butter (optional, for toasting buns)
Instructions
- Chop bacon into small pieces. Heat skillet over medium heat and cook bacon until crispy. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate, leaving rendered fat in pan.
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, cooked bacon bits, diced onion, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until evenly distributed.
- Divide mixture into 8 equal portions (about 3 ounces / 85 grams each). Shape each into a small patty roughly the size of slider buns. Make a slight indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb.
- Heat skillet with bacon fat over medium-high heat. Cook patties about 4 minutes on first side, flip and cook another 3 minutes on second side. Add a slice of cheddar cheese on top during last minute and cover pan to melt cheese.
- Optional: Spread butter on cut sides of slider buns and toast in skillet or griddle until golden and crispy.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, and Dijon mustard until smooth. Optionally add a pinch of smoked paprika.
- Assemble sliders by spreading sauce on bottom bun, adding cheesy bacon beef patty, topping with pickles if desired, and finishing with top bun. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not drain bacon fat; cook patties in it for extra smoky flavor and juiciness. Make a thumb indentation in patties to prevent puffing. Toast buns with butter to avoid sogginess. Mix beef gently to keep sliders tender. Sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for better flavor. Double or triple recipe easily for larger groups. Reheat leftovers gently in skillet to keep cheese melty. Avoid freezing fully assembled sliders as buns get soggy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
Keywords: smoky bacon cheeseburger sliders, Labor Day recipe, bacon sliders, cheeseburger sliders, party food, crowd-pleaser, easy sliders, smoky bacon, sharp cheddar