Description
These Classic Cheeseburger Sliders are the perfect bite-sized comfort food, featuring juicy baked ground beef patties topped with melted cheddar cheese, nestled in soft slider buns. Easy to prepare and customizable with your favorite condiments and toppings, they make an ideal appetizer or main course for parties and game days.
Ingredients
For the Sliders
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 slices cheddar cheese
- 12 slider buns
- 1 tablespoon butter (melted)
- ½ cup diced onions (optional)
- 12 dill pickle slices
- Ketchup and mustard for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the burger layer and warming the sliders at the end.
- Season Beef: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Mix gently to evenly distribute the seasonings without overworking the meat, which keeps the burgers tender.
- Shape and Bake Beef: Press the seasoned ground beef evenly into a 9×13-inch baking dish, forming a uniform flat layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-17 minutes, or until fully cooked through, then carefully drain any excess grease from the dish.
- Melt Cheese: Immediately layer the cheddar cheese slices over the hot beef so they melt nicely. The residual heat will soften the cheese perfectly.
- Slice Burger Layer: Cut the baked beef and melted cheese layer into 12 equal squares to fit the slider buns.
- Prepare Buns and Onions: Place the bottom halves of the slider buns on a baking sheet. If using, sauté the diced onions in a small skillet over medium heat until golden brown and fragrant to add a sweet, caramelized flavor.
- Assemble Sliders: Top each bun bottom with a beef and cheese square, a dill pickle slice, and sautéed onions if desired. Add ketchup and mustard to taste for a classic flavor profile.
- Finish and Bake Again: Place the top buns on each slider, brush them lightly with melted butter to enhance browning and flavor, then return the assembled sliders to the oven for about 5 minutes to warm through and meld the flavors.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve the sliders immediately while warm and delicious.
Notes
- For extra savory depth, add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the ground beef before baking.
- Cheddar cheese can be swapped with American, Swiss, or pepper jack based on your preference for varied flavor and melt.
- Sautéed onions add sweetness but can be omitted for a simpler slider.
- Brush the buns with butter before the last bake to give a golden, buttery finish.
