Nothing says ‘party’ like Homemade Sliders and Buns – petite in size, big on taste, which makes them The Better Burger!
What Exactly Is A Slider?
If you’ve ever watched the cartoon Popeye, you already know who devoured sliders on every show; Wimpy!
These miniature burgers, date back to the 1940’s and became famous through one of America’s earlier fast food restaurants called White Castle.
While they were first referred to as Hamburgers, they were made of beef.
What Type Of Meat To Use For The Perfect Sliders
Actually, ground beef, lamb or turkey, mixed with minced onions, garlic and a medley of fresh herbs, cooked stovetop or grilled, make the perfect sliders.
No matter your preferred meat for a burger, these petite sliders are fabulous with them all!
Serving these sliders as appetizers or fully dressed dinner size burgers, makes this burger recipe one to enjoy at anything from a backyard party or an elegant butler-served appetizer at a wedding.
Party Perfect Sliders And Buns
The ceremony has taken place.
The crowd is hungry.
Before your guests indulge in celebration drinking, it might be a good idea to butler-serve something substantial before dinner is served.
These mini-burgers, made into bite-size sliders, passed around on silver trays accompanied by mini mugs of iced cold beer, are both whimsical and delicious!
Cooking Meat Sliders For The Bun
A variety of meats make for great burgers, but truth be told, we all have our favorite meat we like to eat.
Using a small round biscuit cutter, the same size as the slider bun, makes it easy to pack the burger meat into tight, little, perfectly shaped burgers.
Once cooked, they hold together tightly and fit the bun precisely.
When your favorite meat is properly seasoned, shaped and packed tightly, using a ring mold or biscuit cutter, it really packs the meat tight.
Any meat you choose to use will be delicious and hold together. This recipe will make four big burgers, eight mini burgers or a dozen appetizer size burgers.
Stovetop Cooked Homemade Sliders
Stovetop cooking on a sizzling hot cast iron pan is a great way to cook these little sliders quickly.
Placing meat on a piping hot piece of metal sears and seals the outside quickly therefore keeping all the juices inside of the burger.
While we might prefer to cook sliders on the grill, they are small and can easily become problematic.
An option for wanting the appearance of grill cooked sliders is to use a stovetop cast iron griddle that reaches across two burners.
Better Burger Buns
While there are a variety of burger buns sold in the grocery stores, I’ve yet to find a bun that doesn’t get soggy when the burger is added.
Homemade Burger Buns are, of course, the best way to go simply because you know exactly what ingredients go into the dough and they hold together beautifully.
I make these often throughout the summer months and love to add grated cheese, even olives to the dough, making these buns stiff competition for the burger!
Burger Or Slider Gatherings
Picture it, a huge family gathering, a table spread of burgers, sides, toppings and Buns! Everyone gets a plate, starts piling lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, squirts of ketchup onto the burger sitting on top of a bun.
- Juices from those perfectly cooked burgers begin to ooze out of the meat, or portobello mushroom burger
- Throw some cheese on top, close that baby up and head to a seat
- Get ready for your first yummy bite… the bun gives up!
The heat, the juices, the melted cheese were all to much for that wimpy, ‘after-thought’ bun you picked up from the grocery store.
Wow, talk about a deflatable moment!
The Better Homemade Slider Bun
Picture this instead, that same huge family gathering.
- Grilled meat, seafood or veggie burgers piled high on top of heated platters
- Everyone gets a plate, places one of your Homemade Burger Buns open on the plate
- Lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, squirts of mustard and horseradish begin to mound on top the burger of their choice
- Go ahead, throw some cheese on there too, so it can melt while the burger is still warm
- The Burger Bun says, “Is that all ya got, gimme some more, I got this”!
That burger sits proud on the plate, the guests take their first bite, “OMGosh, where did you get these buns”?
The family is now asking about the most delicious bite of bread they’ve ever had. Who cares what’s in the middle! That’s, what I’m talking about!
Finally, make certain to grill the inside of the bun. It brings out the flavor and adds an extra measure of stability.
Condiments For Your Slider Buns
If you think that ketchup and mustard are the only options for a condiment on your beautifully homemade slider, let’s get you thinking differently.
When I make a lamb slider or burger, my favorite condiment is Tzatziki on my burger, yogurt with cucumbers.
It brings out the flavor of the lamb beautifully.
However, if I am making a slider for meat that is both lean in fat or flavor, I go straight for my Chili Beetroot Ketchup.
Oh yes, this ketchup is spice hot, sweet and sour and earthy rich!
Looking to keep is simple and use a schmear of mayo?
Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise is rich, pure and loaded with flavor!
So you see, you can turn these homemade sliders and buns, for your special gathering, into the best gourmet slider you or your guests have ever had!
Ingredients Needed
- Ground meat of your choice
- Onion
- Garlic
- Fresh herbs
- Coarse salt
- Olive oil
- Butter
- Burger buns
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowl
- Blender
- Mixing spoon
- Cast iron griddle pan or frying pan – my favorite for reaching across two burners, below
- Metal spatula
- Knife
- Biscuit cutter or round cookie
- Stovetop or burner
- Oven – if making your own buns
More Whimsical Burgers You Are Sure To Love!
Let’s face it, everyone loves a burger, of some sort or another!
Doesn’t matter if it’s a meat burger, a mushroom burger or a totally vegan burger created to look and taste like meat but is completely plant based.
I’ve enjoyed all three types of burgers, each for different reasons, but I must confess, meat burgers are what I am most partial to.
For this reason, I’ve created a few other wildly whimsical burgers I think you might like!
- Spanakopita Burger – a lamb burger with many of the same ingredients found in Spanakopita.
- Cheeseburger Muffins – again, another whimsical creation I dreamed up when publishing my 52 Muffin Madness cookbook!
Homemade Sliders and Bun Recipe
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Stovetop griddle
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground meat meat of choice
- 1 Onion pureed
- 2 Garlic cloves pureed
- 1 tbsp Fresh Herbs – Marjoram, Thyme or Oregano finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp Coarse salt
- 1 tsp Olive oil
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 8 Slider Buns Homemade
Instructions
- Place the pureed onion and garlic in a large bowl
- Add the ground meat, herbs and salt.
- Knead the mixture over and over again, as you would dough until almost paste-like.
- Using a biscuit cutter, the same size as the bun you will serve them on, pack the ring tight with the meat mixture then transfer each to a tray.
- Heat the pan you will cook on. Add oil and butter and quickly place the burgers in the pan. About 5 minutes on each side, depending on how thick you formed them, and the burgers are ready.
- If using a grill, melt the butter and add to the olive oil. Use this to brush across the grill grates.
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.