Beef Sliders with Onions (Printable)
Mini beef burgers with caramelized onions and melted cheese on soft slider buns.
# What You Need:
→ For the Sliders
01 - 1.1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
→ For the Caramelized Onions
06 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar
→ For Assembly
10 - 8 slider buns
11 - 8 slices cheddar cheese (or Swiss, provolone, or choice)
12 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (optional)
13 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (optional)
14 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (for toasting buns)
15 - Lettuce, tomato slices, or pickles (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sliced onions, salt, and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes until deeply golden and caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and minced garlic. Mix gently until just combined. Divide into 8 equal portions and shape each into a patty slightly larger than the slider buns.
03 - Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook patties 2 to 3 minutes per side or until desired doneness.
04 - Place a slice of cheese on each patty during the last minute of cooking. Cover briefly to melt the cheese evenly.
05 - Spread the cut sides of slider buns with butter. Toast in a skillet or under the broiler until golden brown.
06 - Spread mayonnaise and/or mustard on bottom buns if desired. Add lettuce or tomato if using, then the cheesy beef patty, a generous spoonful of caramelized onions, and finish with the top bun.
07 - Serve immediately while warm.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- They're small enough to feel indulgent but substantial enough to actually satisfy, especially when you stack those sweet caramelized onions high.
- The whole thing comes together in under an hour, which means you can have something restaurant-quality on the table without spending your evening in the kitchen.
- They're practically built for sharing, which somehow makes food taste better when everyone's gathered around the same plate.
02 -
- Don't skip the low-and-slow caramelization of the onions because that's where the entire flavor profile comes from, and rushing them on high heat just makes them soft instead of sweet.
- Handling the beef gently when mixing is crucial; overworked beef becomes dense and rubbery, so mix just until things are combined and move on.
03 -
- Let your beef patties rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes before cooking so they cook evenly without being cold in the center and browned on the outside.
- If you're cooking for a crowd, you can form the patties and caramelize the onions hours ahead, then do the cooking and assembly when it's time to eat.