Description
Juicy, oven-baked bacon cheeseburger sliders featuring a tangy emulsified secret sauce. These one-pan sliders are perfect for tailgating, parties, and game days, offering a balance of smoky, savory, and tangy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907g) 80/20 ground beef
- 12 slices thick-cut smoked bacon
- 12 slices sharp cheddar cheese
- 24 slider buns (King’s Hawaiian rolls recommended)
- 1/2 cup (120g) mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp (30ml) refrigerator pickle juice
- 1 tbsp (15g) Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp (2g) smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp (1g) garlic powder
- 4 tbsp (57g) unsalted butter, melted
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy but not burnt. Drain on paper towels and break each slice in half to make 24 pieces.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, pickle juice, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and garlic powder until smooth and emulsified. Set aside as the secret sauce.
- Divide ground beef into 24 equal portions (approx. 1.5 oz each). Form into small, thin patties slightly wider than the buns. Press a thumbprint indentation into the center of each patty to prevent puffing.
- Season patties lightly with salt and pepper.
- Place one bun on each of two large sheet pans. Top each bun with one beef patty, half a slice of cheddar cheese, and half a slice of bacon.
- Bake for 8 minutes to cook the beef and start melting the cheese.
- Remove from oven. Place top halves of buns on each slider.
- Brush tops generously with melted butter, then dollop about 1 teaspoon of secret sauce on top of each bun.
- Return to oven and bake for another 5 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted and buns are golden brown. Cover with foil if buns are browning too quickly.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
Notes
[‘Use 80/20 ground beef to prevent dryness.’, ‘Press a thumbprint into the center of patties to keep them flat.’, ‘Emulsify the sauce well to prevent separation.’, ‘Let sliders rest for 5 minutes after baking to prevent soggy buns.’, ‘Can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking.’]
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slider
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 11
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 12
Keywords: football tailgate, bacon cheeseburger sliders, secret sauce, game day food, oven baked sliders, party appetizers, crowd pleaser, easy tailgate recipes