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BBQ Cheeseburger Sliders with Bacon Crumble

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Sliders

Equipment

  • Large Skillet or Griddle For searing the patties evenly. A cast iron skillet works beautifully.
  • Mixing bowl To combine the beef and seasonings.
  • Spatula Preferably metal or heat-resistant.
  • Sheet pan or baking dish To assemble and bake the sliders all at once.
  • Pastry Brush For brushing butter on the slider tops.
  • Aluminum foil For covering the sliders while baking.
  • Cutting board and sharp knife For toppings and bacon crumble.

Ingredients
  

For the Burger Patties

  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef 80/20 for juicy patties
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

For the Sliders

  • 12 slider buns preferably Hawaiian or brioche style
  • 12 slices sharp cheddar cheese or beef and cheddar cheese blend, if you can find it
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce smoky, sweet or spicy—your choice
  • 6 slices cooked bacon finely chopped or crumbled
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder for brushing the tops
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds optional

Optional Add-ins

  • ½ red onion thinly sliced
  • Pickles or pickle chips
  • Jalapeños for a kick
  • A layer of thinly sliced roast beef for a beef-on-beef experience—think bbq roast beef meets burger

Instructions
 

Make the Bacon Crumble

  1. Start by cooking your bacon slices until crispy. Once cooled, finely chop or crumble them into small bits. This is your savory topping—like bacon sprinkles that melt into the cheese and BBQ sauce. Set aside.

Prepare the Beef Patties

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix gently until just combined—overmixing can lead to tough patties.
  2. Divide the mixture into 12 small equal portions. Shape them into patties slightly larger than your slider buns since they'll shrink a bit when cooked.

Cook the Patties

  1. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add a light coating of oil if needed. Sear the patties for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until nicely browned and just cooked through. They should still be juicy.

Optional: if you're going for a beef and cheddar sliders vibe with a twist, layer a thin piece of sliced roast beef over each patty during the last minute of cooking and top it with a cheddar slice so everything melts together.

    Assemble the Sliders

    1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
    2. In a large baking dish or sheet pan, place the bottom halves of all the slider buns. Add a cooked beef patty to each one. Drizzle a tablespoon of BBQ sauce over each patty, then top with a slice of cheddar cheese.
    3. Sprinkle the bacon crumble generously across the tops. Add optional toppings like onions, pickles, or jalapeños if you like a little extra zip.
    4. Place the top halves of the buns on each slider.

    Butter and Bake

    1. Mix melted butter with garlic powder and brush the tops of the buns. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the tops if using.
    2. Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 5 minutes, until the cheese is melty and the tops are golden brown.

    Serve

    1. Let the sliders rest for 3–5 minutes before slicing or pulling apart. This gives the cheese and sauce time to settle. Serve warm and watch them disappear.