Spicy BBQ Jalapeño Sliders
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Cast iron skillet or grill pan
- Spatula
- Tongs
- Small bowl for spicy mayo
Ingredients
For the Sliders
- 1 lb ground beef 80/20 for juiciness
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper optional for extra heat
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup BBQ sauce use your favorite
- 6 slices pepper jack cheese
- 6 slider buns
- 6 slices bacon cooked and cut in half
- 2 jalapeños thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp butter for toasting buns
For the Spicy Mayo (Optional but Recommended)
- ¼ cup mayo
- 1 tbsp hot sauce like Sriracha or chipotle sauce
- ½ tsp lime juice
Instructions
Prepare the Patties
- In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne (if using), and Worcestershire sauce. Mix gently—don’t overwork the meat! Form into 6 small patties, slightly larger than the buns (they’ll shrink while cooking).
Cook the Bacon
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
Sear the Patties
- Heat the same skillet over medium-high heat. Place patties in the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes per side. In the last minute of cooking, brush patties with BBQ sauce and top with pepper jack cheese. Cover with a lid or foil to melt the cheese.
Toast the Buns
- While the patties cook, melt butter in another pan. Toast the buns, cut-side down, until golden brown.
Assemble the Sliders
- Spread spicy mayo on the bottom buns. Add a BBQ-coated patty, crispy bacon, and jalapeño slices. Top with the other half of the bun.
Serve and Enjoy!
- Serve hot with extra BBQ sauce on the side!