If you're looking for a crowd-pleasing recipe that comes together in under 30 minutes, these Customizable Homemade Sliders are about to become your new go-to. Juicy, seasoned mini patties topped with melty cheese and all your favorite toppings - what's not to love? I make these for game days, casual Friday dinners, and backyard cookouts, and they disappear every single time. Choose your protein, pile on the toppings, and make them totally your own.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
These easy sliders are mini burgers made with a seasoned protein of your choice, layered with melty cheese and served on toasted buns with whatever toppings you're feeling.
- Ready in 30 Minutes: From mixing the patties to plating, these sliders come together fast - making them perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute entertaining.
- Completely Customizable: You can use any ground protein you love! So that means you can make beef sliders, turkey sliders, chicken sliders, pork sliders, or plant-based sliders.
- Perfect for a Crowd: This recipe makes 12 sliders, so it's ideal for feeding a group without a lot of fuss. They're fun, finger-food friendly, and always a hit.
Ingredients you'll need
- Slider buns: Look for soft, slightly sweet buns in the bakery section. I often love using hawaiian rolls for some extra sweetness.
- Ground protein of your choice: Beef, turkey, chicken, or plant-based ground all work beautifully with this seasoning blend. Choose based on your taste preference or dietary needs.
- Garlic powder: Adds a savory depth without the work of mincing fresh garlic.
- Onion powder: Rounds out the seasoning blend and keeps the patties flavorful all the way through.
- Smoked paprika: This is the secret weapon - it gives the patties a subtle smoky flavor that takes them up a notch.
- Salt and black pepper: Essential for seasoning - don't skip these.
- Cheddar or pepper jack cheese: Both melt beautifully. Cheddar gives you a classic flavor while pepper jack adds a little kick.
Ask the Dietitian: Are sliders healthy?
Sliders are a great example of how a traditional comfort meal can also be a nutritious one! The beauty of a customizable recipe like this is that you're in control of what goes in and on them.
- Protein-packed: Whether you choose beef, turkey, chicken, or a plant-based option, each patty delivers a solid serving of protein, which helps keep you full and supports muscle repair and recovery.
- Nutrient boost from toppings: Loading your sliders with veggies like tomatoes, spinach, and avocado adds fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats to the meal - all for very few extra calories.
- Avocado for heart health: If you opt for mashed avocado as a topping, you're also getting monounsaturated fats, which have been linked tocardiovascular health benefits.
Customize it your way
Like all of my recipes, these Customizable Sliders are completely customizable. Customize them with your choice of protein, cheese, and toppings.
- Protein of your choice: Ground beef gives you that classic slider flavor, but ground turkey and ground chicken are lighter options that work just as well. Plant-based ground is a great choice for a fully meatless version.
- Toppings of your choice: Pile on whatever sounds good - tomato slices, red onions, roasted red peppers, spinach, sliced cucumbers, mashed avocado, or your favorite condiments like sriracha, ketchup, or Dijon/yellow mustard. If you want a little extra crispiness, add a slice of cooked bacon on top!
- Feel free to mix up the cheese: Cheddar and pepper jack are my go-tos, but swiss, gouda, or provolone would all be delicious here. Dairy-free cheese works too if you need it.
- Feel free to mix up the buns: Brioche slider buns are classic, but you can also use whole grain rolls for added fiber or lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
How to make Customizable Sliders
Here's how to make this easy and crowd-pleasing recipe:
- Mix and form the patties: Add the ground protein, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. You want the beef mixture just combined but not overworked.
- Cook the patties and melt the cheese: Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through. In the last minute of cooking, lay a half-slice of cheese on each patty and let it melt. If you're using a skillet with a lid, covering it briefly helps the cheese melt faster.
- Toast the buns: While the patties finish cooking, place your slider buns cut-side up on a baking sheet and toast in the oven or toaster oven for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden. This step makes a big difference - it keeps the buns from getting soggy once the patties go on.
- Assemble and serve: Add your toppings, nestle the cheesy patty on the bottom bun, and serve immediately. Set up a little toppings station if you're feeding a group - everyone loves building their own!
Can I make these sliders on the grill?
Love a smoky char? These sliders work great on the grill too. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and cook the patties for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Add the cheese in the last minute and close the lid to let it melt. I've been loving using my new Masterbuilt Grill!
Troubleshooting Tips
- Patties falling apart? Make sure to mix just until the seasoning is combined and not over-handle the meat. If the mixture still feels too loose, pop it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before forming patties or add a few spoonfuls of breadcrumbs to help them firm up.
- Cheese not melting? Cover the skillet with a lid for the last 30-60 seconds of cooking - the trapped steam helps it melt evenly.
- Buns getting soggy? Toasting them is key, and I'd also recommend adding wet toppings (like tomatoes) just before serving rather than assembling too far ahead.
Pairing
These sliders are great alongside a simple green salad, sweet potato fries, or a cold lemonade for a casual, crowd-friendly spread. Here are a few of my other favorite dishes to serve with these sliders:
Scaling
This recipe makes 12 sliders and doubles or triples easily - just make sure you have a large enough skillet or cook the patties in batches so they don't steam instead of sear. If you're making a big batch, keep finished patties warm in a 200°F oven while you cook the rest.
Storage & Meal Prep Tips
You can mix and form the patties up to 24 hours ahead and store them covered in the fridge - this actually helps them hold together better when cooking. Cooked patties keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave for 60-90 seconds. The USDA recommends cooking ground meat to an internal temperature of 160°F. I don't recommend freezing assembled sliders, but cooked patties on their own freeze well for up to 3 months - just thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Customizable Homemade Sliders
Ingredients
For the Sliders
- 12 slider buns
- 1 pound ground protein of your choice, (lean ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork, or plant-based ground)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 slices cheddar or pepper jack cheese, halved
Toppings of your choice
- Tomato slices
- Red onion slices
- Avocado slices
- Roasted red pepper slices
- Sliced cucumbers or pickles
- Leafy greens like romaine, spinach, or arugula
- Any favorite condiments like ketchup, mayo, mustard, sriracha
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the ground protein with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix until combined then divide into 12 small patties. (If mixture is too loose, let firm up in the freezer for 15 minutes.)
- Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook patties for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked through. In the last minute of cooking, lay a half-slice of cheese on each patty and let it melt.
- Lightly toast your slider buns in the oven or a toaster oven for for 1-2 minutes until golden.
- Add any toppings to your sliders and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Other Easy Dinner Recipes
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