Cheeseburger Sliders Recipe

Prepare beef

Place ground beef in a bowl. Add 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce. Gently mix with your hands or a fork until combined—do not overwork (about 20–30 seconds) to keep patties tender.

Form patties

Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions (about 1.3 oz / 37 g each). Flatten each portion into a thin round about the diameter of the slider buns (roughly 2.5–3 inches). Make a slight indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent doming while cooking.

Cook patties

Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. If the pan is not nonstick, add 1 tbsp vegetable oil and swirl. When hot (pan should be shimmering), place patties in a single layer without crowding — you may cook in two batches. Cook for 2–3 minutes on the first side until nicely browned. Flip and cook 90 seconds more. On the second side, place a half-slice (or quartered slice sized for sliders) of cheddar on each patty, cover the pan with a lid for 30–45 seconds to melt the cheese. Total cook time per patty ~3.5–4.5 minutes depending on thickness.

Rest patties

Transfer finished patties to a plate and tent loosely with foil to keep warm while you toast buns and assemble.

Prepare onions and pickles

Thinly slice the remaining small half of the yellow onion into rings or finely chop to yield about 1/2 cup. Arrange 2 pickle slices per slider (24 total) on a small plate for easy assembly.

Portion condiments

Place ketchup (1/2 cup) and mustard (2 tbsp) into small bowls or drizzle directly on buns during assembly. This recipe yields slightly more ketchup than strictly necessary so you can adjust to taste.

Toast buns

Slice mini slider buns in half. Melt 2 tbsp butter in a clean skillet over medium heat. Place cut sides down and toast until golden and slightly crisp, about 1–2 minutes. If using sesame seeds, brush butter on buns and sprinkle seeds before toasting.

Assemble sliders

Spread about 1 tsp ketchup (or to taste) on the bottom half of each toasted bun and a light dab (about 1/4 tsp) of mustard on the top half. Place a shredded lettuce pinch if using, then place a cheeseburger patty on each bun bottom. Add 2 pickle slices and a few onion slices on top of each patty. Close with the bun top and serve immediately.

Serving suggestion

Arrange sliders on a platter and serve with extra ketchup or fries. These are best served hot; leftovers keep 1–2 days refrigerated (reheat gently to avoid drying).