If you missed the announcement, Kate and I will be traveling to Des Moines, IA this month (anyone from there??) to participate in a cook off at the Better Homes and Gardens test kitchens! We came up with this killer recipe which we hope will wow the judges.Update: We won the BH&G Cook-Off! Take a look at our winning recipe!
BBQ Bacon Sliders with Blue Cheese and Crispy Onions.
We also combine it with a tangy Blue Cheese Spread (which is simply this dressing without the milk). And if you’re not a fan of blue cheese, the spread is still awesome without it! But give it a shot- it really just adds a tang that goes great with the bbq sauce.
While those mini burgers are on the grill we bathe them in an amazing bbq sauce (and you could totally take a short-cut and use a bottled sauce if you’d rather)
While those little guys are cooking, start assembling. First the bottom halves of the buns are spread with the sauce and topped with a crisp, cold lettuce leaf and a slice of bacon.
then put on a warm burger
and top with a little pile of shoestring onions.
Finally the top bun goes on with more sauce. Are you wondering how something could be both mouthwatering AND adorable?? I know, we’re awesome like that. 😉 Sliders are great because you can eat a whole burger and still have some room for sides to balance out the meal. They’re also great for parties or appetizers too.
BBQ Bacon Sliders with Blue Cheese and Crispy Onions
Ingredients
Burgers
- 1½ lbs high-quality 85/15 ground Angus
- ½ cup BBQ sauce or your favorite bottled BBQ sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 8-10 dinner rolls, small, white or Hawaiian sweet rolls, sliced in half and toasted if desired
- 8-10 crisp lettuce leaves
- 8-10 slices bacon cooked crisp
Garlic Blue Cheese Spread
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 clove garlic pressed or finely minced
- ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese not a blue cheese fan? Leave it out!
Instructions
Garlic Blue Cheese Spread
- Combine mayonnaise, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar and garlic. Mix well and stir in crumbled blue cheese. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.
Burgers
- Heat a grill pan on the stove top, or an outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Combine beef, 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, salt and pepper. Divide and shape mixture into 8-10 3/4"-thick patties (keep the size of your buns in mind as wells the fact that the burgers will shrink quite a bit while cooking when shaping the patties). Grill for 2-3 minutes and then flip. Brush the top side of each burger with remaining sauce. Continue grilling for another 2 minutes and flip burgers again, brushing the other side with additional sauce. Continue to cook and baste until the internal temperature of the burgers reach 160-165℉.
Assembly
- Lightly spread the bottom half of each bun with Garlic Blue Cheese Spread and top with a lettuce leaf. Break each bacon piece in half and place on top of lettuce leaves. Place burger on top and drizzle with additional barbecue sauce if desired. Top with a small handful of Crispy Shoestring Onions. Spread remaining Garlic Blue Cheese Spread on top halves of buns.
Nutrition
Don’t forget the Crispy Shoestring Onions!
Questions & Reviews
Voted for you!
Burgers look delish and love your site and all your recipes!
I voted again today. I love your blog and have tried a ton of the recipes. They are a huge hit here. I need to make the Natchitoches Meat Pies again soon. They are so good. I make it in one big pie plate with a double crust, still as delish with a little less work.
Please do remind us on FB every day! I would hate to forget to vote one day.
Yummy…I may have to give these a try this weekend! I voted and you have quite a lead in the contest!!
I voted for you because you deserve it, not because you tried to bribe us! 🙂
Wow, those look tempting! Voted! I think I put you way out ahead. 😉 lol
Wahoo! This is pretty exciting. My first vote is cast and I'll return many times this month. You two deserve to win this for sure.
I live in Des Moines – holla! Here are a few restaurant suggestions while you're in town: Flying Mango (Cajun/BBQ); Django (French yumminess); Court Avenue Brewing Company (Microbrews & All-American classics) and THai Flavors (unassuming but DELISH Thai food). Enjoy your trip!
LOOOOOVVEEEEE anything with blue cheese 🙂 I'm an addict, what can I say?
Not in any way biased, but I honestly think your guys' recipe is the most creative, lots of different aspects going into it. Good Luck!
-Vanessa
You're at 56%!
(And yes, PLEASE remember to remind us every day!!)
I voted! I'll try to remember to vote everyday…but you gal's should remind us, at least on facebook 🙂 Good Luck!!!