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
I just made these last night… blue cheese and all… ABSOLUTELY AWESOME
I just got my copy of BHG! Congratulations on the big win! You looked fabulous and I’m sure this isn’t the last time you will grace the pages of BHG.
I received my July 2011 issue of Better Homes & Gardens directing me to the following website to get your recipe for the BBQ Bacon Sliders at BHG.com/sliders.
Sorry, ladies the website says “No such item to be found”! I guess I should have been smart enough to go on your website in the first place where I found it.! Now, toooooooooooo bad I cannot print it out!
Oh well, it was a good thought on my part; I think I can remember most all of the ingredients to come closer enough!
Thanks!
R.Dion
These were SO DELICIOUS!!! Thank you for the recipe!!!!!!
Hi ladies! I’m finally going to make these this weekend! Where might I find cute, little buns? 😉
Look for the King’s Hawaiian Rolls. They should have them in just about every grocery store (usually by the deli). Or you can use dinner rolls from the bakery as well, (that’s what I used) they make great buns!
DO you think you could sub in gorgonzola cheese for the blue cheese in that sauce? Can’t wait to give them a try this weekend!
Yep, definitely!
We emailed out sis Juliin Des Moines who was in the test kitchen with you at Better Homes and Gardens. I needed something new and fresh and she gave me your blog. She said wonderful things about you both and that is saying a lot! I tried these little beauties out on the fam tonight and they were such a hit! Best burger in a LONG time! Thanks for your great site…
Tomorrow the key lime tarts and chicken tostada roll ups.
Thanks for a great resource!
Unbelievable burgers!! My entire family loved these.
Stefani- nothing that will make it taste the same, but you could use sour cream.
Is there anything I could substitute for the mayo in the blue cheese spread?