If you want to wow a group on game day, or just looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer, you can’t do much better than sliders. Sliders are simply small burgers, though some people use the term to describe any small sandwich on a mini bun.

Game day cooking and entertaining is one of my favorite ways to host a crowd. I don’t know why the foods that have become so associated with groups of people watching sports events on TV are so happy-making, but they are.

The appeal of the slider is fairly clear. Most sliders are made with about 2 ounces of meat. Easier to eat, less of a commitment, adorable, and inhalable.

Sliders are just as easy to make at home as burgers. You are looking for the same qualities you get in a full-size burger — crusty exterior and juicy meat inside — so you need to cook these mini burgers fairly quickly at high heat to get that great crust without overcooking the interior.

Some people feel like it’s not a slider unless there are onions mixed into the meat, and this recipe for mini chipotle burgers fulfills that criteria. These sliders have a bit of kick from pureed chipotles in adobo, and a couple of show-offy toppings that give them a bit of a sophisticated twist. If you want to make a bigger batch of the salad-like slaw, you could also serve that as a side. And if you wanted to buy some premade slaw, and skip the bitter lettuce version, go right ahead.

I stole this Chipotle Slider recipe from myself. It’s a version of the Beef Chipotle Burgers that I’ve made for a while, just in slider version. It’s topped with another recipe I stole from myself — Frisee, Radicchio, and Escarole Salad with Citrus Dressing, which kind of acts like a slaw. And then finished with yet another recipe I stole from myself, Blue Cheese Dip. I’m either a terrible thief or a terrific recipe repurposer…you decide.

Chipotle Sliders Recipe: These cute little sliders are kind of sophisticated as sliders go, and very game day party worthy.

A Game Day Menu

And here’s a game day menu: You don’t have to make all of it; just pick and choose. If you like the look of the whole thing, then enlist some friends for a pre-game cooking party.

• Chipotle Sliders (recipe right below!)
• Buffalo Turkey Burger Sliders
• Mini Pizzas – These mini pizzas get inhaled pretty quickly, so count on at least 4 per person — more if my family is coming.
• Or maybe a Nacho Bar
• Game Day Ground Beef Chili paired with Pepper Jack and Green Chili Corn Muffins
• Sheetpan Macaroni and Cheese Squares – Mac and cheese becomes portable!
• Big Chewy Brownie Cookies with Dried Cherries and White Chocolate Chips – Fudgy in texture, super chocolatey in texture, and studded with good things.

Chipotle Slider Ingredients

• Ground beef – These patties are best when made with 80/20% ground beef.
• Chipotles in adobo sauce – Puree a can of these chile peppers in a food processor.
• Shallot – Finely mince the shallot so it blends easily into the beef patty. If you don’t have a shallot, minced onion is a good substitute.
• Frisée, Radicchio, and Escarole Salad with Citrus Dressing – A special recipe that creates the ideal slaw topping for the sliders.
• Blue Cheese Dip – Homemade blue cheese dip is the ultimate finishing touch for these sliders. Store-bought is also fine — I love Marie’s Blue Cheese Dressing/Dip, which can be found in the produce section.

How to Make Chipotle Sliders

1. Make the patty mixture: In a large bowl, combine the beef, pureed chipotles in adobo, salt, and scallions. Hands are best for this.
2. Make the sliders: Using 1/4 cup at a time, form the mixture into small burger patties.
3. Cook the sliders: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Pan-grill the burgers for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until they are done to your liking.
4. Assemble: Serve on the buns (toasted if you wish) with the salad/slaw and some blue cheese dip.

Tips for Perfect Sliders

• Make sure to buy small slider-sized buns. You can’t put a mini burger on a full-sized bun without it feeling very disappointing. Also, toast the buns; it adds texture and flavor dimension to your sliders.
• Form the patties a touch wider than the buns, as they will shrink when cooking. You don’t want a skimpy-looking patty after it comes out of the pan.
• Make a small indentation in the middle of the party. The burgers will swell a bit in the middle as they cook, and the indentation will fill end, so you end up with flat sliders rather than bulging ones. This makes them easier to top and eat.
• Refrigerate the patties for about 30 minutes before cooking. This makes the sliders easier to handle when cooking and helps keep the inside nice and pink while the outside gets nicely browned.

FAQs

Alo see How to Grill the Perfect Burger and How to Grill Perfect Turkey Burgers!

What to Serve With Chipotle Sliders

Warm Jalapeño Popper Dip

Puff Pastry Cheese Straws with Bacon

Roasted Pepper Crostini with Basil Oil

More Easy Burger Recipes

• Buffalo Turkey Burger Sliders
• Chipotle Barbecue Turkey Burgers
• Southwestern Vegan Black Bean Burgers
• Deviled Burgers
• Greek Turkey Burgers