Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders

Sheet pan bacon cheeseburger sliders are a fun and delicious way to feed a crowd, and they're easy to make on a single baking sheet.

Whether serving these for a gameday party, family BBQ or as an easy sharable tailgate dish, these minis will go fast!

Here's a recipe you can try:

Hook's Rub seasoning used in this recipe:
 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lbs ground beef
• Hook's Mad Cow Rub (Use our H-Town AP Rub as an alternative)
• 12 slider buns
• 12 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped
• 12 slices of cheddar cheese
• Mayonnaise
• Melted butter about 4 tablespoons
• Toppings of your choice (onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mustard, etc.)

TOOLS

• Instant Read Thermometer (Thermoworks is our favorite brand and has many options)
• Sheet pan
• Grill set to 400 degrees (for pellet grills) or a charcoal grill with some quality lump charcoal (If using charcoal, add chunks of oak wood)
• Large metal spatula
• Sharp knives
• Cutting boards
• Parchment paper or Aluminum foil
• Silicon Brush
• Nitrile gloves

Instructions:

1. Preheat your smoker to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) or fill a charcoal chimney, light and after the coals have ashed over, dump the charcoal into the coal basket then cover with grate and lid, then open the vents wide to get it nice and hot! put the lumps of oak on the coals.

2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Brush with 1/2 the melted butter and set aside.

3. On a cutting board, mix together the ground beef and flatten into a rectangle shape just larger than the size of your slider buns while stuck together. Be careful not to flatten too thin as this will cause uneven cooking of the meat.

4. Season the top side of the ground beef with Hook's Mad Cow.
   
   

5. Flip the  large rectangle patty on the heated grill with the seasoned side down. Season the top side and cover the grill with the vents open halfway.

6. Grill in the for about 10 minutes then flip. The patties will be done when the internal temperature of the patties reaches 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).

7. While the patties are cooking, split the slider buns and arrange them cut-side up on the baking sheet. Spread a thin layer of mayo over the cut sides.

8. Flip the cut side down onto the grill, brush the top buns with the remaining butter and let them cook for 3-5 minutes to toast. Be sure not to place the buns over direct fire as they will burn.
   
   
9. Remove the buns to the baking sheet with the bottom side ready for topping with the meat.
    

10. Once the patty is fully cooked, remove from the grill and place  on the bottom half of the buns.

11. Top each patty with a slice of cheddar cheese.

12. Sprinkle the cooked bacon evenly over the cheese.

13. Place the baking sheet on the grill and cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

14. Add your desired toppings to the patties and cover with the top half of the buns.

15. Cut the sliders into squares and enjoy!

This recipe can be easily modified to suit your preferences. For example, you can use different types of cheese, such as Swiss or American, or you can add different toppings, such as mac and cheese, grilled onions, pickled onions, spinach, BBQ sauce, hot sauce or jalapenos. You can also switch up the bacon with sliced kielbasa sausage or burnt ends for a different flavor profile each time you make the sliders.