Spicy Jalapeno Beef Sliders (Printable Version)
Juicy mini beef burgers with fresh jalapeños and melted cheese. Easy to make, perfect for entertaining. Serves 8.
# What You Need:
→ Beef & Seasonings
01 - 1.1 lbs ground beef, 80/20 blend
02 - 2 fresh jalapeños, finely diced with seeds removed
03 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Toppings
09 - 8 slices pepper jack or cheddar cheese
10 - 8 slider buns
11 - 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
12 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
13 - 8 leaves crisp lettuce
14 - 8 teaspoons mayonnaise or spicy aioli
15 - 1 fresh jalapeño, thinly sliced, optional
16 - Pickled jalapeños, optional
→ For Serving
17 - Potato chips or fries, optional
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large bowl, combine ground beef, diced jalapeños, chopped onion, minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined without overworking the meat.
02 - Divide mixture into 8 equal portions and shape each into a small patty, slightly larger than your slider buns as they will shrink during cooking.
03 - Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat and lightly oil the surface.
04 - Cook patties for 3 to 4 minutes per side until browned and cooked to desired doneness. In the final minute of cooking, place one slice of cheese on each patty, cover to melt.
05 - Meanwhile, toast slider buns cut side down in a dry pan or under a broiler until golden brown.
06 - Spread mayonnaise or spicy aioli on bottom half of each bun. Layer with lettuce, cheesy beef patty, tomato slice, onion ring, and jalapeño slices or pickled jalapeños as desired. Top with upper bun half.
07 - Serve immediately with your choice of potato chips or fries.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These sliders strike that perfect balance between everyday simple and special occasion worthy without hours in the kitchen.
- The mix of fresh and pickled jalapeños creates layers of heat that wake up your taste buds without overwhelming them.
02 -
- Letting the patties rest for five minutes after mixing but before cooking allows the flavors to meld together much more deeply.
- The order of assembly truly matters, putting lettuce beneath the patty prevents soggy bottom buns, a revelation that came after several disappointingly damp slider experiences.
03 -
- Grating frozen butter into the meat mixture before forming patties creates pockets of richness that make these sliders transcendently juicy, a technique I learned from a chef friend that changed everything.
- Brushing the inside of the buns with a mixture of melted butter and a pinch of garlic powder before toasting creates an aromatic foundation that elevates the entire slider experience.