Juicy Beef Sliders Caramelized Onions (Print Version)
Juicy mini beef burgers topped with sweet, golden caramelized onions on soft slider buns.
# Recipe Ingredients:
→ For the Sliders
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
05 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
→ For the Caramelized Onions
06 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1 teaspoon sugar
→ For Assembly
11 - 8 slider buns
12 - 4 ounces sliced cheddar or Swiss cheese
13 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise or aioli
14 - Leaf lettuce or baby arugula
15 - Sliced pickles
# Directions:
01 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil. Add sliced onions and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes until soft and golden. Add sugar to enhance sweetness. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
02 - Preheat a grill or skillet to medium-high heat.
03 - In a bowl, gently mix ground beef with salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and Dijon mustard. Form into 8 equal small patties, slightly larger than the buns as they will shrink during cooking.
04 - Cook the patties for 2 to 3 minutes per side for medium doneness. If using cheese, add a slice to each patty in the last minute of cooking and cover to melt.
05 - Lightly toast the slider buns on the grill or in a skillet if desired.
06 - Spread mayonnaise or aioli on the bottom half of each bun. Top with lettuce, a beef patty, a generous spoonful of caramelized onions, and pickles. Cover with bun tops and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These sliders hit that perfect sweet spot between fancy restaurant fare and comfort food, making ordinary weeknights feel like special occasions without hours of work.
- The contrast between the juicy beef patties and the melt-in-your-mouth onions creates a flavor harmony that even my pickiest friends request again and again.
02 -
- Never rush caramelized onions, I tried cranking up the heat once and ended up with blackened, bitter bits instead of that luscious golden sweetness.
- Adding a tiny splash of water if the onions start to stick too much to the pan will deglaze all those flavorful brown bits without burning them.
03 -
- The caramelization magic happens around the 15-minute mark when the onions suddenly shift from softened to golden, so resist the urge to walk away during this crucial transformation.
- Let the cooked patties rest for 2-3 minutes before assembly so the juices redistribute throughout the meat rather than gushing out on first bite.