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Cowboy Sliders Recipe

5 from 129 reviews

These Cowboy Sliders are a delicious blend of savory ground beef patties topped with smoky barbecue sauce, melted cheddar cheese, crispy onion rings, and pickles, all nestled inside soft slider buns. Perfect for parties, game days, or a casual dinner, these sliders bring the bold flavors of the Western frontier straight to your plate with an easy stovetop cooking method.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Sliders

  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 slider buns
  • 4 slices cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • 10 small onion rings, cooked and crispy
  • 8 pickle slices
  • 2 tablespoons butter (to toast buns)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the patties: In a bowl, combine the ground beef with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Mix gently to combine without overworking the meat. Divide the mixture into four equal portions and shape each into small, flat patties slightly larger than the slider buns, as they will shrink while cooking.
  2. Cook the patties: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the patties in the skillet and cook for about 3-4 minutes on the first side until browned and seared. Flip the patties, baste with barbecue sauce, then quickly place a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty. Cover the skillet loosely and cook an additional 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts and the patties reach desired doneness.
  3. Toast the buns: Spread butter on the insides of the slider buns. In a separate skillet or using the same pan after removing patties, toast buns over medium heat until golden brown and slightly crisp on the cut sides, about 1-2 minutes.
  4. Assemble the sliders: Place each cooked patty with melted cheese on the bottom half of a toasted bun. Top with crispy onion rings and pickle slices. Spread additional barbecue sauce on the top bun if desired, then close the slider.
  5. Serve immediately: Serve the cowboy sliders hot as an appetizer or main dish alongside your favorite sides like fries, coleslaw, or baked beans.

Notes

  • For extra smoky flavor, consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika to the beef mixture.
  • Use freshly made or good-quality store-bought onion rings for crunch.
  • Adjust barbecue sauce amount to taste; opt for spicy or sweet varieties based on preference.
  • Sliders are best served fresh but can be prepped up to cooking patties a few hours in advance and refrigerated.
  • To keep sliders warm before serving, cover loosely with foil in a warm oven set around 200°F (90°C).

Keywords: cowboy sliders, BBQ sliders, mini burgers, appetizer sliders, ground beef sliders