The Fun-Sized Ina Garten Sliders Recipe for Tasty Mini Burgers

Sliders offer bold flavor in a compact, crowd-friendly size.

Mini sandwiches carry layers of taste in every bite, perfect for gatherings or casual dinners.

A golden sear and juicy center make them irresistible.

Each one allows for endless combinations without overcomplicating your meal.

Preparation is simple, yet the result feels festive and thoughtful.

These tiny bites bring big satisfaction with every serving.

Everything You Need for Sliders That Pack Flavor

• Ground Beef: Lean and flavorful base for sliders, choose 80/20 or 85/15 blend for juicy results.
• Gruyère Cheese: Rich, nutty cheese that melts beautifully and adds depth to the burger.

• Olive Oil: Adds moisture and helps bind the meat mixture together.
• Dijon Mustard: Provides tangy flavor and helps keep the meat tender.
• Garlic: Fresh and aromatic, enhances overall burger taste.
• Thyme: Earthy herb that complements the beef's rich flavor.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the meat's natural taste.

• Mini Burger Buns: Soft and small, perfect for creating slider-style sandwiches.
• Tomato: Fresh slice adds brightness and moisture to the burger.
• Arugula: Peppery green that provides a crisp, fresh element.
• Ketchup: Classic condiment for serving alongside the sliders.

How to Build Ina’s Sliders for Any Occasion

Step 1: Prepare the Grill

Heat charcoal or gas grill to medium-high temperature. Clean and oil the grill grates to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Create Burger Mixture

• Ground beef
• Olive oil
• Dijon mustard
• Minced garlic
• Fresh thyme
• Salt
• Black pepper

Gently mix ingredients with a fork, avoiding overmixing to keep meat tender.

Step 3: Form Mini Burger Patties

Divide meat mixture into 4 equal portions. Shape each portion into 3 small, uniform patties. Create a slight indentation in the center of each patty to prevent bulging during cooking.

Step 4: Grill the Sliders

Place patties on hot grill grates. Cook for 4-6 minutes per side, depending on desired doneness. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, sprinkle grated Gruyère cheese on top of each patty. Close grill lid to help cheese melt evenly.

Step 5: Rest the Burgers

Transfer cooked sliders to a clean plate. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes. This helps retain juices and ensures maximum flavor.

Step 6: Toast the Buns

Lightly toast slider buns on the grill, cut side down, for about 15 seconds. Watch carefully to prevent burning.

Step 7: Assemble Sliders

• Grilled patty
• Fresh tomato slice
• Handful of arugula
• Pinch of salt and pepper

Place top bun to complete the slider.

Step 8: Serve and Enjoy

Plate hot sliders immediately. Serve with high-quality ketchup on the side for dipping. Pair with crisp salad or light side dish for a complete meal.

Slider Tips That Keep Every Bite Juicy

• Gentle Meat Mixing: Handle ground beef with a light touch using a fork to maintain a tender, juicy texture. Rough handling compresses the meat, resulting in tough, dry sliders.
• Freshly Grate for Greatness: Shred Gruyère cheese just before cooking to ensure a creamy, smooth melt that elevates the slider's flavor profile.
• Resting Builds Flavor: Allow grilled patties to rest under foil for 5 minutes, allowing juices to redistribute and intensify the meat's delicious taste.
• Quick Bun Toasting Trick: Quickly crisp buns for 15 seconds to create a light crunch and prevent sogginess from burger juices.
• Tomato Seasoning Secret: Sprinkle salt and pepper on tomato slices to boost their natural flavor and create a perfect balance with the rich beef.

Storing Ina’s Sliders Without Losing That Sizzle

• Preserve: Individually wrap fully cooled patties in vacuum-sealed bags to maximize freshness and prevent freezer burn. These airtight packages protect meat quality, locking in flavor and preventing moisture loss. Mark each package with the date to track storage time efficiently.
• Separate: Store burger components strategically to maintain optimal texture and taste. Keep buns, cooked patties, and crisp vegetables in distinct sealed containers within the refrigerator. Moisture-absorbing paper towels can help prevent soggy bread and wilted greens.
• Thaw: Remove frozen sliders from the freezer and transfer to the refrigerator 24 hours before reheating. Gradual defrosting ensures even temperature distribution and helps preserve the meat's original juiciness. Avoid microwaving directly from frozen to prevent tough, uneven heating.

Creative Ways to Dress Up Your Slider Game

• Lamb Slider Fusion: Replace ground beef with ground lamb, swap Dijon mustard for mint sauce, and add crumbled feta cheese for a Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Spicy Southwest Sliders: Mix ground beef with chipotle peppers, cumin, and chili powder. Top with pepper jack cheese, pickled jalapeños, and cilantro-lime mayo for a zesty kick.
• Mushroom Swiss Veggie Sliders: Create vegetarian patties using portobello mushrooms, mix with breadcrumbs, herbs, and eggs. Top with melted Swiss cheese and caramelized onions for rich, earthy flavors.
• Blue Cheese Buffalo Sliders: Blend ground beef with buffalo sauce, top with crumbled blue cheese, and add a drizzle of ranch dressing. Garnish with thinly sliced celery for crunch and classic buffalo wing inspiration.

One Last Bite from the Slider Platter of Dreams

Gourmet sliders from Ina Garten’s kitchen promise an epic culinary adventure that elevates classic comfort fare.

Gruyère cheese melts luxuriously across perfectly grilled mini patties, creating irresistible flavor profiles.

Delicate arugula and juicy tomatoes complement the rich beef mixture with elegant simplicity.

Backyard barbecues and summer gatherings gain sophisticated charm through these miniature masterpieces.

Charcoal-kissed edges and aromatic herb notes make each slider a compact flavor explosion.

Passionate cooks who dive into this recipe will discover gourmet magic waiting in small, delectable packages – so scroll, share, comment, and inspire fellow culinary enthusiasts to embrace these mouthwatering sliders!

Why Ina’s Sliders Are Small But Mighty

• Elevate Burger Experience: These sliders transform ordinary ground beef into gourmet mini burgers bursting with sophisticated flavors and restaurant-quality presentation.
• Master Grilling Technique: Ina Garten's method ensures perfectly cooked, juicy burgers with a delightful char, melted Gruyère cheese, and minimal effort for maximum deliciousness.
• Quick Gourmet Meal: Ready in under 30 minutes, these sliders offer a speedy solution for impressive entertaining, delivering restaurant-style burgers right from your backyard grill.
• Flavor-Packed Ingredients: Dijon mustard, fresh thyme, and garlic create an unexpected flavor profile that elevates these mini burgers from basic to extraordinary, making every bite a culinary adventure.

Ina Garten Sliders Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Mini cheeseburger sliders from Ina Garten bring classic comfort to any gathering. Perfectly seasoned beef patties nestled between buttery brioche buns create irresistible mini burgers you’ll crave at every party.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meat:

• 2 pounds (lb) ground Niman Ranch beef or other premium beef (80% lean and 20% fat)

Cheese and Seasonings:

• 6 ounces (oz) grated Gruyère cheese
• 1 tablespoon (tbsp) Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon (tsp) chopped fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Other Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons (tbsp) good olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (tbsp) minced garlic (3 cloves)
• 12 mini brioche, onion, or hamburger buns, split
• 3 small red tomatoes, sliced
• 4 ounces (oz) baby arugula
• Good ketchup, for serving

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Ignite the outdoor cooking surface: Set up a charcoal grill with intensely glowing embers or calibrate a gas grill to a robust medium-high temperature zone.
2. Craft the meat mixture: In a spacious mixing vessel, delicately combine ground beef, extra virgin olive oil, robust Dijon mustard, finely chopped garlic, fragrant thyme, precisely measured salt (or 5 grams), and freshly cracked black pepper (½ teaspoon or 1.5 grams). Gently incorporate ingredients using a fork to maintain meat’s delicate texture.
3. Form miniature patties: Methodically divide the seasoned meat blend into 4 equal portions, then meticulously sculpt each segment into 3 uniformly sized compact burger medallions.
4. Sear the protein: Strategically position patties onto sizzling grill grates, cooking approximately 4-6 minutes per side depending on desired internal temperature. During final 2 minutes, crown each patty with grated Gruyère cheese (28 grams), allowing lid closure to facilitate gentle melting.
5. Allow meat to relax: Carefully transfer cooked burgers onto a clean serving plate, envelop completely with aluminum foil, permitting 5-minute resting period to redistribute succulent internal juices.
6. Prepare bread vessels: Briefly toast bun halves directly on grill surface, cut-side downward, for roughly 15 seconds until achieving light golden edges.
7. Compose final presentation: Layer each bottom bun with a cheese-topped patty, crown with vine-ripened tomato slice, handful of peppery arugula, and delicate salt and pepper seasoning. Complete assembly with corresponding bun top.
8. Serve immediately: Present sliders while piping hot, accompanied by premium ketchup for optional enhancement.

Notes

• Preserve Meat’s Moisture: Avoid overworking ground beef by mixing with a light touch, keeping the texture loose and preventing dense, tough patties.
• Elevate Cheese Quality: Grate Gruyère cheese moments before cooking to ensure maximum melting potential and rich, creamy flavor throughout the sliders.
• Enhance Tomato Taste: Quickly season tomato slices with a pinch of salt and pepper to brighten their natural sweetness and complement the savory meat.
• Crisp Up Bun Edges: Briefly toast burger buns for a quick 15-second golden crunch, creating a protective barrier against potential sogginess.
• Lock in Burger Juiciness: Allow grilled patties to rest under a foil tent for 5 minutes, letting the internal juices redistribute and intensify the meat’s delicious flavor.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 424
• Sugar: 4.6g
• Sodium: 353mg
• Fat: 26g
• Saturated Fat: 10.7g
• Carbohydrates: 25.9g
• Fiber: 1.3g
• Protein: 21.2g
• Cholesterol: 89mg