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
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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Prepare bread vessels: Briefly toast bun halves directly on grill surface, cut-side downward, for roughly 15 seconds until achieving light golden edges.
- 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.
- 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