If you missed the announcement, Kate and I will be traveling to Des Moines, IA this month (anyone from there??) to participate in a cook off at the Better Homes and Gardens test kitchens! We came up with this killer recipe which we hope will wow the judges.Update: We won the BH&G Cook-Off! Take a look at our winning recipe!
BBQ Bacon Sliders with Blue Cheese and Crispy Onions.
We also combine it with a tangy Blue Cheese Spread (which is simply this dressing without the milk). And if you’re not a fan of blue cheese, the spread is still awesome without it! But give it a shot- it really just adds a tang that goes great with the bbq sauce.
While those mini burgers are on the grill we bathe them in an amazing bbq sauce (and you could totally take a short-cut and use a bottled sauce if you’d rather)
While those little guys are cooking, start assembling. First the bottom halves of the buns are spread with the sauce and topped with a crisp, cold lettuce leaf and a slice of bacon.
then put on a warm burger
and top with a little pile of shoestring onions.
Finally the top bun goes on with more sauce. Are you wondering how something could be both mouthwatering AND adorable?? I know, we’re awesome like that. 😉 Sliders are great because you can eat a whole burger and still have some room for sides to balance out the meal. They’re also great for parties or appetizers too.
BBQ Bacon Sliders with Blue Cheese and Crispy Onions
Ingredients
For the Burgers
- 11/2 lbs high-quality 85/15 ground Angus
- 1/2 C BBQ sauce or your favorite bottled BBQ sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 8-10 small white dinner rolls or Hawaiian sweet rolls, sliced in half and toasted if desired
- 8-10 crisp lettuce leaves
- 8-10 slices bacon cooked crisp
For the Garlicky Blue Cheese Spread
- 1/2 c. mayonnaise
- 1/4 tsp. Kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 1 clove garlic pressed or finely minced
- 1/4 c. crumbled blue cheese not a blue cheese fan? Leave it out!
Instructions
- Garlicky Blue Cheese Spread: Combine mayonnaise, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar and garlic. Mix well and stir in crumbled blue cheese. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.
- Burgers: Heat a grill pan on the stove top, or an outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Combine beef, 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, salt and pepper. Divide and shape mixture into 8-10 3/4"-thick patties (keep the size of your buns in mind as wells the fact that the burgers will shrink quite a bit while cooking when shaping the patties). Grill for 2-3 minutes and then flip. Brush the top side of each burger with remaining sauce. Continue grilling for another 2 minutes and flip burgers again, brushing the other side with additional sauce. Continue to cook and baste until the internal temperature of the burgers reach 160-165 degrees.
- To assemble: Lightly spread the bottom half of each bun with Garlicky Blue Cheese Spread and top with a lettuce leaf. Break each bacon piece in half and place on top of lettuce leaves. Place burger on top and drizzle with additional barbecue sauce if desired. Top with a small handful of Crispy Shoestring Onions. Spread remaining Garlicky Blue Cheese Spread on top halves of buns.
Don’t forget the Crispy Shoestring Onions!
Questions & Reviews
Made these tonight…the rolls, the onions, the sauce….everything!!!
It was amazing!!!
Still voting!!! You guys are so awesome and doing awesome in the competition. Good luck!
I voted! I agree with other readers – remind us on FB each day.
I discovered your site about two weeks ago, and I think I'm on recipe #10 or so. I've even made some of them twice (like the apple streusel bars…Oh.My.Gosh!). I end up just reading your recipes for the entertainment value (I especially like the comment about eating the no-bake Reeses peanut butter filling while watching the Biggest Loser – that's exactly where I was headed after tasting that stuff!).
LOVE your site – you girls are fantastic!!
My sister in law Katie and I made these for our guys Sunday. We both don't like blue cheese but decided to use the spread anyways. Can I just say YUMMMY! It was a huge hit! My husband mentioned he couldn't wait for the next time around. Hope you all win.
Mmmm, this looks so good! I can't wait for an excuse to make them. I love bleu cheese!
And I voted for you guys! A couple times now. I hope you win – I'm sure you will!
I love Bleu cheese on burgers (and anything else!) I voted and I will be making these yummy burgers this week! Hope y'all win!
LOVE You Girls!! Actually borderline obsessed with your blog … thanks for keeping your recipes and site real and do-able to those of us still learning the ropes of the kitchen!! Thanks You, Thank YOu!! Don't know where dinner would be today without you. YUM!! So happy for the success of your blog 🙂 VoTing!!!
Good luck! Your blog has been a lifesaver for me — you guys totally deserve to win in my humble opinion!
Looks delish!! You girls are WAY ahead on the voting charts! way to go!!!! 🙂
You had my vote at bacon and crispy onions. Good luck!!
I voted AND we made this last night for dinner. My husband was in heaven. The blue cheese I was going to use was a little suspect, so I used Feta and I liked it a lot. Hamburgers and shoestring onions are so right together.
They look divine! How do you get the bacon so beautiful? 🙂
Just voted and you deserve. Best food blog out there. Will be blogging about your awesome frosting recipe this weekend and will make sure my readers know about your BH&G contest. But hey, so far you're leading! Awesome!
WOW!!! you guys are in the lead..awesome! I hope everyone who leaves comments when there's blog candy available on here will take the time to vote for you! you both deserve it! Love all of your food! thank you so much 🙂 …I'll keep voting..
Mandy
Good luck! Hope you two win. I think people can vote once a day, by the way.
Oh and this recipe sounds AMAZING. Shoe-string onions are amazing and the blue cheese and bacon are two of my all time favorite burger toppings. Can't wait to try it!
Voted! Best of luck, last I check y'all had an astounding lead!
i voted. and looks like you have the most votes. yeaaaa. i hope you win.
I voted. Can't wait to see you guys in the magazine! 🙂
Just placed my vote, bookmarked the site, so that I can vote every day. Your recipe looks delish! Good luck with the contest. Happy to be a subscriber to your blog.
WOW have you seen the amount of votes you have! You've got it in the bag girls!
Voted for you!
Burgers look delish and love your site and all your recipes!
I voted again today. I love your blog and have tried a ton of the recipes. They are a huge hit here. I need to make the Natchitoches Meat Pies again soon. They are so good. I make it in one big pie plate with a double crust, still as delish with a little less work.
Please do remind us on FB every day! I would hate to forget to vote one day.
Yummy…I may have to give these a try this weekend! I voted and you have quite a lead in the contest!!
I voted for you because you deserve it, not because you tried to bribe us! 🙂
Wow, those look tempting! Voted! I think I put you way out ahead. 😉 lol
Wahoo! This is pretty exciting. My first vote is cast and I'll return many times this month. You two deserve to win this for sure.
I live in Des Moines – holla! Here are a few restaurant suggestions while you're in town: Flying Mango (Cajun/BBQ); Django (French yumminess); Court Avenue Brewing Company (Microbrews & All-American classics) and THai Flavors (unassuming but DELISH Thai food). Enjoy your trip!
LOOOOOVVEEEEE anything with blue cheese 🙂 I'm an addict, what can I say?
Not in any way biased, but I honestly think your guys' recipe is the most creative, lots of different aspects going into it. Good Luck!
-Vanessa
You're at 56%!
(And yes, PLEASE remember to remind us every day!!)
I voted! I'll try to remember to vote everyday…but you gal's should remind us, at least on facebook 🙂 Good Luck!!!