Looking for some game day appetizers? Look no further than these Jalapeno Cheddar Beef Sliders! Mini beef burgers seasoned with flavorful spices, cilantro, cheese and jalapenos for a spicy kick. Served on sweet Hawaiian rolls.
The keys to a perfect game day
I’m a huge sports fan. Game days are sacred, especially championship games like the Super Bowl. There are a couple of things that are essential to every game day, but one of the most important is the food. You have to have stuff that’s easy to snack on so you’re not looking away from the game for too long. You also need food that’s portable in case you suddenly have to stand up to cheer your team on…we’ve all been there!
If you do a search for Super Bowl appetizers on the web, there are so many options! But I figured I’d make an appetizer with a bit of an island flair. This recipe combines sweet, heat, and all the things you look for in game day food, so let’s get started!
First, let’s talk about these rolls
The first step to this recipe is to decide on what rolls you want to use. Since I was going for a bit of an island flair, I decided I wanted to use Hawaiian rolls for this recipe.
These rolls are slightly sweet and so so soft, which makes sense since they are made with pineapple juice and lots of butter.
I decided to make my own Hawaiian rolls, using this recipe. The rolls are not as sweet as the kind you find in most grocery stores, but I actually like that. The recipe is really simple, but since it’s bread, it does take a lot of time so I recommend making the rolls a day in advance.
If you would rather use store bought rolls, that’s totally fine too. A personal favorite is King’s Hawaiian – one pack lasts maybe 15 minutes in my house!
Now it’s time to make these jalapeno cheddar sliders
Once you’ve decided on the bread for the sliders, it’s time to make the mini burgers. For this recipe you’ll need the following:
- ground beef – I use a 80/20 mix, meaning 80% lean and 20% fat. It’s pretty easy to find in most stores and is best for a juicy burger.
- jalapenos – fresh jalapenos are best here. If you don’t want your burgers to be too spicy, you can remove the seeds. Otherwise, just cut off the stems and pulse in a food processor until finely chopped.
- cheddar cheese – since these sliders are essentially a super powered version of cheeseburgers, you definitely can’t skip the cheese. Shredded sharp cheddar works best. Ideally, buy a block and grate yourself since that will produce a better melt. Store bought shredded cheese contains a layer of wax that makes them harder to melt.
- spices – for this recipe, I used a blend of paprika, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne, and chili powder.
- cilantro – this is optional, but it’s the only green leafy thing in the burger so you might as well right? 😀
Use your hands to combine all the ingredients then form into patties and fry in a skillet until cooked through. Using a cast iron will ensure you get a great sear on the meat, which means more flavor!
Time to serve!
If using store bought rolls, warm them in a conventional oven, then brush with melted butter and top with flaky salt. Slice in half lengthwise.
To the bottom bun, add a mini jalapeno cheddar burger and ketchup. Cover with the top bun and use a toothpick to keep everything together. Serve and enjoy.
Let’s talk substitutions
So you’re not a fan of beef? Try these options instead:
ground chicken
ground turkey
plant based ground meat
You can swap the ground beef for pretty much any ground meat. Just pay attention to the cook times for your meat.
Looking for more delicious recipes? Try:
Roasted Tomatillo & Poblano Soup
Share this recipe…
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Jalapeno Cheddar Beef Sliders
Ingredients
- 3 jalapenos, stems removed (remove seeds for less heat)
- handful cilantro, stems removed
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp ground garlic powder
- coarse salt and pepper
- 4-6oz hand grated cheddar cheese
- 12 sweet Hawaiian rolls
- 1/4 cup canola oil
Instructions
- Using a food processor or a knife, finely dice jalapenos and cilantro.
- To a large mixing bowl, add ground beef, jalapenos, cilantro, spices, and cheese. Use your hands to mix all the ingredients thoroughly. TIP - add about half the spices then mix. Then add the remainder of the spices to ensure spices are evenly distributed.
- Heat oil in a large skillet frying pan over medium heat. Using a 1/3 cup scoop, form 12 mini burgers. Fry for 3 minutes on one side. The burgers should start to puff up. Use a spatula to gently flatten the burgers before flipping and cooking for 2 more minutes, or until burgers are fully cooked through.
- Serve on Hawaiian rolls.
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