Delectable. Adorable. Inhalable. These sliders go well with March Madness entertaining
Mar 18, 2024
If you're looking for good food for a March Madness gathering, look no further than sliders
Game day is one of my favorite times to entertain. I don’t know why foods associated with watching sports on TV are happy-making. But they are.
The food is pretty much what I would categorize as bar food – things you would order with a group of friends with a round of cold beers. Foods that might not (cough) be categorized as health food, but which are meant for sharing, are comforting and delicious, and have a nostalgic vibe. And often involve cheese.
To ramp up a March Madness viewing party, sliders are a great candidate. Sliders are simply small burgers, though some people use the term to describe any small sandwich on a mini bun.
White Castle is usually credited with creating the slider in the 1920s, and they are certainly well known for their mini burgers (distinctive still for their square shape). But now sliders appear at fast-food chains and high-end restaurants alike.
Their appeal is fairly clear. Most sliders are made with about 2 ounces of meat. Easier to eat, less of a commitment than a full-size burger, adorable and inhalable. Some say sliders are so named because they slide down your throat in a couple of bites.
Robbie Gillin, owner of The Supply House on the Upper East Side of New York City, is an expert in bar food. He offers two types of sliders: cheeseburger sliders and Nana’s Meatball Sliders, which are topped with mozzarella and “Sunday” marinara.
Sliders are most popular as a happy hour food, Gillin says, and the biggest draw is their shareability — “perfect for passing and grabbing.” For special events, The Supply House also whips up buffalo chicken sliders, chicken Parmesan sliders and veggie burger sliders.
If you're making sliders at home, look for the same qualities as your would full-size burgers — crusty exterior, juicy meat inside. So you'll need to cook these mini burgers fairly quickly at high heat.
Some people feel it’s not a slider unless there are onions mixed into the meat, and this recipe for chipotle mini burgers fulfills that criteria.
These sliders also have a bit of kick from pureed chipotles in adobo, and a couple of show-offy toppings for a sophisticated twist.
There's also a recipe below for salad-like slaw as a topper; if you make a bigger batch, you could serve it as side.
TIPS FOR PERFECT SLIDERS
First, make sure you've got small, slider-size buns. A mini burger on a full-size bun is going to be a disappointment. Also, toast the buns for added texture and flavor.
Form the patties a touch wider than the buns, as they will shrink when cooking. Make a small indentation in the middle of the patty. The burgers will swell a bit as they cook and the indentation will fill, so you'll end up with flat sliders rather than bulging ones.
Refrigerate the patties for about 30 minutes before cooking. It makes them easier to handle when cooking, and helps keep the inside nice and pink while the outside gets browned.
RECIPE FOR CHIPOTLE BEEF SLIDERS
MAKING A SAUCE OF PUREED CHIPOTLES IN ADOBO
Chipotles are jalapeños that have been dried and smoked. The canned ones you’ll find in the market have been cooked and packaged with adobo, a sauce made with vinegar, chilies and herbs. They add heat and smokiness to all kinds of dishes.
Buy a can of chipotles in adobo sauce, dump the whole thing into a food processor and purée. The sauce will keep in a tightly covered container in the fridge for about 2 months at least. Stir it into soups and stews, and add a bit to chicken salad or the dressing for pasta salad.
CHIPOTLE SLIDERS INGREDIENTS
1 pound ground beef (80/20%)
2 teaspoons pureed chipotles in adobo (see Note above)
1 tablespoon minced shallots or onions
Kosher salt to taste
SLAW INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons fresh orange juice
½ teaspoon honey
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard (preferably grainy)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
¼ head radicchio, very thinly sliced
¼ head baby escarole, very thinly sliced
½ small head frisee lettuce, very thinly sliced
¼ red onion, very thinly sliced
½ cup blue cheese dip (store-bought or
homemade
)
8 to 10 slider rolls, toasted
DIRECTIONS
Make the Sliders:
In a large bowl, combine the beef, pureed chipotles in adobo, salt and onion. Hands are best for this.
Then, ¼ cup at a time, form the mixture into small patties. Refrigerate the patties for 30 minutes.
—-
Meanwhile, make the slaw:
In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, honey, mustard, salt and pepper. Add the radicchio, escarole, frisee and onion. Toss to combine.
—-
Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Pan-grill the burgers for about 3 minutes on each side until they are done to your liking.
Serve the sliders on the toasted buns with the slaw and some blue cheese dip on top.
OTHER MARCH MADNESS RECIPES
Nacho Bar
Game Day Ground Beef Chili
Vegan Loaded Potato Skins
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Deviled Eggs
—-
Katie Workman writes regularly about food for The Associated Press. She has written two cookbooks focused on family-friendly cooking, “Dinner Solved!” and “The Mom 100 Cookbook.” She blogs at
https://themom100.com/.
She can be reached at [email protected].___
For more AP food stories, go to
https://apnews.com/hub/recipes
More News
All about Antonio Sabàto Jnr and Virginia Madsen’s son Jack, who’s been arrested over a fatal hit-and-run
Jack Sabàto, the son of actors Antonio Sabàto Jnr and Virginia Madsen, is facing felony and misdemeanour charges after being arrested on Monday in Anchorage, Alaska, for an alleged hit-and-run. The fatal accident claimed the life of 42-year-old Carl Simmonds, USA Today reported. According to the Anchorage Daily News, Sabàto works at Amazon as a delivery driver but was delivering for DoorDash at the time of the incident. Alaska’s News Source (KTUU) reported that Sabàto said he knew he had hit...
Are you for RealReal? A master authenticator takes us behind the mannequin at the luxury reseller
Nick Dinerstein, master authenticator of home and art at the RealReal, talks ultra-rare Birkins and fake receipts.
MAURITIUS TOURISM PROMOTION AUTHORITY (MTPA) makes an impact at the World Travel Market 2026
The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) used World Travel Market 2026 (3-5 November 2026) to strengthen trade partnerships, set targets for the UK market for the upcoming tourism seasons and introduces: “One Island. A Whole World.” The MTPA also shared what’s new on the island highlighting the ‘Beyond The Beach’ strategy for its international markets.
K-drama One-of-a-Kind Romance: Joy and Kim Hyun-jin go through the motions in flat romcom
Lead cast: Joy, Kim Hyun-jin Joy (Once Upon a Small Town) of K-pop girl group Red Velvet and rising actor Kim Hyun-jin (Love Phobia) take the lead in One-of-a-Kind Romance. Based on the webcomic of the same name, this modest romantic comedy joins an unusually busy November K-drama calendar – but does it have what it takes to stand out? The story follows Gong Yoo-il (Joy), an ordinary jobseeker, who crosses paths with screen heartthrob Tak Mu-yi (Kim). While the show opens on an idyllic sunny...
Help! A Broken Toilet Grounded My Plane, and the Airline Won’t Cover a Hotel.
Turkish Airlines tried to wiggle out of paying for a passenger’s $512 overnight stay after a stomach-churning malfunction forced it to cancel a flight in Denver.
Meet John Ritter’s widow, Amy Yasbeck, who still ‘talks to’ her late husband
On November 2, legendary star John Ritter’s widow, Amy Yasbeck, hosted the 50th anniversary celebration of the late actor’s hit sitcom Three’s Company in New York City. The event, presented by the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health – which Yasbeck founded after Ritter’s passing in 2003 – honoured the star and featured a staged reading of the show, narrated by Richard Kline, who was joined by Jason Biggs, Christine Taylor, Bellamy Young, Richard Kind and Susie Essman. Days before the...
Achieve Your Aesthetic at Bangkok’s Rattinan Clinic
Building on over two decades of excellence, Rattinan Clinic bridges the gap between medical expertise and artistic precision The post Achieve Your Aesthetic at Bangkok’s Rattinan Clinic appeared first on Business Traveller.
-600x315.jpeg)
Knowledge Economic City to Host FHS Saudi Arabia 2027 Madinah Edition
Knowledge Economic City (KEC), a publicly listed master developer operating under the supervision of the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority, has signed a partnership with The Bench, organizer of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS), to become Host partners of FHS Saudi Arabia 2027 (Madinah Edition). The Summit will take place in Madinah for the first time at DoubleTree by Hilton at Madinah Gate, KEC’s first operational destination. The agreement was signed in Cairo during FHS Egypt which held at 10–11 November 2026 by Saleh Aldakhil, Brand and Creative Marketing Manager at Knowledge Economic City, and Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench
MERCURY HOLIDAYS REVEALS BLACK FRIDAY SAVINGS ON ALL ESCORTED TOURS, CRUISES AND BEACH HOLIDAYS
Mercury Holidays has unveiled its Black Friday offers, with the savings spanning all Escorted Tours, Ocean and River Cruises and Long Haul and Short Haul Beach Holidays. * From today until 30 November 2026, agents can secure their clients discounts of £200pp on Escorted Tours and Ocean Cruises, and £100pp on Beach Holidays and River Cruises. To claim the savings, agents can quote the relevant promotional codes (BLACK200 or BLACK100, respectively) as found on the Mercury Holidays Agent Portal or on the Agents Facebook Group. See below for a selection of included holidays, including an Escorted Tour of Transylvania and Bucharest which boasts savings of more than 20%.
5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, November 13-15
The cooler weather in Hong Kong this week has brought welcome relief from the sweltering heat and is a sign that we can start enjoying lower temperatures as autumn progresses. The coming days will be busy, with multiple festivals around the city and local organisations banding together to host community events. Here are five things to do this weekend. 1. Arts Fringe Lamma From November 12-22, Yung Shue Wan on Lamma Island transforms into an open-air festival where cafes, restaurants and bars...
A FAMILY JOURNEY INTO THE ARABIAN DESERT AT AL MAHA
Set within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, just an hour from Dubai, Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa offers families the opportunity to discover the Arabian Desert through guided wildlife encounters, camel trekking, archery and evenings spent learning about Bedouin heritage beneath the stars. Surrounded by rolling dunes and indigenous wildlife, including Arabian oryx and gazelles, the resort brings together outdoor exploration, cultural discovery and time to unwind.
Sofitel Legend and UNESCO join forces to act for the preservation of cultural heritage
Sofitel Legend and UNESCO have announced a global partnership designed to place cultural heritage preservation at the heart of the travel experience. Through this collaboration, both organizations are committed to raising awareness of local know -how, safeguarding living heritage, and fostering deeper connections between travellers and the cultural identities of the destinations they visit. Together, they aim to transform travel into an act of preservation and transmission of cultural heritage.