Deep South Eats: BBQ Bacon Sliders

The weather is warming up, so it is time to dust that yellow pollen off your grill and fire it up. What better to grill out then some amazing BBQ Bacon Sliders? These sliders pack a ton of flavor and are such a fun size. They were so easy for Belle to eat with little hands and kept Mark and I from overeating! While they do take a decent amount of effort, they would be extremely appealing for a backyard party or grilling out when company is in town. I saved a little bit of the sauce to pack some extra punch in our sandwiches and wraps during lunch for the week.

Ingredients:

Crispy Shoe String Onions:

• 1 large onion, halved and cut into 1/4" slices
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tablespoons milk
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• vegetable oil for frying

Garlicky Blue Cheese Spread:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

Burgers:

• 1 1/2 pounds of high-quality ground beef (I chose sirloin)
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

The Rest:

• 8 to 10 small dinner rolls (our grocery store sells slider buns)
• 8 to 10 crisp lettuce leaves
• 8 to 10 slice of bacon cooked crisp

Directions:
Crispy Shoe String Onions (note: frying is not something done in our home on a regular basis -- way too unhealthy and messy, but every once in awhile it is nice to try something new):

• Mix together eggs and milk in a small bowl, and then mix the flour, seasoning salt, black pepper and garlic powder in a separate small bowl.
• Using a pot with sides that will keep the oil from boiling over, heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350 degrees.
• Work with a handful of onions at a time and dip them into the egg mixture. Make sure to let the excess egg drip off.
• Then dredge the onions in the flour mixture and lightly toss to coat.
• Place onions in hot oil and cook until golden brown.
• Remove using a slotted spoon and place on folded towels to absorb excess oil.
• Repeat the process until all onions are fried.
• Note: this makes a lot so you may want to half the recipe.

Garlicky Blue Cheese Spread:

• Combine mayonnaise, salt, pepper, red wine vinegar, and garlic. Stir well.
• Stir in blue cheese crumbles and refrigerate until ready to use.

Burgers:

• In a large bowl, combine beef, 2 Tablespoons barbecue sauce, salt and pepper. 
• Divide and shape beef mixture into 8 to 10, 3/4" thick, patties.
• Heat outdoor grill or grill pan on stove top to medium-high heat. Grill burgers for 2-3 minutes and then flip.
• Brush the top side of each burger with remaining barbecue sauce, and continue grilling for another 2 minutes.
• Flip burgers again and brush the tops again with barbecue sauce. Continue cooking and basting until burgers reach internal temp of 160-165 degrees.

Assembly:

• Lightly spread the bottom of each bun with Garlicky Blue Cheese Spread and top with a lettuce leaf.
• Break bacon pieces in half and place two halves on top of each lettuce leaf.
• Place a burger on top and drizzle with additional barbecue sauce.
• Top with a handful of crispy shoe string onions and spread tops of the buns with remaining blue cheese spread. 
• Enjoy!

Original recipe from Our Best Bites.

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