This cheeseburger sliders recipe uses jalapeno peppers and cheddar cheese mixed right in and served on Hawaiian Butter rolls. Learn how to make cheeseburger sliders or mini cheeseburger sliders with your choice of mayo. Delicious burger sliders with a kick.
Jalapeno Cheeseburger Sliders with Spicy Mayo
Whether you’re preparing tasty burger sliders for game day or bite-sized appetizers for a quiet night in, this cheeseburger slider recipe is elevated with spicy mayo, jalapenos and cheddar cheese and is always a hit.
One of the best parts about this sliders recipe is how versatile it is. If you’re not a fan of heat then you can switch out the spicy mayo for honey mustard mayo, buttermilk ranch or even dill dip!
And you can also swap out the jalapenos and cheddar cheese for something more your speed. You can use any pepper you like and any cheese such as swiss or mozzarella!
This cheeseburger slider recipe can be as spicy, intense and flavor-filled as you desire—it's totally up to you!
Cheeseburger Sliders
Sliders are a pretty common sight on menus these days, but they're so much more than just a cute little hamburger. Although they ARE cute little hamburgers...well, hamburgers with a twist.
True sliders are similar yet separate from hamburgers as the ingredients are typically mixed into the meat before cooking and are a lot quicker to cook up than a traditional burger!
They come in two sizes, regular and mini. I will discuss them for you so there is no confusion and you can decide which one, if not both, to serve.
I prefer the mini ones myself as they are two bite wonders and completely love how cute they are. Ken and Patrick prefer the traditional jalapeno cheeseburger sliders because they are more satisfying to them.
Mini burger sliders can be great for children. Easy handheld pieces of deliciousness, perfect for little fingers and no leftover waste because they're just the right size.
Why Do They Call Sliders Sliders?
Before we get further into things, let's start off with just the basics. What do they call it a slider and what exactly is a slider.
First, the name...there are many stories floating around the Internet, but they all have the key elements in common: sliders are mini-burgers, which can be eaten in a few small bites.
Apparently they used to be referred to as “gut bombs” because the original sliders were greasy mini-burgers that slid right down your throat. Now? Well time has classed up this dish a lot!
Time has taken this greasy classic and turned it into a culinary masterpiece and nowadays, sliders, especially jalapeno cheeseburger sliders are known for their great flavor and elegance. They can be found everywhere from hole-in-the-wall diners to fine dining establishments.
How Big Should a Slider Burger Be?
As I mentioned above, there are the two sizes of sliders. Regular, which are about four inches in diameter and mini, which are approximately two inches in diameter.
To be a true slider, each meat patty should be about two ounces, or half an inch thick. This breaks down to roughly six sliders per pound of meat, which makes my jalapeno cheeseburger sliders perfect for a party!
When making the mini burger sliders, the yield will be about the same as you use half the amount of ingredients that you do for the regular cheeseburger sliders recipe.
I don't think I've mentioned where my love of sliders came from. You see, when I was young, my dad taught me how to make sliders on the barbecue.
He was an awesome human being and an even better burger maker. I think I was about ten or so when he first taught me. His love of burgers was like no other.
I would stand next to him and flip the burgers when he said to. He would slide the burgers off of the flames when he did this and then slide them back over the heat after I did. He didn't want me to get burned.
As he got older, sicker and wasn't able to make his own burgers anymore, my husband would sneak him Big Macs while my mother wasn't looking. The evidence would be hidden and one of us would distract her while he ate it. I mean, you have to indulge once in a while.
Now I leave the barbecuing to Ken because I'm not as mobile as I used to be.
Cooking Methods For Hamburger Sliders Recipe
Although I learned how to make a delicious burger slider recipe on the barbecue, cooking sliders on the barbecue isn't that practical in the middle of winter.
Thankfully, you can still use an indoor grill. And, there are other ways to cook sliders too. You can use the frying pan (like I have in this recipe) or you can bake them or even use your air fryer.
Below are the cooking times for various methods. I haven't included the frying pan as that is listed in the instructions and I don't want to be redundant.
Cooking time for jalapeno cheeseburger sliders in the oven: Set the oven to 350 degrees and bake the patties in a 9 x13 pan for 20 minutes. Mini sliders are cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees.
Cooking time for burger sliders in the air fryer: Set the temperature to 350 degrees, air fry the patties for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes, depending on how well done you want them. Mini sliders cook for 3 minutes on each side.
Cooking time for indoor grilled hamburger sliders: Set your grill to high and cook for 3 minutes on each side for sliders. Mini sliders cook for 2 minutes on each side or until an internal temperature of 145 degrees.
Cooking time for cheeseburger sliders on the barbecue: The same as the indoor grill (note: mini burger sliders may fall through the racks of the barbecue so it's not practical for you to cook them this way).
What’s the Difference Between Cheeseburger Sliders and Mini Cheeseburger Sliders?
If you’re making up a huge variety of appetizers then you may want to shrink your sliders from regular to mini. As I said, the main difference is the size of your ingredients.
Your burger patties will still be half an inch thick, and your cheese slices will be approximately one inch by one inch. You also may want to use American cheese slices as opposed to cheddar slices as the American cheese melts faster and is better suited for a smaller patty.
With the smaller hamburger sliders, you may also want to mince the jalapeno and grate the cheese so that it more effectively mixes with the meat. When you use larger fillings, the mini sliders may separate while cooking.
Mini hamburger sliders are perfect for food boards and platters that are 9" x 13" because you can perfectly fit the six on the platter while still being able to place all your other goodies on it as well.
What's the difference between Regular and Mini Sliders?
When making regular sliders usually the burger size is 4 inches in diameter. Mini sliders only have a diameter of 2 inches. You need to decide which size you're making.
Next, you decide which rolls or buns you want to use.
Which Rolls Do You Use for Sliders?
Because sliders are smaller than burgers, you may be wondering what rolls are the best option for using.
This recipe calls for Hawaiian Butter rolls. The sweet flavor and small size makes them ideal for completing your dish. They are one of the most popular rolls used for sliders, however, you can also make excellent burger sliders with other rolls.
These include, but are not limited to:
- regular dinner rolls
- ciabatta
- sourdough buns
- white sesame slider buns
- mini bread rolls
The choice is yours, the biggest thing to keep in mind is to choose a small-sized roll for your sliders.
Don't worry about getting even smaller buns for your mini jalapeno cheeseburger sliders as they sit centered quite nicely in the center of the Hawaiian butter rolls.
Toppings For Jalapeno Cheeseburger Sliders
While this burger sliders recipe showcases tomatoes, cheddar and jalapenos as the main toppings (and of course the spicy mayo), there are a variety of things that you could put on top of them.
When Ken and I first started serving this cheeseburger slider recipe, we pre-made all of them and placed them on the platter. They were eaten, but a couple of people mentioned that they might like to try different toppings for them.
As you know, everyone's taste is different when it comes to their burger. Some like just ketchup while others load it up with mustard, mayo, pickles, onions, relish...I could go on but I think you know what I mean.
What we decided to do was create a topping bar and just leave it to each person to customize their burger sliders to their liking. I have to say that this worked out and we still make one to this day.
Not for every occasion, but on days where we have more mouths and pickier palates.
Tomatoes (Roma for the mini burger sliders), onion, lettuce, jalapenos, sweet pickle chips, sweet peppers and more. The station is packed when we set it up. Spicy mayo, garlic mayo, chipotle mayo, honey mustard mayo....should I even start on the mustards and ketchups?!
I have to say, I'm pretty impressed when it comes to the spread we put out, if I do say so myself. I think you would be amazed at how simple it could be for you to do the same thing.
How To Make Sliders The Star Of The Superbowl
One of the occasions we make our burger slider recipe for is the Superbowl...a little football game near the beginning of the new year...I think you might have heard of it ?
I spend days preparing for the event and I just love sitting around the tv watching the game while people gobble up all of my hard work happily.
Of course when other people come by and bring their pot luck meal, it goes onto snack table where my Game Day Food Board is set up, complete with mini cheeseburger sliders and my regular jalapeno burger sliders on their own tray.
Uncle Doug always brings his red potato salad. People tell him how great it is but I think that's the only pot luck dish he knows how to make lol. Regardless, it does taste great and I'm always happy to see him.
So, where was I? Oh yes, the snack table. I call it that for lack of a better word because it has all sorts of snacks and delicious eats on it. Complete with salads, dips, desserts and more.
I have to proudly admit though, that no matter what else is served on the table, the first things to go are always my sliders and my Best Football Deviled Eggs With or Without Bacon!
I should be ashamed of boasting about my own creations (well Ken has something to do with them too), but they really are just that good. Try them and see!
Ingredients in Jalapeno Cheeseburger Sliders with Spicy Mayo
This cheeseburger sliders recipe is for six sliders. You can adjust it accordingly if you'd like to double it up and make more. I usually do ?
Ingredients In Jalapeno Cheeseburger Sliders
- 1 1b. ground beef
- 1-2 jalapeños (depending on how hot you want them), deseeded and finely chopped
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 6 slider buns
- optional toppings like cheddar slices, jalapenos, tomatoes and spicy mayo
Ingredients In Spicy Mayo
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoon hot sauce (of your choice)
How to Make Cheeseburger Sliders
In a medium bowl, place ground beef, jalapenos, cheese, salt, and pepper.
Stir mixture until thoroughly incorporated.
Split into six equal parts and make 6 patties about ½ inch thick, 4 inches in diameter.
Place the patties into a greased frying pan. Using your thumb, make a small indent in the center of each patty to avoid it from getting too thick while cooking.
Cook over medium heat for about 12 minutes, or until the internal temp reaches 145ºF, flipping half way through.
Note: If using cheddar on top, place the slice on top of the slider 1 minute before removing it from the heat to melt the cheese
How to Make Mini Cheeseburger Sliders
For those times you want to adjust your cheeseburger sliders recipe to mini cheeseburger sliders, here’s the quick adjustment you’ll need.
Ingredients For Mini Jalapeno Cheeseburger Sliders
- ½ lb ground beef or beef/pork blend
- ½ jalapeno pepper
- ¼ cup shredded/grated cheddar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3-4 individual cheddar cheese slices, cut into 1”x1” squares
- Package of 12 Hawaiian Butter rolls or your favorite MINI slider rolls
- Sweet pickle chips
How To Make Mini Cheeseburger Sliders
Dice or mince the jalapeno pepper, being sure to remove the seeds before (simply core then remove the whitish yellow flesh on the inside).
Place jalapeno in a bowl.
Shred/Grate cheddar cheese and add to bowl.
Add ground beef/pork to the bowl.
With a fork, or your hands, mix ingredients until thoroughly incorporated.
When combined, separate mixture into 6 equal parts and make 6 patties approximately 2" in diameter.
Cook patties on medium heat for three to four minutes on both sides.
While your burgers are cooking, toast your Hawaiian butter rolls. Slice your rolls open and place in the oven on high broil for 30 seconds.
When your burger patties have completed cooking, place patty on roll and top with a piece of cheddar cheese and a sweet pickle chip (or any other topping you prefer).
Note
If you're making these mini burger sliders for children and you want to leave out the jalapeno, you can. Although, the spice in the sliders is generally fairly mild with the small amount of jalapeno added. My son loved them with the jalapeno when he was young.
Because Patrick was very young when he first developed his love of spice, I have a really cute story to tell you. This burger sliders recipe was partially developed in honor of that love.
The three of us were staying at a 5 star hotel we had won a trip to. It was amazing, beautiful and something more than we could afford back then.
Patrick was in awe of all the grandeur around him and of all the mouth watering recipes he got to try.
His favorite thing was the deviled eggs...it was the first time he had ever had them and he couldn't get over how good they were. He called them 5 star deviled eggs for years and that's not even the cutest part.
I had explained to him that "deviled" meant spicy, hot, etc... So, when he first tried the jalapeno cheeseburger sliders recipe I was working on, he asked the most adorable question.
He said "Why are they just called sliders and not deviled sliders?? They're hot and spicy like the eggs!" At that age almost anything he said was cute, this one just stood out in my mind and I thought I'd share it with you.
How to Make Spicy Mayo
Ingredients in spicy mayo:
- ¼ cup mayo
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoon hot sauce
To prepare spicy mayo, combine mayo, ketchup, and hot sauce in a small bowl.
Cheeseburger Sliders Sauce Substitutions
If you want a spicy mayo alternative there are options! I’ll list a few suggestions below and if you'd like to see more, here are my best dip recipes. Or to add more Jalapeno, Check out our Spicy Jalapeno Hot Sauce.
How to Make Garlic Mayo
Using a whisk, combine one cup mayonnaise, 10 garlic cloves, one tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon pepper and one tablespoon oil in a small container with a lid.
Allow to set in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. If the garlic flavor is overwhelming add more mayo, one tablespoon at a time.
How to Make Chipotle Mayo
Using a blender or food processor, combine ¾ cup of mayo, ¼ cup sour cream (or another ¼ cup mayo if you prefer), 2 chipotle chiles in adobo, diced (or to taste), 1 tablespoon adobo sauce, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend until smooth and creamy.
How to Make Honey Mustard Mayo
In a small bowl combine 2-3 tablespoons honey (to taste), 2-3 tablespoons mustard (any variety, to taste), 2 teaspoons lemon juice and ½ cup mayo. Taste and see if you prefer more honey or mustard.
Other recipes you'll love
- Bacon Cheeseburger Muffins
- Perfect Bacon Cheeseburger Egg Rolls
- Grandma's Bacon Cheeseburger Pie
- Easy Hamburger Pinwheels
Jalapeno Cheeseburger Sliders with Spicy Mayo Video
Jalapeno Cheeseburger Sliders with Spicy Mayo
Ingredients
Mini or Regular Sliders
- 12 your favorite MINI slider buns
- 6 regular slider buns
Instructions
- Get out and measure all of your ingredients.
- In a medium bowl, combine ground beef, salt, and pepper.
- Add cheese.
- Add jalapenos.
- Combine.
- Split into 6 equal parts and make 6 patties about ½ inch thick.
- Using your thumb, make a small indent in the center of each patty to avoid it from getting too thick while cooking.
- Place the patties into a greased frying pan and cook over medium heat.
- Cook for about 12 minutes, or until the internal temp reaches 145ºF, flipping half way through.
Spicy Mayo
- To prepare spicy mayo, combine mayo, ketchup, and hot sauce in a small bowl.
- Stir until blended. Refrigerate until needed.
- Place toppings as desired.
- Serve.
- Enjoy every bite!
Suzie says
DEEELICIOUS!!! Easy and best sliders ever.Not even too hot for the kids.Thank you for sharing another great recipe
Karin and Ken says
As always you are most welcome! We have been making them for years and am always happy to share. Take care and be well. Karin