Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Caramelize onions: Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and about 1 tsp of Kinder's Caramelized Onion Butter Seasoning. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, 12–15 minutes until deeply golden and soft. Remove and set aside.
- Prep patties: Divide ground beef into 12 equal portions (about 2–2.5 oz each). Roll each into a loose ball — do not season yet.
- Preheat flattop: Heat flattop or skillet to medium-high (about 375–400°F). Lightly oil the surface.
- Smash burgers: Place burger balls on the hot surface (work in batches). Cover each with a square of wax paper, then smash firmly with a heavy spatula or burger press to about ¼-inch thick. Peel off the wax paper immediately.
- Season & cook: Immediately sprinkle tops generously with Kinder's Caramelized Onion Butter Seasoning. Cook 2–3 minutes until edges are crispy and browned.
- Flip & cheese: Flip patties, then top each with a slice of cheese. Cook 1–2 minutes more until cheese melts and bottom is crisp. For a faster melt, cover with a dome lid and add a small splash of water — steam does the work instantly.
- Toast buns: While patties finish, toast slider buns cut-side down on the flattop for about 1 minute until golden.
- Build sliders: Spread Kinder's Honey Hot BBQ Sauce on the bottom bun. Add a cheesy smashed patty, a spoonful of caramelized onions, another drizzle of Honey Hot BBQ Sauce, then the top bun.
- Serve immediately — stack 2–3 per plate for sharing, or go all in on a full stack.
- Nutrition Estimate (per 2 sliders)
- Calories: ~560 | Protein: 28g | Carbohydrates: 36g | Fat: 32g | Sodium: ~980mg
- Note: Values are estimates based on standard ingredients. Actual nutrition will vary with cheese type, bun size, and sauce quantity.
Nutrition
Notes
- Smash hard and fast — Place the wax paper over the ball, press down with everything you've got, and peel immediately. The harder the press, the more surface contact, the crispier the edge. Hesitate and you lose the moment.
- Double the seasoning on the onions — Add an extra pinch of Kinder's Caramelized Onion Butter Seasoning to the caramelized onions in the last two minutes of cooking. It concentrates as the moisture cooks off.
- Sauce to your heat level — Kinder's Honey Hot BBQ Sauce brings sweet heat. One drizzle is a warm finish. Two drizzles is the full punch. Neither is wrong.
- Steam the cheese — Dome lid, small splash of water, 10 seconds. The steam does more for cheese melt in one burst than a minute of waiting without it.
- Make the onions ahead — Caramelize up to a day in advance and refrigerate. Reheat gently in a skillet before building. It's the prep that saves the most time when you're feeding a crowd.
- Set up a slider bar. Extra Kinder's Honey Hot BBQ Sauce in a bowl, sliced jalapeños, pickles, and lettuce on the side — let people stack their own. That format works for game day and for any group where people have opinions about heat.
- Thin-cut fries or onion rings alongside. The salty crunch cuts through the richness of the beef and the sweetness of the sauce without competing.
- For larger crowds, double the batch and use a warming tray to hold assembled sliders. They'll stay hot and the cheese stays melty. Don't push it past 20 minutes or the buns start to soften.
- Patties and caramelized onions store separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the sauce and buns out of storage — reheat and assemble fresh each time.
- To reheat patties: cast iron skillet over medium-high for 1 to 2 minutes per side, or air fryer at 375°F for 4 to 5 minutes. Both restore the crust better than a microwave.
- Toast the buns fresh. Assemble just before serving.