Description
Mini taco sliders bring Mexican street flavor to your plate with zesty seasoned beef and melted cheese. Crisp buns and fresh toppings complete this crowd-pleasing appetizer you’ll want to savor at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix (or 2 tbsps homemade)
- 12 slider buns or Hawaiian rolls
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsps butter, melted
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ½ cup shredded lettuce
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- ¼ cup salsa (optional)
- ¼ cup sour cream (optional)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Set oven to 350°F, positioning rack in the center for optimal heat distribution.
- Meat Transformation: Brown ground beef in a skillet, crumbling thoroughly and incorporating zesty taco seasoning until meat absorbs flavors and liquid reduces.
- Foundation Assembly: Layer bottom slider buns in a baking dish, creating a compact base for taco-inspired mini sandwiches.
- Flavor Layering: Spread seasoned meat evenly across bun bottoms, followed by a generous blanket of shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and finely chopped onions.
- Topping Technique: Position top bun halves, gently pressing to secure layers, then brush surfaces with garlic-infused melted butter for enhanced aromatic richness.
- Baking Finale: Bake sliders for 12-15 minutes, watching for cheese to melt completely and bun tops to achieve a tempting golden-brown hue, signaling readiness to serve.
Notes
- Meat Moisture Management: Thoroughly drain excess fat from ground beef to prevent soggy slider bottoms and ensure a crisp, flavorful base.
- Seasoning Saturation: Allow taco seasoning to simmer with meat, letting flavors deeply penetrate and develop a rich, robust taste profile.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Shred cheese finely and distribute evenly for uniform melting, creating a smooth, creamy layer across sliders.
- Garlic Butter Precision: Brush butter mixture gently and sparingly to avoid saturating buns, maintaining a light, crispy top with subtle garlic essence.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 352
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg