Get Your Grill On

Editor’s Note: This originally appeared on our sister site, The Cook’s Kitchen but I thought it would fit in nicely with our posts here at Get Your Grill On. Todd M. Johns is probably the most prolific writer here at the Well Fed Network, with articles appearing on Get Your Grill On, The Cook’s Kitchen and Just Baking. Enjoy.

Sliders, bombers, or mini man burgers, call them what you want, but a mini burger on a griddle is close to heaven on earth. Alton Brown featured what he called “Mini Man Burgers” on his Man Food episode. Fans of White Castle or Krystal’s is familiar with the thin, square burger. Krystal’s has been producing their version of the so called Slider since 1932. White Castle’s burgers started in 1921 and have a cult like following to this day.

To make your own version at home, start with 2 pounds of ground beef. I used a 73/27 grind, but 80/20 and 85/15 would work great. This is the meat to fat ratio in the grind. Whether thin or thick, lean burgers turn out dry pretty easily. Save your 95/5 ground beef for chili. Add a couple tablespoons of garlic powder and onion powder. Then salt and pepper to taste. Line a jelly roll pan with wax paper. Spread the beef mixture evenly across the pan. Cut into 12 burgers.

A fatty grind will shrink significantly in the pan. Cook with or over diced onions. About 2-3 minutes per side. I used a cast iron skillet in my Big Green Egg.