Air Fryer Sliders: A Tasty, Quick Treat

Air fryers are a great way to make sliders, and they're perfect for any occasion, whether you're hosting a party, bringing a dish to a potluck, or just craving a quick snack. They're also a fantastic option if you don't want to heat up your kitchen by turning on the stove or oven. The hot circulating air in the air fryer cooks mini burger patties to perfection, and you can cook multiple sliders at once if you have a large enough air fryer. You can make juicy and delicious burgers, cheeseburgers, or even ham and cheese sliders in an air fryer.

How to make air fryer sliders

Air fryer sliders are a great option for a quick, convenient, and tasty meal or snack. They are versatile, easy to make, and can be adapted to suit your taste preferences or dietary needs. Here is a step-by-step guide to making delicious air fryer sliders.

Ingredients

Firstly, gather your ingredients. For a simple slider, you will need ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, pepper, slider buns, and cheese. You can also add extra toppings such as lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise.

Prepare the Meat

In a bowl, combine the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Mix until just combined, and then divide the mixture into 6-8 equal balls. Flatten each ball slightly to form a patty that is a little wider than your slider bun. The patty will shrink a little during cooking, so it's important to make it slightly larger.

Air Fry the Patties

Preheat your air fryer to 380°F/193°C for 5 minutes. Lightly spray the patties with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the patties in the air fryer basket in a single layer, being mindful not to overcrowd the basket. Air fry for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 1-3 minutes for medium-rare, or until the center is cooked to your desired doneness.

Melt the Cheese

If you are making cheeseburger sliders, add a slice of cheese on top of each patty after the initial cooking time. Place the cheese-topped patties back in the air fryer and cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the cheese is melted.

Toast the Buns

While the cheese is melting, you can toast the slider buns. Spread butter on the insides of the buns and toast them over medium heat in a skillet until golden. You can also place the buns in the air fryer to warm and toast for 1-2 minutes.

Assemble the Sliders

Now it's time to assemble your sliders! Place the cooked patty on the bottom bun and add your desired toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. Cover with the top bun, and your slider is ready to be served!

Tips and Variations

• Bring the meat to room temperature about an hour before cooking for the best results.
• If you are using lean ground beef, your patties will shrink less during cooking.
• If you have an oven-style air fryer with multiple racks, alternate the racks halfway through cooking for even cooking.
• You can make the meat mixture and shape the patties ahead of time to save time.
• Get creative with your toppings! Try different sauces like BBQ sauce, gochujang, or aioli, and experiment with flavorful cheeses like blue cheese.
• For a keto-friendly option, use lettuce wraps instead of buns.
• Air fryer sliders are perfect for sharing and are great for parties, game days, or quick meals.

Enjoy your delicious, juicy air fryer sliders!

Air fryer slider ingredients

Air fryer sliders are a quick and easy dish to make, perfect for a snack, lunch, or appetiser. Here are some ingredients you can use to make delicious sliders in your air fryer.

Meat

For the meat, you can use ground beef, chicken, turkey, pork, or even lamb. If you're making a ham and cheese slider, you'll need slices of ham, or slices of turkey or roast beef as an alternative.

Seasonings

For beef patties, you can use common seasonings like Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, and garlic powder. You can also add liquid smoke to give the patties a grilled flavour. For ham and cheese sliders, you can make a glaze with butter, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce, and onion powder.

Buns

Slider buns or soft dinner rolls are the perfect size for these mini sandwiches. You can use Hawaiian rolls for a touch of sweetness, or any sturdy bun that can hold the juicy patties and toppings without becoming soggy.

Cheese

For cheeseburgers, you can use slices of American, Swiss, or any other cheese you prefer. For ham and cheese sliders, Swiss cheese is a popular choice, but you can also use pepper jack, provolone, mozzarella, or brie for a sweet and savoury combination.

Toppings and Condiments

The small size of sliders means they benefit from extra flavourful toppings. You can go beyond the usual tomato, lettuce, and ketchup, and get creative with sauces like gochujang, BBQ sauce, aioli, or honey mustard. Try adding fried onions, avocado, bacon, or crispy bacon for additional taste and texture.

Cooking Tips

When shaping the meat patties, make them slightly wider than your slider buns, as they will shrink during cooking. If you're using lean ground beef, the patties will shrink less. Bring the meat to room temperature about an hour before cooking, and don't overcrowd your air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation.

Nutrition Information

The nutritional content of sliders will vary depending on the ingredients used, but as an example, a single ham and cheese slider made in the air fryer has approximately 188 calories, with 1g of carbohydrates, 12g of protein, and 15g of fat.

Air fryer slider toppings

Sliders are miniature hamburgers that are perfect for parties, gatherings, or a quick meal. You can get creative with your toppings, but here are some ideas for air fryer slider toppings:

Classic toppings

• Cheese
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Deli ham
• Garlic butter
• Onion
• Pickles
• Condiments like ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, or mayonnaise

Gourmet toppings

• Caramelized onions
• Sautéed mushrooms
• Crispy bacon
• Cheddar, Swiss, or blue cheese
• Avocado
• Bacon
• Special sauces like gochujang, BBQ sauce, or aioli

For keto sliders

If you're on a keto diet or low-carb lifestyle, you can skip the bun and use a crisp, crunchy head of lettuce like iceberg, romaine, or green leaf as a low-carb alternative.

Air fryer slider cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time and temperature for air fryer sliders will depend on the type of slider you are making.

For meat sliders

If you are making mini cheeseburger sliders, you should preheat your air fryer to 380°F/193°C for 5 minutes. Then, cook the sliders for 5 minutes before flipping them and cooking for another 1-3 minutes. If you are making these sliders with cheese, add the cheese slices on top and cook for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute.

If you are making these sliders without preheating your air fryer, cook them at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.

For ham and cheese sliders

If you are making ham and cheese sliders, preheat your air fryer to 300°F/150°C. Then, cook the sliders for 10 minutes at this temperature.

Tips for cooking meat sliders

• Make the patties wider than your slider buns, as the meat will shrink during cooking.
• If using lean ground beef, the patties will shrink less.
• The more patties you cook at once, the slower they will cook. If using an oven-style air fryer with multiple racks, alternate the racks halfway through cooking.
• Bring the meat to room temperature before cooking.
• Use extra flavorful toppings to complement the small size of the sliders.
• For keto-friendly sliders, use lettuce instead of buns.

Tips for cooking ham and cheese sliders

• Toast the rolls first to prevent sogginess.
• Use foil for easy cleanup.

Air fryer slider alternatives

Air fryers are a great option for cooking up a variety of slider alternatives. Here are some ideas for you:

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Ham and cheese sliders are a delicious and easy-to-make dish that's perfect for any occasion. Using an air fryer makes them even more convenient, as you don't have to wait for an oven to preheat. These bite-sized sandwiches are packed with savoury flavours and melted cheese, making them a crowd-pleaser. You can also customise the recipe to suit your taste preferences or dietary needs. For instance, you can use turkey or roast beef instead of ham, or swap out the cheese for pepper jack, provolone, or mozzarella.

Sloppy Joe Sliders

Sloppy Joe Sliders are another tasty option that can be made in the air fryer. This recipe typically involves making a meaty sauce, often with minced beef, onions, and a tomato-based sauce, which is then spooned over slider buns.

Lettuce Wrap Sliders

If you're looking for a low-carb or keto-friendly option, you can try making lettuce wrap sliders. Instead of using slider buns, you can use a crisp, crunchy lettuce leaf like iceberg, romaine, or green leaf to wrap around your patty. This option still allows you to enjoy the taste of a slider without the extra carbs and calories from the bun.

Chicken, Turkey, or Lamb Sliders

If you're looking for a change from traditional beef sliders, you can use ground chicken, turkey, or lamb to make your patties. These options can be a healthier alternative, and you can add various seasonings and toppings to suit your taste. For instance, you can add chopped onion and herbs to turkey or chicken sliders, or try making Greek-style lamb sliders with garlic, oregano, and feta cheese.

Vegetarian Sliders

For a vegetarian-friendly option, you can make veggie sliders using mashed beans or lentils mixed with breadcrumbs, finely chopped veggies, and spices. These patties may be softer than meat-based ones, so handle them gently. You can also get creative with your toppings to add extra flavour.

Breakfast Sliders

Breakfast sliders are a fun twist on the traditional slider. Make smaller patties and serve them on mini biscuits with a slice of bacon and a fried egg for a hearty breakfast option.

Internationally-Inspired Sliders

You can also experiment with internationally-inspired flavours for your sliders. Try making Asian-style sliders with soy sauce, ginger, and garlic, or Mexican-style sliders with taco seasoning, avocado, salsa, and sour cream. For an Italian twist, incorporate Italian seasoning, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, and top your sliders with marinara sauce and mozzarella.

Frequently asked questions