Emilie Meyer
Air fryers are a great way to cook beef sliders, and they're perfect for a family dinner or appetiser. The best type of beef for this recipe is 80/20 ground beef, as the extra fat makes for a juicy burger. You can add your own twist with toppings like onion jam, barbecue sauce, or fancy condiments. The air fryer is also a healthier option, as the holes in the basket allow grease to drain away from the meat as it cooks. It's a quick and easy way to make delicious, juicy burgers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cooking time | 8-12 minutes |
| Temperature | 350-390°F |
| Beef type | Lean ground beef |
| Beef quantity | 1 pound |
| Beef seasoning | Salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, liquid smoke |
| Number of patties | 6-8 |
| Patty thickness | 1/2-inch |
| Patty size | Wider than the bun |
| Cheese | Cheddar, American, or other |
| Toppings | Lettuce, tomato, onion, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, fried onions, arugula, bacon |
| Bun | Slider bun, toasted |
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What You'll Learn
- Preparing the beef: Mix with Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder
- Shaping the patties: Form into balls, flatten, and make wider than the buns to allow for shrinkage
- Cooking the beef: Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-12 minutes
- Melting the cheese: Place cheese on the patties and put back in the air fryer for 1 minute
- Assembling the sliders: Place the patty on the bun and add toppings like lettuce, tomato, and onion
Preparing the beef: Mix with Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder
To prepare the beef for your sliders, you'll need ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can also add barbecue sauce or liquid smoke for extra flavour. The amount of each ingredient you'll need will depend on how many sliders you're making and your personal preference, but a good rule of thumb is to use 1 pound of lean ground beef, 1/4 cup of barbecue sauce or 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Start by bringing your beef to room temperature. Take the meat out of the fridge about an hour before you start cooking to let it warm up slightly. This will help ensure that your sliders cook evenly.
Next, in a large bowl, mix together your ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Use your hands or a spoon to combine the mixture until it is just blended. Be careful not to overmix the meat, as this can affect the texture of your sliders.
Once your meat is mixed, it's time to form your patties. Divide the mixture into 6-8 equal portions, depending on how big you want your sliders to be. Roll each portion into a loose ball, then gently flatten them into small patties. The patties should be slightly wider than your slider buns, as the meat will shrink a little during cooking.
After your patties are formed, you can season them with a bit of extra salt and pepper on top, if desired. Then, you're ready to cook your sliders in the air fryer!
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Shaping the patties: Form into balls, flatten, and make wider than the buns to allow for shrinkage
When shaping the beef slider patties, start by dividing the mixture into 6 to 8 equal-sized balls. The number of balls you get will depend on the size of your buns and the yield of your beef mixture. For instance, if you're making 8 sliders, you'll need to divide the mixture into 8 portions.
Next, gently flatten each ball to form a small patty. The key is to form them just enough so they hold their shape without overworking the meat. The patties should be slightly wider than your slider buns to account for shrinkage during cooking. This is especially important if you're using a higher-fat beef, as these tend to shrink more during cooking. Aim for a patty thickness of about 1/2 inch, as this promotes even cooking and prevents the edges from drying out before the center is cooked.
After shaping the patties, season them generously with salt and pepper, and you're almost ready to cook them in your air fryer!
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Cooking the beef: Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-12 minutes
When you're ready to cook the beef, arrange the patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are not stacked on top of each other. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the sliders in batches. If you have an oven-style air fryer with multiple racks, alternate halfway through cooking. This will allow the bottom rack to cook at the same time as the top rack of patties.
Set the air fryer temperature to 350°F (180°C). Place the basket on a bake/broil pan and slide it into the upper rack position. Turn the patties halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking. Aim for a total cooking time of 8-12 minutes, or until the burgers are cooked to your desired level of doneness. For well-done burgers, cook until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). This can be checked with a meat thermometer. The burgers are well-done at this temperature and should no longer be pink in the center.
The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer and your preferred level of doneness. After making your first batch, you'll have a better idea of the ideal timing for subsequent batches.
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Melting the cheese: Place cheese on the patties and put back in the air fryer for 1 minute
Once you've cooked your beef sliders in the air fryer, it's time to add cheese and melt it to perfection. Cut slices of cheese in half, and place a half-slice on top of each patty. You can use cheddar cheese or any other cheese of your choice. Now, it's time to use the residual heat in the air fryer to melt the cheese. Place the air fryer basket back into the air fryer, ensuring it is turned off, and leave it there for about 1 minute. This will gently melt the cheese without overcooking your patties.
The exact timing may vary depending on the type of cheese and your desired level of melt, so feel free to adjust the time as needed. Keep an eye on the cheese to prevent over-melting or burning. You can also add other toppings, such as barbecue sauce, fried onions, lettuce, tomato, and condiments, to create a delicious and juicy slider.
If you're making a large batch of sliders, you may want to keep the cooked patties warm while melting the cheese on a new batch. Simply remove the cooked patties from the air fryer and keep them warm. Repeat the melting process for each batch, ensuring the air fryer is turned off each time.
This technique of melting cheese in the residual heat of the air fryer is a great way to add a creamy texture and flavour to your beef sliders without overcooking the patties. It's a simple yet effective step that takes your sliders to the next level.
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Assembling the sliders: Place the patty on the bun and add toppings like lettuce, tomato, and onion
Once your beef sliders are cooked to your desired level of doneness, it's time to assemble your sliders. Place the cooked patty on the bottom bun, and if you're making a cheeseburger slider, add a slice of cheese on top of the patty and put it back in the air fryer for a minute to melt the cheese. You can also toast the bun in the air fryer for a minute or two to warm it up.
Now, it's time to add your toppings. You can add the usual toppings like lettuce, tomato, and onion, but feel free to get creative with your toppings. You can add some crunch with fried onions, or add some flavourful cheese like blue cheese. If you're a fan of sauces, you can add some spice with gochujang, or stick to the classic barbecue sauce, or even try something new like aioli. If you're on a keto diet or prefer a low-carb option, you can skip the bun altogether and wrap your slider with a lettuce leaf instead.
Finally, place the top bun over your toppings, and your beef slider is ready to be served!
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 8-12 minutes to cook beef sliders in an air fryer.
The air fryer should be set to 350°F when cooking beef sliders.
This depends on the size of your air fryer. You should arrange the sliders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, so the number you can cook at once depends on the size of the basket and the size of the sliders.
