Pretzel Cowboy Sliders (Printable)

Juicy beef sliders with bacon, cheddar, and barbecue sauce on pretzel buns

# What You Need:

→ For the Sliders

01 - 1 lb ground beef, 80/20 blend recommended
02 - 1 tsp salt
03 - ½ tsp black pepper
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

→ Toppings

06 - 8 slices sharp cheddar cheese
07 - 8 slices cooked bacon
08 - 1 cup crispy fried onions
09 - ½ cup barbecue sauce
10 - 2 jalapeños, thinly sliced

→ For Assembly

11 - 8 mini pretzel slider buns
12 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
13 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives

# Steps:

01 - Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
02 - In a bowl, combine ground beef, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix gently until just combined.
03 - Divide mixture into 8 equal portions and shape into small patties, slightly larger than the buns.
04 - Grill patties for 3–4 minutes per side, or until desired doneness. Place a slice of cheddar on each patty during the last minute of cooking to melt.
05 - Meanwhile, split pretzel buns and brush cut sides with melted butter. Toast buns on the grill or in a skillet until golden.
06 - Place a beef patty on each bun bottom. Top with a slice of bacon, fried onions, jalapeño slices if desired, and a generous drizzle of barbecue sauce.
07 - Cover with bun tops and secure with skewers if desired. Garnish with chives. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pretzel buns add restaurant-level flavor without any extra effort
  • Everything cooks in under 20 minutes, making them perfect for spontaneous gatherings
  • The flavor combination hits every craving: salty, smoky, tangy, and satisfying
02 -
  • Make a small indentation in the center of each raw patty to prevent them from puffing up into balls while grilling
  • Let the assembled sliders rest for about 2 minutes before serving so the cheese sets slightly and does not slide right off when you bite in
03 -
  • Brush the grilled patties with a little extra barbecue sauce during the last 30 seconds of cooking for a sticky, caramelized exterior
  • Warm your pretzel buns in a 300 degree oven for 5 minutes before toasting if they seem stale or extra dense

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