Mini Burger Buffet

Mini Burgers are an ideal buffet choice as they give your guests three flavor variations from which to choose.

Test Kitchen Tips: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Color is not a reliable indicator of Ground Beef doneness.

Ingredients

Basic Mini Burgers

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Flavor Variations

• Smoky BBQ Cheddar, Buffalo Style or Taco (recipes follow)
  

Instructions

1. Combine Basic Mini Burger ingredients in medium bowl, adding desired Flavor Variation ingredients and mixing lightly but thoroughly. Lightly shape into twelve 1/2 inch thick mini patties.
2. Place patties on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, covered, for 9 to 11 minutes) until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160 degrees F, turning occasionally.
3. Serve mini burgers as directed in desired Flavor Variation.

Total: 35 to 40 min | Yield: 12 burgers

Smoky BBQ Cheddar: Add 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese to Basic Mini Burger mixture. Halfway through grilling, baste patties with 1/4 cup hickory barbecue sauce. Place burgers on bottoms of 12 split small dinner rolls. Top evenly with 24 sweet or dill pickle slices and 3/4 cup prepared coleslaw. Close sandwiches. Serve with additional barbecue sauce, as desired.

Buffalo Style: Add 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper and 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese to Basic Mini Burger mixture. While patties are grilling, combine 3 tablespoons melted butter and 1/4 cup hot pepper sauce. Set aside. Place burgers on bottoms of 12 split small dinner rolls. Top evenly with thinly sliced celery, shredded carrots, as desired, and some of the hot sauce mixture. Close sandwiches. Serve with blue cheese dressing, as desired, and remaining hot sauce mixture.

Taco: Add 1 package (1.25 ounces) taco seasoning mix to Basic Mini Burger mixture. While patties are grilling, combine 1/2 cup dairy sour cream and 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice. Set aside. Cut burgers in half and place both halves in each of 12 taco shells. Top evenly with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, shredded Cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend, salsa and sour cream mixture, as desired.

Nutrition information per Smoky BBQ Cheddar burger, using 80% lean ground beef: 250 calories; 12 g fat (5 g saturated fat; 5 g monounsaturated fat); 50 mg cholesterol; 487 mg sodium; 17 g carbohydrate; 0.8 g fiber; 16 g protein; 3.6 mg niacin; 0.2 mg vitamin B6; 1.3 mcg vitamin B12; 2.2 mg iron; 17.3 mcg selenium; 3.2 mg zinc

Nutrition information per Smoky BBQ Cheddar, using 95% lean ground beef: 208 calories; 8 g fat (4 g saturated fat; 3 g monounsaturated fat); 44 mg cholesterol; 483 mg sodium; 17 g carbohydrate; 0.8 g fiber; 16 g protein; 3.9 mg niacin; 0.2 mg vitamin B6; 1.2 mcg vitamin B12; 2.4 mg iron; 17.3 mcg selenium; 3.3 mg zinc

Nutrition information per Buffalo Style burger, using 80% lean ground beef: 239 calories; 14 g fat (6 g saturated fat; 5 g monounsaturated fat); 51 mg cholesterol; 390 mg sodium; 13 g carbohydrate; 0.5 g fiber; 15 g protein; 3.6 mg niacin; 0.2 mg vitamin B6; 1.3 mcg vitamin B12; 2.0 mg iron; 16.7 mcg selenium; 3.1 mg zinc

Nutrition information per Buffalo Style burger, using 95% lean ground beef: 196 calories; 9 g fat (4 g saturated fat; 3 g monounsaturated fat); 45 mg cholesterol; 386 mg sodium; 13 g carbohydrate; 0.5 g fiber; 15 g protein; 3.9 mg niacin; 0.2 mg vitamin B6; 1.2 mcg vitamin B12; 2.2 mg iron; 16.8 mcg selenium; 3.1 mg zinc

Nutrition information per Taco burger, using 80% lean ground beef: 195 calories; 12 g fat (5 g saturated fat; 3 g monounsaturated fat); 45 mg cholesterol; 409 mg sodium; 8 g carbohydrate; 0.6 g fiber; 12 g protein; 2.2 mg niacin; 0.2 mg vitamin B6; 1.2 mcg vitamin B12; 1.1 mg iron; 9.2 mcg selenium; 2.7 mg zinc

Nutrition information per Taco burger, using 95% lean ground beef: 152 calories; 7 g fat (3 g saturated fat; 1 g monounsaturated fat); 39 mg cholesterol; 404 mg sodium; 8 g carbohydrate; 0.6 g fiber; 12 g protein; 2.5 mg niacin; 0.2 mg vitamin B6; 1.0 mcg vitamin B12; 1.2 mg iron; 9.3 mcg selenium; 2.7 mg zinc

Recipe and photo used with permission from: Cattlemens Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association

SANDWICH RECIPES