Mini Burger Buffet

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

Total: 35 to 40 min | Yield: 12 burgers

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

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.
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.
Serve mini burgers as directed in desired Flavor Variation.

Notes

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

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 (1.25 ounce) package) 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Attribution

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