Description
These Buffalo Blue Crispy Tot Sliders blend juicy, spiced beef patties infused with blue cheese with crispy, charred grilled tater tots and a tangy buffalo sauce, all sandwiched in soft pretzel slider buns. Perfect for game day or casual gatherings, this recipe delivers a delicious balance of smoky, spicy, and creamy flavors in an easy-to-make grilled slider.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef Patties
- 1 pound ground beef, preferably sirloin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles (to mix into burgers)
To Top the Sliders
- 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles (to top burgers)
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 16 frozen potato tater tots
- 8 slider buns (preferably pretzel buns)
Instructions
- Mix Seasoned Ground Beef: Gently but thoroughly combine ground beef with smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper, ensuring the spices are evenly distributed.
- Fold in Blue Cheese: Carefully fold 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles into the seasoned beef mixture, taking care not to break up the cheese too much.
- Form Patties: Divide the beef mixture into 2-ounce portions and shape into small slider-sized patties. Set them aside while you prepare the grill.
- Preheat Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high heat, ready for cooking the sliders and tater tots.
- Grill Sliders: Place the patties on the hot grill and cook for about 3 minutes per side, or until they reach your preferred doneness (medium to medium-well recommended).
- Rest Patties: Remove the cooked patties from the grill and let them rest to retain juices while you cook the tater tots.
- Prep Tater Tots: No thawing necessary—place frozen tater tots directly on the grill over medium-high heat.
- Grill Tots – First Side: Cook tater tots until softened and slightly charred, then press them gently into the grill grate on an area with less open space to prevent pieces from falling through.
- Flip and Grill Tots – Second Side: Turn the tater tots over and continue grilling until both sides have grill marks and achieve a crispy texture.
- Toast Buns: Remove tots and optionally toast the slider buns on the grill until lightly browned.
- Assemble Sliders: Spread buffalo sauce on the buns, top with grilled blue cheese-infused beef patties, add crispy grilled tater tots, and sprinkle with additional blue cheese crumbles.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve immediately and enjoy your flavorful Buffalo Blue Crispy Tot Sliders. Perfect for sharing at gatherings!
Notes
- Use pretzel buns for authentic flavor and texture, but any slider buns will work.
- Adjust cayenne pepper for spice level preference or omit for milder sliders.
- Blue cheese crumbles can be substituted or supplemented with your favorite cheese if desired.
- Make sure to press the tots gently to avoid losing pieces through the grill grates.
- Letting the patties rest after grilling helps keep them juicy when assembled.
