Black and Blue Sliders : Bold Blackened Beef & Blue Cheese for Your Next BBQ

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If you are looking for the ultimate Memorial Day party food that will have your guests coming back for seconds, these Black and Blue Sliders are exactly what you need. Juicy ground beef patties seasoned with a bold homemade blackening spice, stuffed with creamy blue cheese, piled high with crispy applewood bacon, and finished with a signature Donkey Sauce on toasted garlic butter Hawaiian rolls this recipe is a guaranteed showstopper at any Memorial Day cookout, Fourth of July food BBQ, or backyard gathering.

Whether you are planning Memorial Day dinner ideas for a small family or Memorial Day food for a crowd, this recipe scales beautifully and can be partially prepped ahead of time. Let’s get into every detail so your sliders come out perfect every single time.

Why You Will Love These Black and Blue Sliders

• Bold, layered flavors from homemade blackening spice and tangy blue cheese
• Perfect for Memorial Day picnic food, cookouts, and large gatherings
• The Donkey Sauce adds a creamy, garlicky punch that ties everything together
• Toasted garlic butter rolls elevate every single bite
• Easy to make ahead and assemble right before serving

Equipment You Will Need

Having the right tools makes all the difference. Here is what you will need to pull off these sliders flawlessly:

• Chef’s knives – for mincing garlic, parsley, onion, and tomatoes
• Cutting board – essential for all your prep work
• Frying pans – to cook the patties if you are not using a grill
• Pots – for melting and infusing the garlic butter
• Mixing bowls – for combining the blackening spice and Donkey Sauce
• Kitchen utensils – spatulas, tongs, and whisks for smooth prep
• Measuring cups and spoons set – for accurate spice and sauce measurements
• Garlic press – to mince garlic quickly and efficiently
• Kitchen weight scale – to portion your ground beef evenly

Ingredients

Here is everything you need, broken down by component:

Blackening Spice

Garlic Butter

Donkey Sauce

Sliders

Toppings

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Make the blackening spice. In one of your mixing bowls, whisk together the black pepper, onion powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, chili powder, and Kosher salt using your measuring spoons for accuracy. Set aside.
2. Prepare the garlic butter. In a medium pot over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter and add the minced garlic. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally with your kitchen utensils. Remove from heat, stir in the parsley, and transfer to a bowl. Set aside.
3. Make the Donkey Sauce. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, roasted garlic, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to assemble.
4. Form the patties. Using a kitchen scale, divide the ground beef into 24 equal balls. Flatten each into 2-inch round patties. Top 12 patties with 6 ounces of blue cheese crumbles, place the remaining patties on top, seal the edges, and re-form into 3-inch round patties. You will have 12 stuffed patties total. Season both sides generously with the blackening spice.
5. Cook the patties. Grill or cook the patties in a frying pan over medium-high heat until fully cooked through. In the final minute, top each patty with the remaining 6 ounces of blue cheese and remove from heat once the cheese begins to melt.
6. Toast the rolls. Brush the cut sides of each Hawaiian roll with the garlic butter using a pastry brush or spoon. Toast on the grill or in your frying pan until golden and fragrant.
7. Assemble the sliders. Smear Donkey Sauce generously on both toasted sides of each roll. Add the patty, then layer with bacon, dill pickle slices, onion, tomatoes, and mixed greens. Cap with the top bun and secure with a wooden skewer. Serve immediately.

Pro Tips for Perfect Black and Blue Sliders

• Use an 80/20 ground beef blend for maximum juiciness leaner blends will result in dry patties.
• Seal the patty edges tightly around the blue cheese filling to prevent it from leaking during cooking.
• Make the Donkey Sauce and blackening spice the night before to save time on the day of your Memorial Day cookout.
• Do not press down on the patties while cooking this pushes out the juices and melted cheese filling.
• Use a garlic press to mince your garlic quickly and evenly for both the butter and the sauce.
• For a cleaner prep station, use a large cutting board to slice all toppings at once before cooking begins.

Serving Suggestions

These Black and Blue Sliders pair beautifully with classic Memorial Day picnic food sides like coleslaw, corn on the cob, potato salad, or sweet potato fries. For a Fourth of July food BBQ spread, set them up in a big tray alongside other finger foods so guests can grab and go. They also work great as Memorial Day dinner ideas when served with a light mixed green salad on the side.

Make-Ahead and Storage Tips

• Blackening spice can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and stored in an airtight container.
• Donkey Sauce keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in a sealed container.
• Formed raw patties can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours or frozen for up to 1 month.
• Cooked patties are best served fresh but can be reheated in a covered pan over low heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Black and Blue Sliders?

Black and Blue Sliders are mini burgers made with ground beef seasoned with a bold blackening spice blend and stuffed with blue cheese crumbles. The “black” refers to the charred, spiced crust on the patty, while the “blue” refers to the tangy blue cheese inside and on top.

Can I make Black and Blue Sliders without a grill?

Absolutely. A cast iron frying pan works just as well as a grill. Get the pan very hot before adding the patties to achieve that signature blackened crust.

What can I substitute for blue cheese?

If blue cheese is too bold for your taste, you can substitute it with gorgonzola for a milder flavor, or even sharp cheddar for a more classic slider experience.

How many sliders does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 12 stuffed sliders, making it ideal Memorial Day food for a crowd of 6 to 12 people depending on appetite.

Can I use a food processor to mince the garlic and parsley?

Yes, a food processor is a great time-saver when prepping large batches of minced garlic and fresh herbs.

What is Donkey Sauce?

Donkey Sauce is a creamy, garlicky condiment made from mayonnaise, roasted garlic, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and seasoning. It adds a rich, savory layer that perfectly complements the spicy blackened beef.

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Black and Blue Sliders : Bold Blackened Beef & Blue Cheese for Your Next BBQ

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Bold blackened beef patties stuffed with creamy blue cheese, topped with crispy applewood bacon and Donkey Sauce on toasted garlic butter Hawaiian rolls. The ultimate Memorial Day party food and Fourth of July BBQ slider.

• Author: Alice
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 12 sliders
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Grilling, Pan-Frying
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

1 tablespoon black pepper

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

6 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, minced

1 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup roasted garlic, minced

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

4 dashes Worcestershire sauce

4 pinches black pepper

32 ounces ground beef (80/20 blend)

12 ounces blue cheese crumbles

12 Hawaiian-style rolls, sliced in half

6 slices applewood bacon, cooked

24 dill pickle slices

1/2 onion, finely sliced

3 small tomatoes, finely sliced

2 cups mixed greens

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Instructions

1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all blackening spice ingredients. Set aside.

2. In a medium pot over medium heat, melt butter and cook minced garlic for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat, add parsley, mix well, and set aside.

3. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, roasted garlic, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate.

4. Divide ground beef into 24 balls and flatten into 2-inch patties. Top 12 patties with 6 oz blue cheese, place remaining patties on top, seal edges, and re-form into 3-inch patties. Season both sides with blackening spice.

5. Grill or pan-fry patties until fully cooked. Top each with remaining blue cheese in the final minute. Remove from heat once cheese begins to melt.

6. Brush cut sides of rolls with garlic butter. Toast on grill or pan until golden.

7. Smear Donkey Sauce on both toasted sides of each roll. Layer with patty, bacon, pickles, onion, tomatoes, and greens. Secure with a wooden skewer and serve immediately.

Notes

Use 80/20 ground beef for the juiciest results.

Seal patty edges tightly to keep the blue cheese filling inside during cooking.

Donkey Sauce and blackening spice can be made up to 24 hours ahead.

Do not press down on patties while cooking.

Substitute blue cheese with gorgonzola or sharp cheddar if preferred.