Mini bacon cheeseburger-style sliders threaded on bamboo skewers with lettuce, cherry tomatoes and pickle slices — a fun, handheld way to serve all your favorite burger flavors. These bite-sized burger slider skewers work beautifully as a low-carb appetizer or party snack, and they’re easy enough for weeknight entertaining or a big game-day spread. Serve with ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise for dipping and watch them disappear.
Burger Slider Skewers
These burger slider skewers are inspired by a popular recipe from Danielle Walker’s cookbook and adapted for simplicity. I reduced the amount of bacon and cooked the meatballs on a grill pan when outdoor grilling wasn’t an option, but they’re equally delicious cooked on a charcoal or gas grill for extra smoky flavor. They come together quickly — prep in about 20 minutes and cook in roughly 10 — so they’re ideal for last-minute guests or a casual backyard party.
Why these work so well: the meat is seasoned and mixed with a bit of minced bacon for added flavor and moisture, then rolled into golf-ball-sized patties and grilled. Thread each cooked patty onto a skewer with a lettuce leaf, a cherry tomato and a dill pickle slice for the classic burger components in miniature. The presentation is playful and convenient, and each bite delivers salty, savory, tangy contrasts that everyone recognizes and loves.
More Party Appetizers
- Classic Deviled Eggs
- Hot Spinach Dip
- Mini Bell Pepper Turkey “Nachos”
- Air Fryer Tostones
- Baked Mexican Layer Dip
Recipe: Burger Slider Skewers
Yield: 30 skewers
Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Total: 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 lbs 93% lean ground beef
- 4 oz center-cut raw bacon, minced
- 2 tbsp prepared mustard
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated
- 30 cherry tomatoes
- 30 dill pickle chips or slices
- Ketchup, mayonnaise and/or mustard for serving (optional)
- 30 bamboo skewers (or wooden skewers), soaked if using outdoors
Instructions
- In a large bowl, gently combine the ground beef, minced bacon, prepared mustard, kosher salt, onion powder and black pepper. Use your hands to mix just until everything is evenly distributed; avoid overworking the meat.
- Divide the mixture and form into 30 small meatballs, about the size of a golf ball.
- Preheat a grill or heavy grill pan to high heat. If using a stovetop grill pan, lightly oil the surface to prevent sticking.
- Grill the meatballs for approximately 3 minutes per side, turning to brown all sides, until they reach your desired doneness. For best results, aim for a nicely seared exterior while keeping the center juicy.
- To assemble each skewer: thread a lettuce leaf (or a small lettuce wedge) onto a bamboo skewer, follow with a cooked meatball, then add a pickle slice and a cherry tomato. Repeat for all skewers.
- Arrange the skewers on a platter and serve immediately with small bowls of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise for dipping.
Notes
*You can prepare the meatball mixture up to 3 days in advance. Keep it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before grilling to ensure even cooking.
*If you prefer a smokier flavor, finish the meatballs on an outdoor grill or add a touch of smoked paprika to the seasoning. For a dairy-free option, serve without cheese or add a small cube of dairy-free cheese between the meatball and the tomato.
*To make larger sliders, double the size of each patty and reduce the total number of skewers accordingly.
Nutrition (approximate per bite)
Serving size: 1 bite | Calories: 66 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.5 g | Protein: 8 g | Fat: 2.5 g | Fiber: 0.5 g
These burger slider skewers are a crowd-pleasing, portable appetizer that’s easy to scale for any gathering. They combine familiar burger flavors in a fun, bite-sized format that’s perfect for parties, potlucks and game-day menus. Try assembling them ahead of time and finishing the grilling minutes before guests arrive for the best texture and temperature.