Turkey Sliders with Cheddar

Being from Chicago when I think of sliders I think of those late night munchies busting burgers that soak up the access alcohol in your stomach. Lord knows I have pulled up to the window after a night of partying and requested my fare share of sliders. But over the years I have outgrown those childish things and become more sophisticated and refined. Now I drink fine wine and spirits, and the best............. OK enough with the crap, I was hungry after a day in 102-105 degree heat at the water park and I wanted to eat and go to bed. After a day in that heat that is all I had left.


1 lb ground turkey
1 lb turkey sausage
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp fresh cracked pepper
2 Tbsp Worcestershire
six slices of bacon
fresh cracked pepper
2 large onions sliced
3 Tbsp oil
1 tsp sugar
12 Hawaiian rolls
1/2 cup softened butter
6 slices of extra sharp Cheddar

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine ground turkey and turkey sausage. Add onion powder through Worcestershire and mix thoroughly until well blended. Form 12 balls with the meat mixture, place in a pan and cover with plastic wrap, set the tray in the fridge. Cover a sheet pan with foil, place bacon on the sheet pan and sprinkle pepper over the bacon. Place in the oven and cook for 14-18 minutes until crisp. While the bacon is cooking heat oil in a pan on medium-low, add sliced onions and sugar. Sauté for 5-10 minutes, stir and flip the onions to ensure even cooking. Heat a griddle or a grill pan on high heat. Remove the meat from the fridge and form 12 1/2 inch disks. Brush both sides with oil and cook in batches being careful not to over crowd the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side. When done remove and keep warm on the side in a sheet pan. By this time the bacon should be done, remove and drain on paper towels and cut it in half. Cover a jelly roll pan with foil and place the rolls on top, brush with butter and heat for 4-7 minutes until golden brown. Cover burgers with cheese and pop in the oven to melt the cheese, it should take no longer than about 2-3 minutes. To assemble place bread on the plate (it helps to do 3 to 4 at a time) on the bottom place the onion mixture than top with the burger and a piece of the bacon. You can add extra condiments if necessary, this meal came out to 3 burgers per person at $2.11 per plate. I told you that was all that I had.