These are THE BEST. I know, I know not everything can be the best…. however these take the cake– or burger that is! There is a burger at one of my favorite restaurants in town called the Smoke House burger. It is soft cheddar, crispy onions, bacon, BBQ sauce, all on a juicy burger in between two buns. It is HEAVEN. However, I know the crispy onions, the BBQ Sauce and their “soft cheddar” is not the best for me, so I get it sparingly. Then I thought well technically it really doesn’t have to be a sparingly choice. Time to give it that HGHF spin and make it something that we feel good about having. These Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar are easy and perfect for week night dinner or to impress your guests at your net get together!
HGHF Kind of Recipe.. Here’s why!
This recipe is the definition of my goals with HGHF. To bring you all delicious recipes that are made with real food & real ingredients. Focusing on what goes into our body with no negative food emphasis or diet atmosphere, instead fueling our body with food that let us take on our day! This recipe is so much fun because it is easily adaptable. The burger itself is Paleo and you can use whatever BBQ sauce fits your needs. For me I prefer BBQ sauce with minimal sugar, so again it goes with what works for you. Need it low carb? Do this recipe on bed of lettuce. Need it to be gluten free? Use gluten free buns! Need it to be dairy free? I feel like you could make a really kick butt version of that cheese spread using df cheddar as well as half and half. Either way, this recipe is so easily attainable to whatever fits your dietary preference and making it a healthier choice for dinner!
How To Make the Soft Cheddar for the Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar
What separates these from your typical BBQ burger are a few things, but the biggest thing is the homemade soft cheddar spread! This 30 minute meal is easy, delicious and this takes it up a notch. Instead of cheese spread that has added color to make it bright orange or preservatives, lets make our own in under 5 minutes!
Ingredients:
- 4 oz blocked mild cheddar cheese
- 4 oz blocked sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
- 5-6 tbsp Half & Half
Directions:
- Cut up your cheddar cheeses into 1 inch cubes and place them in food processor . Pulse on the puree setting for about 30 seconds. That will start to get it nice small crumbled pieces.
- Then drizzle over your Worcestershire, hot sauce, minced garlic and yellow mustard over the cheese. Then continue to puree while adding your Half & Half slowly through the pour spout, until you get a creamy spread! Takes about 1 minute, on and off pulsing. If you need more Half & Half add slowing through the pour spout in order for it to give it that cheese spread consistency, do 1 tbsp at a time if you need to add on more.
- Use spatula to get all the cheesy spread goodness out and place in an air tight container until ready to serve!
What is the SECRET to the meat in these Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar?
It comes down to the seasoning in the burgers or meat in general. Salt and pepper is great but there are so many other easy combinations that truly take it to that next level! We have been using this seasoning in our burgers since before I can remember. Pork tenderloin? Yep we used it on that. Burgers? of course! Chuck Roast? Absolutely!
Family History Behind the Special Seasoning:
My dad grew up being very close to his grandfather, Daddy Hinkle— which is what they called him. His grandparents lived on a farm in Oklahoma and he loved more than anything to visit there. One of things he loved about going there was not only milking the cows, but Daddy Hinkle’s cooking. He use to make this special seasoning they put on everything.
When Daddy Hinkle passed away they found his seasoning recipe in his belongings. In memory of him they decided to create this seasoning and share it! That is where Daddy Hinkle’s seasoning comes from. However, a few of the cousins drove it into the ground and it can hardly be found anymore.
Therefore, my dad and I took to the kitchen to recreate the seasoning, because I wanted to finally share it with you guys, since chances are you don’t have access to the store bought Daddy Hinkle’s.
WE NAILED IT! I am not kidding you when I say we were jumping up and down with happiness. I am so excited to share a recipe and seasoning that is so near and dear to my heart to you guys.
Ingredients in the Hinkle Seasoning
Hinkle Seasoning
- salt 1 tsp
- onion flakes 1 tsp
- garlic powder 1 tsp
- cane sugar 1/2 tsp
- paprika 1/2 tsp
- pepper 1/2 tsp
- celery seed 1/2 tsp
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp red pepper
Directions:
in a small bowl add in your salt, onion flakes, garlic powder, cane sugar, paprika, pepper, celery seed, turmeric and pepper. Whisk together until fully combined.
That’s it! So easy and perfect to have for other recipes. As you can see below a lot of favorite HGHF recipes use it too 🙂
Other HGHF Recipes that use Hinkle Seasoning
The Best Tuna Noodle Pasta
Healthy Southwest Flank Steak Salad
The Best Crock-Pot Chuck Roast
Easy Instant Pot Chicken Salad
What Ingredients Will We Need in these Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar?
2 Pounds Ground Beef
Worcestershire Sauce
Hinkle Seasoning
HGHF Soft Cheddar Spread ( see above!)
BBQ Sauce of choice
Bacon of choice
1 yellow onion
1 tbsp butter
Slider buns
Other Grill Worthy HGHF Recipes
Easy Grilled Shrimp Guacamole Bites
Easy Mexican Grilled Chicken
The Best healthy Teriyaki Glazed Salmon
Healthy Grilled Chicken & Goat Cheese Salad
Easy Juicy French Onion Soup Burger
Common Questions When Making Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar
Do I have to make my own soft cheddar for the Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar?
You don’t have to but I promise you it is sooooooo easy & homemade is always my preferred choice, especially if it is easy. No preservatives, additives or dyes 🙂
Is the Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar gluten free?
Yes they are! The slider buns I used in the photos are not, so just use a GF slider bun that’s right for you!
Am I able to make the Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar dairy free?
I am thinking that you can, however I have not yet tried it. The only changes you’d need to make are in the soft cheddar spread. I would say use your favorite DF cheddar cheese, as well as your favorite DF creamer. I cannot guarantee it will produce the same result but I don’t see why not! Let me know if you do try a DF version :)!
What is the best way to store the Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar?
Store the burgers un assembled in an air tight container, as well as the onions and soft cheddar. Then reheat your burgers and your onions the next day together then assemble like you would on the recipe! They will last up to 3 to 4 days.
Can you make the Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar ahead of time?
Make the soft cheddar ahed of time– 2 to 3 days even ahead of time. You can also put together the burgers 1 hour ahead of time, however I do not recommend marinating for 24 hours.
What are some of your favorite healthier BBQ sauces for this recipe?
I love Halo & Cleavers BBQ Sauce (whole 30 approved!)
Also Kinder’s Organic BBQ Sauce ( higher in sugar content, but no preservatives, dyes or high fructose corn syrup)
Don’t caramelized onions take a long time to make, doesn’t that make this recipe not easy?
No! I use to think that but they are the easiest thing to make and truly take this recipe to the next level. ( I say that a lot in here haha) But truly you make these while you are preparing everything else and they are done by the time you are ready to assemble. They require minimal effort and the end result is supreme!
Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar
Ingredients
Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 1/2 tsp of Hinkle Seasoning see below
- 6 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- HGHF Soft Cheddar see below
- 10 tbsp BBQ Sauce of Choice
- Caramelized Onions see below
- 8 pieces of cooked bacon
- 10 slider buns
Hinkle Seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp onion flakes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cane sugar
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp celery seed
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp red pepper
HGHF Soft Cheddar
- 4 oz blocked mild cheddar cheese
- 4 oz blocked sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 small garlic glove minced
- 5-6 tbsp Half & Half
Caramelized Onion
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
- salt pepper to taste
Instructions
Party Bacon BBQ Sliders with Soft Cheddar
- Add beef to large mixing bowl. Sprinkle 2 1/2 tsp Hinkle Seasoning & Worcestershire sauce. Then with your hands mix until the meat is throughly combined.
- Then divide out into 10 sliders. Then you will turn grill on medium high heat. Brush the grill grate with oil to keep from sticking. Then place your burgers on their first side for 3 minutes. Then flip and cook for another 5 minutes for medium. Their internal temperature will reach 155 degrees Fahrenheit when done
- Then place a bit of BBQ sauce on bottom slider bun, then caramelized onions, burger, a bit more BBQ sauce, cooked bacon & then soft cheddar on the top bun. Put together one enjoy!!
Hinkle Seasoning
- Add onion flakes, garlic powder, cane sugar, paprika, pepper, celery seed, turmeric and pepper to a small bowl. Whisk together until fully combined.
HGHF Soft Cheddar
- Cut up your cheddar cheeses into 1 inch cubes and place them in food processor . Pulse on the puree setting for about 30 seconds. That will start to get it nice small crumbled pieces.
- Then drizzle over your Worcestershire, hot sauce, minced garlic and yellow mustard over the cheese. Then continue to puree while adding your Half & Half slowly through the pour spout, until you get a creamy spread! Takes about 1 minute, on and off pulsing. If you need more Half & Half add slowing through the pour spout in order for it to give it that cheese spread consistency, do 1 tbsp at a time if you need to add on more.
- Use spatula to get all the cheesy spread goodness out and place in an air tight container until ready to serve!
Caramelized Onions
- Slice onion into thin rings
- Heat frying pan with butter at medium heat. Once butter is fully melted add in the sliced thin onion rings. Breaking apart so that each onion can reach the pan. Toss into the butter with spatula. Continue stirring occasionally every 5 minutes until golden brown.About 20 minutes.
- This is cooking the whole time you are prepping everything else, making this a 30 minute dinner!
Saw this today and made it tonight. Amazing, love it!
Ah yay!! I am so happy to hear!! I hope you will try the soft cheddar on sandwiches this week 🙂 You won’t be disappointed! Thanks so much for sharing!!