BBQ Beef Slider

Instructions

1. To make the BBQ sauce, add all the ingredients to a heavy bottom pot and bring to a simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Adjust for seasoning along the way, it may need more heat or sweet. When finished, take out the chipotle peppers and set the sauce aside.
2. To form the burgers, I found that a 2.5 ounce size patty makes the perfect slider, so eyeball or use a scale, and form into patties. Once formed, season with a generous amount of S&P on both sides and keep in the fridge until ready to cook(room temperature burgers will be mushy and fall apart when cooked).
3. For the bacon, preheat the oven to 400 degrees, lay out the slices of bacon on a sheet tray and season with pepper, cook for 15-20 minutes until crispy. Don't burn your bacon!
4. For the slaw, add both cabbages and the carrots to a bowl and put in the fridge. For the slaw dressing, add the next five ingredients to a bowl, mix well, check for seasoning, the dressing should be pretty tangy. Put in the fridge
5. To cook the burgers, preheat your cooking surface(I prefer a cast iron pan or griddle pan) to medium high, dimple your burgers in the middle so they don't plump up like a football when cooked. Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side, flip, add the cheese, and cook for 1-2 minutes more. While the burgers are cooking, toss the slaw together with enough dressing to coat the slaw well(save this step until right before the end, or the slaw will get soggy). Set burgers aside on a sheet tray to cool for 1 minute. While the burgers are cooling, brush the buns with a little melted butter and toast until lightly browned.
6. To assemble slider, schmear a little mayo on the bottom bun(will prevent a soggy bottom), and spoon on some BBQ sauce, add the burger, little more BBQ sauce, bacon, slaw, and top of the bun. Enjoy the winning burger of the Pepsi Game Day Challenge, a slider worthy of any big game!