Taco Beef Sliders

These are the perfect easy game-day food or weeknight meal. Ground beef is cooked with red bell peppers, red onion along with taco spices. The beef is added to slider buns with cheese and melted to perfection. Top with your favorite taco toppings.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsps. olive oil  
• 1 lb. ground beef {I like to use 80/20}  
• 2 garlic cloves, minced  
• 1/2 of a small sweet onion, diced  
• 1 red bell pepper, seeds removed, diced  
• 2 tbsps. taco seasoning  
• 3 tbsps. salsa or taco sauce 

• 1 package of 12 slider buns or 1 package of King's Hawaiian rolls  
• 1 1/2 cups Colby jack shredded cheese  
• 3 tbsps. butter melted  
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder  
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder  
• 1 tsp. taco seasoning  
• 1/4 tsp. salt  
• 1/8 tsp. black pepper  
• Fresh salsa for garnish  
• Fresh cilantro, chopped  
• Shredded lettuce for garnish

Cooking:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  
2. In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.  
3. Add the garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.  
4. Add the red onion and bell pepper and sauté for another 3-4 minutes.  
5. Once the beef is cooked through drain the fat and return to the skillet.  
6. Stir in the taco seasoning and salsa or taco sauce.  
7. Remove the beef from the stove.  
8. Grease and line a 9” x 13” casserole dish or spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray.  
9. Cut the sandwich roll sheet in half through the middle and lay the bottom half of the sandwiches in the casserole dish or lay the bottom of the slider buns down.  
10. Toast the bottom of the buns in the oven for 3-4 minutes before adding the beef. This helps to prevent the bottom of the buns from getting soggy.  
11. Layer on the ground beef mixture followed by the shredded cheese.  
12. Place the top half of the rolls or buns on top of the cheese.  
13. Melt the butter in a small bowl. Use a brush to brush the butter mixture over the buns.  
14. In another small bowl mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, taco seasoning, salt and pepper.  
15. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the buns.  
16. Cover the casserole dish or baking sheet with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes, until butter is fully absorbed. Uncover and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until the top of the buns are lightly browned {watch to make sure they don’t burn}.  
17. Remove from oven and garnish with your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce, cilantro and salsa. 
18. Store in an airtight container. Reheat on low in the oven or in an air fryer.

Notes:

• You can use a variety of cheese options like mozzarella cheese, pepper jack, cotija cheese or sharp cheddar cheese. Feel free to spice these up with hot sauce, jalapeños or crushed red pepper.

Safe Handling Tips:

• Wash hands with soap and water before cooking and always after touching raw meat. 
• Separate raw meat from other foods. 
• Wash all cutting boards, utensils, and dishes after touching raw meat. 
• Do not reuse marinades used on raw foods. 
• Wash all produce prior to use. 
• Cook steaks and roasts until temperature reaches 145°F for medium rare, as measured by a meat thermometer, allowing to rest for three minutes. Cook Ground Beef to 160°F as measured by a meat thermometer. 
• Refrigerate leftovers promptly. 

For more information on degree of doneness and other cooking tips. 

For more information on safe food handling and beef safety.