I love to present a platter of sliders come game day that I know will totally satisfy the fans. They are the ideal food, perfect for this occasion, highlighting their unmatched versatility.
Mine usually highlight some of my go-to protein bases: juicy ground beef, tender pulled pork, and probably crispy chicken.
They also feature the rich and creamy components that offset and complement those fillings: jalapeños (my sliders are often spicy), and a delicious mix of sauces.
The 12 Best Game Day Slider Recipes
1. Crispy Thai Peanut Chicken Sliders
My adoration for the Crispy Thai Peanut Chicken Sliders knows no bounds. They practically define what a Game Day slider should be.
Ground chicken melds with peanut butter and soy sauce for the kind of flavor that’s hard to put down.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon sriracha sauce
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- Slider buns
Instructions
1. Combine the ground chicken, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, and sriracha in a mixing bowl. Make sure the ingredients are well blended together, so they will bind and form a cohesive mixture when it is shaped into meatballs.
2. Form the blend into tiny patties and then cover each one with panko breadcrumbs.
3. Preheat a skillet over medium heat and place the patties in the skillet. Cook the patties for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked all the way through.
4. You can serve the chicken patties on slider buns with your choice of toppings. Sliced cucumber and pickled veggies make great toppings, but feel free to use whatever your heart desires.
2. Spicy Mango Habanero Shrimp Sliders
I enjoy putting together recipes for sliders to serve on Game Day, like my Spicy Mango Habanero Shrimp Sliders. These little bites pack a ton of flavor from the juicy shrimp, the not-too-sweet ripe mango, and the incendiary habanero, all while being as easy to eat as the classic hamburger.
Ingredients
Shrimp (peeled and deveined)
1 pound
Ripe mango (peeled and diced)
1 small
Habanero peppers (seeded and minced)
1-2, depending on heat preference
Lime juice
2 tablespoons
Mayonnaise
1/2 cup
Slider buns
8
Salt and pepper
to taste
Instructions
1. Mix the diced mango, minced habanero, lime juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl to make the mango habanero salsa. Put it aside for now.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the shrimp with 1 tablespoon of lime juice, salt, and pepper. Grill or sauté until done, about 4-5 minutes.
3. On the inside of slider buns, spread mayonnaise. Add the shrimp and top it with mango habanero salsa.
4. Serve right away, making sure that each slider contains an equal portion of shrimp and salsa.
3. Korean BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders
For game day, I adore whipping up Korean BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders. They are made with a stunning pork shoulder, seasoned Korean-style (with lots of gochujang) and pooled in a big pot of homemade BBQ sauce, which is also gochujang-based.
From that point on, it’s pretty basic slider assembly with the tender, spicy pork piled high onto soft slider buns.
Ingredients
2 pounds pork shoulder
1 cup Korean BBQ sauce (such as gochujang-based sauce)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
8-10 slider buns
Instructions
1. Put the pork shoulder in the slow cooker and cover it with the Korean BBQ sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and brown sugar.
2. Cook for 8 hours on low, or until the pork is pulling apart tender.
3. Using two forks, shred the pork and mix it evenly with the juices in the slow cooker.
4. Serve the pulled pork on slider buns, but feel free to add even more sauce if that’s what you like.
4. Buffalo Cauliflower Sliders
Buffalo Cauliflower Sliders bring together my favorite elements of a classic Game Day slider: spicy buffalo sauce, crispy cauliflower, and soft slider buns. The buttermilk in the batter makes this recipe extra rich, and a drizzle of ranch dressing takes these sliders to the next level of deliciousness.
Ingredients
- 1 small head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup buffalo sauce
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Slider buns (about 8-10)
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing (optional, for serving)
Instructions
1. Set your oven to 450°F (230°C) to heat, and set out a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl of medium size, combine the flour, buttermilk, salt, and pepper, and whisk until smooth. Immerse each cauliflower floret in the batter. Allow any excess batter to drip off and then arrange the florets on the baking sheet.
3. Coated cauliflower should be baked for 20 minutes, during which the dish should be turned once at the halfway mark. The finished product should be golden brown and crispy.
4. Take the cauliflower out of the oven and gently toss it in the buffalo sauce. Put it back in the oven for just 5 more minutes. Put the buffalo cauliflower on slider buns and drizzle with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
5. Mediterranean Falafel Sliders
The Mediterranean falafel sliders, composed of chickpeas, fresh parsley, and garlic, take the concept of “Game Day Slider” to the next level. They are packed with amazing flavor and, to a certain extent, are “good for you” in the way that anything can be good for you that’s fried, since we all know that nothing beats an actually crispy falafel, as opposed to the falafel that one might bake in the oven and then call crispy (it never is).
Ingredients
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Use a food processor to combine the chickpeas, parsley, onion, and garlic. Process until the mixture is coarsely blended yet still holds together when pressed, giving it the appearance of slightly lumpy hummus.
2. Put the blended mixture into a bowl. Introduce flour, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined completely.
3. Form the blend into tiny cakes approximately 2 inches wide. Sauté them in a frying pan over medium heat, best guess, for 3-4 minutes per side, until they look golden brown and taste like heaven.
4. Present the patties in slider form using any sort of bun—lightly toasted, steamed, or fresh out of the oven—so as not to mask the flavor.Â
6. Chimichurri Steak Sliders
Chimichurri Steak Sliders are the rock stars of Game Day Slider Recipes. They begin with flank steak, fresh parsley, and red pepper flakes, and grow from there with an ensemble of fresh, blistered, and pickled veggies that could easily take center stage in a dish of their own.
If you fancy grabbing sliders during your next fancy football game, make sure to consider this one.
Ingredients
- 1 pound flank steak
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 12 slider buns
Instructions
1. Make the Chimichurri
Take your food processor and add the following ingredients: parsley, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Blend until combined but still retain some chunkiness. This sauce ideally shouldn’t be completely smooth and will have some texture. Season with salt and pepper until it’s delicious.
2. Prepare the Flank Steak
The flank steak should be well seasoned with ample amounts of salt and pepper. The flank steak can be grilled or pan-seared at medium-high heat for approximately 4-5 minutes on each side for a perfectly cooked medium-rare. Once cooked, the steak must be allowed to rest for approximately 5 minutes before being sliced.
3. Construct the Sliders
On each bun, lay down a few slices of steak. Lavish chimichurri sauce over the steak, letting it pool and spread as necessary. Cap with the top bun and serve without delay.
7. Cuban Mojo Pork Sliders
Cuban Mojo Pork Sliders are one of the recipes I love to make for my Game Day Slider Recipes collection. They are made with pork shoulder, just like my Cuban Mojo Pork.
Camila’s pork is marinated overnight, giving it a flavor punch that makes for an utterly delicious slider, one that disappears at any sports event.
Ingredients
Pork shoulder (2-3 lbs)
Garlic cloves (6-8, minced)
Orange juice (1/2 cup)
Lime juice (1/4 cup)
Olive oil (1/4 cup)
Oregano (1 tablespoon)
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. To make the mojo marinade, mix together minced garlic, orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper.
2. Put the pork shoulder in a big, sealable plastic bag or a dish with shallow sides and pour the marinade over it. Make sure the marinade is well mixed and the pork is well coated. It’s better if you can let it marinate overnight, but for a minimum time, you can do it for 4-6 hours. Put it in the fridge and forget about it for a while.
3. Set the oven to 425°F (220°C) to preheat. Take the pork out of the marinade and put it in a roasting pan. Next, place it in the oven and bake it for about 30 min. Then lower the heat to 325°F (165°C) and continue to roast the pork for another 3-4 hours. You will know that the pork is done when it is fork tender and shreds easily.
4. After the pork has finished cooking, allow it to rest for 10 minutes. Then, shred the meat and serve it on slider buns. You can dress these up however you like, but I suggest a simple combination of pickles and mustard.
8. Kimchi Beef Sliders
When it comes to recipes for game day sliders, one of my top picks has to be Kimchi Beef Sliders. These flavorful little bites marry ground beef with chopped kimchi, soy sauce, and sesame oil, serving them up in slider buns, and topping with green onions.
Ingredients
Ground beef (1 pound)
Kimchi (1 cup, chopped)
Slider buns (8)
Mayonnaise (¼ cup)
Soy sauce (2 tablespoons)
Green onions (2, finely sliced)
Sesame oil (1 tablespoon)
Instructions
1. In a big mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped kimchi, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Mix until barely combined, being very careful not to overwork the meat.
2. Shape the mixture into 8 equally sized patties.
3. Prepare a grill or skillet on medium-high heat. Cook the patties for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side—or until they reach your desired level of doneness.
4. To put the sliders together, take the bottom slider buns and spread a generous portion of mayonnaise on each. Place a well-cooked slider patty atop each mayo-slathered bun. Next, impale a sliced green onion on top of each beefy goodness. You can cover the sliders if you like or leave them open-faced for a momentary Instagram opportunity. Serve as soon as you’re able.
9. Spicy Sriracha Tofu Sliders
For my Football Game Day Slider Recipes, I absolutely adore the Spicy Sriracha Tofu Sliders. They are made with tofu that has been marinated in Sriracha, soy sauce, and maple syrup.
Served on a bun with optional coleslaw, these sliders are the perfect spicy delight.
Ingredients
- 1 block extra-firm tofu, drained and pressed
- 1/4 cup Sriracha sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Slider buns
- Coleslaw mix (optional, for topping)
Instructions
1. Cut the drained, pressed tofu into pieces that are the right size for sliders.
2. Combine Sriracha sauce, soy sauce, maple syrup, and olive oil in a bowl.
3. For at least a half-hour, let the tofu slices soak in this sauce mix.
4. Prepare the marinated tofu in a skillet over medium heat until it has developed a crisp, brown crust on both sides. You should cook it for about 4-5 minutes per side. Serve the tofu on slider buns with optional toppings like coleslaw or pickles.
10. Maple Bourbon Chicken Sliders
These chicken sliders join maple syrup and bourbon in a delightful combo that’s sure to become a stand-out part of your Game Day Slider Recipe collection. They’re absolutely perfect for serving on slider buns.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup bourbon
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Slider buns
Instructions
1. To make the marinade, combine maple syrup, bourbon, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, and garlic powder in a bowl and whisk them together.
2. Put the chicken breasts in a plastic bag with a zipper and pour the marinade in. Seal the bag and let it chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. For best results, let it marinate overnight.
3. Set the grill to medium-high heat. Take the chicken out of the marinade and place it on the grill. Allow it to cook for 5-6 minutes on each side, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
4. After grilling the chicken, let it rest for a few minutes, then cut it into thin slices. To make the sliders, place the grilled chicken slices onto the slider buns. Enjoy!
11. Black Bean Avocado Sliders
My Black Bean Avocado Sliders are the perfect addition to Game Day Slider Recipes. I take black beans, ripe avocado, red onion, garlic powder, and lime juice to create mouthwatering mini burgers that are just as good as their beefy cousins.
And get this: They’re better for you.
Ingredients
Black beans, rinsed and drained (1 can, 15 oz)
Avocado, peeled and mashed (1 large)
Red onion, finely chopped (1/4 cup)
Garlic powder (1 tsp)
Ground cumin (1 tsp)
Lime juice (2 tbsp)
Slider buns (8 small)
Instructions
1. In a mixing bowl, use a fork or potato masher to mash the black beans until they are mostly smooth but still have some texture.
2. Incorporate the avocado, red onion, garlic powder, ground cumin, and lime juice into the mashed beans. Make sure everything is well combined before serving.
3. Shape the blend into petite patties, approximately the dimensions of your slider buns.
4. Preheat the skillet over medium heat and toast or grill the patties for about 3-4 minutes on each side until they are warmed through and slightly crispy. Serve on slider buns with the toppings of your choice.
12. Teriyaki Pineapple Turkey Sliders
My favorite slider recipe for Game Day is Teriyaki Pineapple Turkey Sliders. I make them with moist ground turkey, sweet pineapple, and teriyaki sauce, but honestly, slider buns and a good crisp salad are almost enough to make me love any slider recipe.
Ingredients
Ground turkey
Teriyaki sauce
Canned pineapple slices
Slider buns
Red onion
Lettuce
Mayonnaise
Instructions
1. Get the grill or skillet ready at medium-high heat. While it’s heating, grab a bowl and mix together the ground turkey and teriyaki sauce. Divide the resulting mixture into small portions and shape them into patties that will fit right on your slider buns.
2. Cook the turkey patties on the grill or stovetop for 4-5 minutes per side, or until an internal meat reading shows 165°F (74°C). During the last minute of cooking, place a slice of pineapple on top of each patty and let it warm through.
3. To put together the sliders, first, spread a small amount of mayonnaise on the bottom half of each slider bun. Next, lay down a leaf of lettuce and a slice of red onion. Then, place the turkey patty topped with a slice of pineapple on the bottom half of the bun. Drizzle some teriyaki sauce on top, and then put the bun half on top to finish the slider assembly.
4. Immediately serve the teriyaki pineapple turkey sliders and savor the flavors of this sweet and savory game day treat.
