This mini burger skewer recipe is a delicious, 5 ingredient appetizer that only requires one pan and is easy to serve to a crowd. These one bite burgers are a kid friendly favorite that can also be prepped ahead of time for convenience.
These mini cheeseburgers are an excellent game day recipe that are perfect to enjoy on football Sunday or to pack up and take to a tailgate. This app is also great to make as an after school snack for the kids. It can also be a fun recipe to serve for a party, especially a Super Bowl party.
This was inspired by my cheeseburger sliders on this site, and pairs well with this truffle parm fries recipe. This classic burger sauce is a great dipping sauce to pair with this appetizer.
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Ingredients
These base of these mini burgers is ground beef and cheddar cheese. The burger patties are made like a traditional burger patty, just tinier. The toppings are customizable, but to add some flavor and texture, pickle slices and romaine lettuce were added. The burger bun is made out of tater tots for a fun twist.
- ground beef
- cheddar cheese
- dill pickle slices
- romaine lettuce
- tater tots
- sauce of choice
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: Form the mini burger patties. They should be about 2 inches wide by 1 inch thick. Cut each slice of cheddar cheese into four equal pieces.
- Step 2: On medium heat, cook the burger patties in a little olive oil. Cook about 5 minutes on one side. Flip the burgers. Add the slices of cheese. Cover the pan and cook another 5 minutes or until internal temperature reaches desired temperature.
- Step 3: Cook the tater tots in the oven or in the air fryer according to the directions on the package. Cut the romaine lettuce into tiny slices about the same size as the slices of cheese.
- Step 4: Add one tater tot to the skewer. Add a pickle slice after the tater tot followed by a burger patty and a piece of lettuce. Add another tater tot as the bottom bun. Serve immediately or save for later.
Hint: Add lettuce and pickles just before serving to preserve their crunch and freshness. Preparing them too early can lead to sogginess, which reduces the textural contrast.
Substitutions
- Tater Tot - use mini buns if preferred over tater tots
- Vegetarian - the beef hamburger can be replaced with a plant-based burger to make this vegetarian
- Lettuce - instead of romaine use iceberg lettuce
Variations
- Mini Beef Sliders - use slider rolls and make the burgers a little bigger for a cheeseburger slider recipe
- Onion - add caramelized onions to the skewer for extra flavor and texture
- Dipping Sauce - add a classic burger sauce as a dipping sauce to add more flavor
See this cheeseburger slider recipe on my website!
Equipment
To make this recipe, a frying pan or skillet is needed to cook the burgers. A sharp knife and cutting board are needed to slice the cheese and lettuce. The tater tots should be cooked in either the oven or if air frying, an air fryer is needed.
Bamboo skewers are also needed to assemble the burgers.
How to Store a Mini Burger
Store the wet ingredients (lettuce, pickles) separately from the dry ingredients (tater tots) and the burger patties in the fridge, and recombine when ready. Good for 2-3 days.
These ingredients do stand up well to freezing for up to 2 months.
Top Tip
Season the ground beef generously with salt, pepper, and a touch of garlic powder before shaping the patties. These small flavor boosters intensify the meat’s taste without overpowering the classic cheeseburger character in the appetizer.
FAQ
Make sure to press the tots together firmly before assembling. If they are too soft, try baking or pan-toasting them briefly to crisp up the exterior.
Most tater tots are gluten-free, but it’s always best to check the package or brand to ensure there are no gluten-containing additives.
Absolutely, frozen tots work well. Just bake or pan-fry them until crispy before assembling to avoid sogginess and avoid having the tater tots fall apart.
Yes, you can prepare the beef patties and cook them ahead of time. Store the ingredients separately and assemble just before serving for best texture.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with these mini burger skewers:
📖 Recipe
Homemade Mini Burger Recipe with Tater Tot Buns
Equipment
- 1 frying pan or skillet
- 1 Spatula
- 1 sharp knife and cutting board
- bamboo skewers
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 slices cheddar cheese
- 24 tater tots
- 12 dill pickle slices
- 1 romaine lettuce leaf
Instructions
- Form the mini burger patties. They should be about 2 inches wide by 1 inch thick. Cut each slice of cheddar cheese into four equal pieces.
- On medium heat, cook the burger patties in a little olive oil. Cook about 5 minutes on one side. Flip the burgers. Add the slices of cheese. Cover the pan and cook another 5 minutes or until internal temperature reaches desired temperature.
- Cook the tater tots in the oven or in the air fryer according to the directions on the package. Cut the romaine lettuce into tiny slices about the same size as the slices of cheese.
- Add one tater tot to the skewer. Add a pickle slice after the tater tot followed by a burger patty and a piece of lettuce. Add another tater tot as the bottom bun.
- Serve immediately or save for later.
Notes
- save leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge separately for up to 3-4 days.
- reassemble and reheat before serving.
- serve with dipping sauce of choice.
Nutrition
If you have any questions about how to make these mini burger skewers or need other appetizer suggestions, leave a comment below!
Alicia says
Love these! They’re so fun!
Alicia Moyer says
Thank you!
Tom says
These are absolutely brilliant!!! Making these down the beach in a couple weeks for my family!
Alicia Moyer says
I hope you enjoy!