Mini Burger Platters - The Perfect Crowd-Pleasing Party Food

Mini Burgers Make the Perfect Party Platters

Mini burgers are the perfect easy-to-make party food. These bite-sized burgers are crowd pleasers for any occasion from game days to birthday parties. Serving mini burgers on platters allows your guests to easily grab one while mingling and chatting. The small size also makes them simple finger foods that don't require utensils. Read on to learn why mini burgers should be your go-to party platter!

Endless Topping Possibilities

One of the best things about mini burgers is that the toppings are totally customizable to match whatever theme or tastes you are catering towards. You can keep it classic with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and cheese. Or get creative with avocado, bacon, fried eggs, grilled pineapples - the possibilities are endless! The small size makes them perfect for piling on toppings.

Easy to Make Ahead of Time

You don't need to be stuck in the kitchen while your guests are mingling and snacking. Mini burgers can be made ahead of time and kept warm or at room temperature for easy serving. Prepare the patties and buns beforehand, cooking the burgers just until they are no longer pink inside. Then wrap them individually and refrigerate until ready to serve. When your guests arrive, quickly reheat them in the oven or toaster oven still wrapped in foil.

Kid-Friendly Party Pleaser

Kids absolutely love sliders and mini burgers! The small size and finger food approach makes them fun and easy for tiny hands to manage. You can also adapt them to suit kids’ preferences by serving cheeseburgers or hamburgers without too many toppings. Offer an assortment with and without vegetables to please all types of young palates.

How to Make the Perfect Mini Burger Platters

Ready to get cooking? Making fantastic mini burger platters for your next event is simple. Follow these steps:

Select Your Protein

Ground beef is the most classic option, but you can also choose ground turkey or a plant-based meat substitute to cater to dietary needs or change up the flavors. Just make sure whatever protein you select cooks up tender and moist with good binding properties so the tiny patties hold their shape.

Form Petite Patties

Using your hands, form balls of meat about 1-inch in diameter, slightly flatten into patties, and make an indentation in the center with your thumb. This will prevent the burgers from puffing up too much as they cook. Place patties on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Cook Patties and Prepare Buns

In a large skillet or on an outdoor grill, cook the patties for 2-3 minutes on each side until cooked through. Be careful not to overcook them or the burgers will be dry. Toast or grill the buns. Mini brioche buns are perfect party platter fare.

Set Out Toppings and Build Burgers

Allow guests to build their own by setting out cooked patties and buns alongside desired toppings. Some great mini burger topper ideas are sliced cheeses, lettuce, pickles, ketchup, mustard, mayo, tomatoes, avocados, caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, bacon, fried eggs, and more!

Tips for Mini Burger Perfection

Use these handy tips for mini burger success:

Prevent Dryness

Be very careful not to overcook the patties or the small sliders will turn out dry and tough. Cook just until no longer pink and use a meat thermometer for accuracy.

Sturdy Buns

Light and fluffy normal sized burger buns won't stand up to mini burgers. Opt for petite slider rolls or brioche buns with a tighter crumb structure.

Flavorful Mix-Ins

Adding minced onions, herbs, Worcestershire sauce, or other flavor-boosting ingredients to the raw patties before cooking amps up the flavor in these tiny bites.

Condiment Bar

Offer guests a DIY condiment bar with ketchup, mustard, mayo, pickles, barbecue sauce, sriracha mayo, and other sauce options so they can dress up their burgers.

Incredible Mini Burger Topping Ideas

Take your mini burgers to the next level with these creative topping combinations your guests will love:

Bacon Jam and Goat Cheese

Caramelized bacon jam and creamy, tangy goat cheese pair nicely for a sweet and savory flavor combo.

Jalapeños and Cheddar

For spice lovers, top petite patties with sliced pickled jalapeños and melted sharp cheddar cheese.

Pineapple Salsa

Grilled pineapple salsa is an unexpected but delicious mini burger topper, especially paired with a teriyaki mayo.

Hummus

Skip traditional cheese and go for a schmear of creamy hummus and sauteed onion for a Mediterranean twist.

Now that you're an expert on crafting the perfect mini burger platters, it's time to start planning your next party! These pint-sized bites guarantee rave reviews from guests of all ages. Have fun getting creative with different proteins, bun styles, and epic toppings.

FAQs

What's the best bun to use for mini burgers?

Look for small, sturdy buns and rolls like slider buns or brioche buns. The tighter crumb structure helps hold up to the juices from the mini patties.

How long do assembled mini burgers keep in the fridge?

You can prepare assembled mini burgers ahead of time, wrap them individually, and refrigerate for 4-6 hours before serving. Any longer and the buns tend to get soggy.

What’s the best way to cook mini burger patties?

Pan fry over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side, cook until browned on the outside and no longer pink inside. Be careful not to overcook them or they'll dry out.

What weight should mini burger patties be?

For a good balance of crust to patty ratio, form meatballs that are approximately 1 inch wide and weigh around 1 ounce. Slightly flatten into patties before cooking.