Ingredients

Scale

(Makes 8–10 sliders)

Sliders:

1 lb ground beef (85/15) or ground turkey
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
Salt & black pepper to taste
8–10 slider buns (or low-carb rolls/lettuce wraps)

Toppings:

1 cup marinara sauce (low-sodium—you love this!)
1½ cups shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese
Fresh basil leaves
Optional: Sautéed mushrooms, roasted red peppers, or pepperoncini

Grilling butter (you love buttery richness!):

3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 tbsp grated Parmesan
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp dried parsley

Instructions

1. Make patties:

In a bowl, mix ground meat, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Form into 8–10 thin patties (slightly wider than buns—they shrink!).

2. Cook patties:

Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high. Cook patties 4–5 minutes per side until cooked through. In last minute, top each with marinara and cheese; cover to melt.

3. Prep buns:

Slice buns in half.
Mix melted butter, Parmesan, garlic powder, and parsley. Brush generously on cut sides of buns.

4. Grill sliders:

Place bottom buns (butter-side up) on baking sheet. Top with cheesy patties and basil.
Add top buns (butter-side down).
Grill method: Wrap entire tray in foil; grill over indirect heat 3–5 minutes.
Oven method: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 5–7 minutes until golden and warm.

5. Serve:

Cut into individual sliders. Serve with extra marinara for dipping!

💡 Pro Tips for Perfection:
✅ Low-sodium mastery (you love this!):
→ Use no-salt-added marinara + skip added salt in meat
→ Boost flavor with extra garlic, oregano, and fresh basil
✅ Blood sugar friendly (you love this!):
→ Use whole-grain or protein-rich buns
→ Or go bun-less: serve patties over arugula salad
→ Net carbs: ~18g/slider
✅ Low-carb/keto option (you love this!):
→ Skip buns entirely—serve as “slider stacks” on lettuce
→ Or use portobello caps or eggplant slices as buns
→ Net carbs drop to ~5g/serving
✅ High-protein boost (you love this!):
→ Mix ¼ cup grated Parmesan into meat mixture (+6g protein total)
→ Add a fried egg on top (+6g protein)
✅ Make ahead: Patties can be formed 1 day ahead; refrigerate. Assemble and grill just before serving.

Prep Time & Nutrition (per slider, with bun):