Heisenburgers: Sliders with Blue Cheese and Pickled Onions

These Heisenberg-inspired slider-sized burgers on my Breaking Bad party menu are exceptional little burgers because all the components are amazing. Beef, obviously, is the best, fresh, fluffy, buttery little homemade buns melt in your mouth, a smear of blue cheese (in honor of the blue product, and the pickled onions (because they are delicious). The pickled onions. The pickled onions have become a steady presence in my life the last few months. As much as I love caramelized onions, these are about a thousand times easier and they are good on everything, so they are super winning.

Homemade slider buns are totally worth it in my mind- I’ve never found any store version that aren’t alarmingly dry. The bun recipe I owe to my mother- she has been talking about the classic Moomie’s hamburger bun recipe for years and I only just got around to making them. As always, she is right, and these are my new go-to bun recipe.

Leftover pickled onions are to die for on fish, turkey sandwiches or tossed with cucumber ribbons or tomatoes. Make extra.

See more from my Breaking Bad party menu.

Heisenburgers: Sliders with Blue Cheese and Pickled Onions

Moomie’s Slider Buns

adapted very slightly from King Arthur Flour

3/4 cup lukewarm water
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs (reserve 1 egg white)
3 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon instant yeast
sesame seeds
melted butter (optional)

Combine water, butter, 1 egg and 1 egg yolk, flour, sugar, salt and yeast. Using a mixer, food processor, or by hand, mix and knead all of the dough ingredients until a soft, smooth dough has formed

Cover the dough, and let it rise until doubled, about 1-2 hours. ,

Gently punch down dough. Divide into about 20 pieces for slider-sized buns (or 8 for regular buns). Roll each piece of dough into a round ball and place on lightly grease baking sheet. Gently flatten slightly. Cover with a towel and allow to rise about a hour, until a little puffed up.

Preheat oven to 375.

Whisk reserved egg white with 2 tablespoons water. Gently brush onto top of buns and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Bake the buns for 12 – 15 to 18 minutes, until golden. Brush with a little melted butter if desired.

Pickled Onions

2 red onions
about 1-2 cups vinegar, white or cider
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt

Slice onions into half rings. Bring a pot of water to boil. Drop in the onions and allow to cook for about one minute. Drain onions and allow to cool slightly. Transfer to a container with a lid and pack down. Cover with vinegar. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons salt. Stir and repack down so that vinegar is covering all onions. Allow to sit for about an hour before using. Pickled onions will keep in the fridge for several weeks.