Heart Healthy Sliders

The healthfulness of any slider recipe you make depends on the ingredients you use. What makes it easier to fit sliders into a healthy diet is their size – since they are smaller than burgers, you can eat a smaller portion and therefore consume less fat and calories. But it’s still a good idea to think about the ingredients you’re using when you’re looking for ideas for sliders. For healthier sliders, stick to lean meats and use toppings and condiments that add flavor without much fat, sodium or calories.

One problem people sometimes run into when making slider recipes is that there is more bun than filling, which turns sliders into a carb-heavy indulgence. But there’s no reason the bun has to be the star of the show. To make your slider high protein, use enough protein in your burger or slider filler so it leaves you feeling satisfied. More protein will fill you up so you don’t keep reaching for more sliders or other calorie-laden side dishes like fries or chips. Our healthy cheeseburger slider uses 90% lean ground beef, but you can also use lean proteins such as ground chicken or turkey. Other healthy slider recipe ideas include using grilled chicken breasts or even fish.

When you’re following a heart healthy diet, you’ll want to limit the amount of saturated fat you consume, as well as reducing sodium. Using lean ground beef (90% lean or more) like we did keeps sliders low in saturated fat. If you’re making a cheeseburger slider, the type of cheese also makes a difference. Our burger sliders use low-fat cheese to keep fat in check. To make sliders low sodium, use little or no salt in the hamburger mixture (we use just 1/8 tsp) and keep sodium-heavy condiments to a minimum. It’s okay to use a slice of pickle but don’t also load up on sauces that are also full of sodium. Also be sure to pay attention to portion sizes to keep calorie counts in a healthy range. And if you are looking for gluten free sliders, just make sure the buns have no gluten and you’re good to go.