Grilled Maple-Glazed Bacon Sliders
Grilled Maple-Glazed Bacon Sliders
Grilled Maple-Glazed Bacon Sliders
Grilled Maple-Glazed Bacon Sliders

Grilled Maple-Glazed Bacon Sliders

David Venable

Inspired by Baconfest Chicago, these appetizers are bursting with grillin' flavor…and bacon, of course!

Braising Liquid

  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 2 star anises

To prepare the slider meat and braising liquid

Fill a saucepot 3/4 of the way with water. Add in the syrup, soy, and star anise. Bring up the heat until just simmering. Add in the bacon. Let simmer at barely a bubble for 1 hour. Remove the bacon from the liquid and let it cool. When cooled, slice into 1/4" thick slices.

Sliders

  • 2 (1-lb) bacon slab blocks, about 5” x 5” each 16 small potato dinner rolls
  • 2 star anises

To prepare the glaze

Whisk together the syrup, sugar, soy, and vinegar in a small mixing bowl. Reserve about 1/4 cup glaze in a separate mixing bowl for later. Toss the sliced bacon into the glaze and let soak for about 10 minutes.
On a baking sheet, lay out the bacon slices and sprinkle each piece with the black pepper. Hold until ready to grill.

Glaze

  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp coarse black pepper

To prepare the slaw

Mix together the mayo, both of the mustards, syrup, vinegar, salt, and parsley in a mixing bowl.
In another mixing bowl, add the cabbages and carrots, mix in the just-prepared dressing, and chill until ready to serve.

Slaw

  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tbsp coarse mustard
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1-1/2 cups green cabbage, shredded
  • 1-1/2 cups red cabbage, shredded
  • 1 cup carrots, julienned

To finish the slider meat

Put your grill on medium heat and grill the bacon slices on both sides until crisp. Keep a close eye on the bacon while cooking so it doesn't burn from the sugary glaze. Remove from the grill and keep warm.

Cook's Notes

Ask your butcher for a slab of bacon with the skin removed. Pick up apple- or cherry-wood smoked bacon, if available, for another layer of flavor.

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