I have been a burger-like mood lately. I mean way more than usual. The delicious burger I shared last week is great – but obviously, like I said, more of a “cheat day” type meal.
Lucky for you, this week’s post is still a between-the-buns offering, but is more on the healthy side. Best news? Perfect for a game day gathering – which is majorly important now that football is upon us (Woo hoo!). These savory sliders are easy to prep ahead of time, pop in the oven and during a time out, dress them up and plate them!
I had some ground chicken to use and I can only imagine your surprise that it didn’t go towards buffalo something or other. Instead, I added some sautéed onions and marinara sauce that keep the patties from drying out while cooking. I’ve done this as a dinner for two with some crispy zucchini chips as a side, and have also done a big batch for a larger gathering – easy to customize for any size group!
Chicken Parm Sliders (Makes 8 sliders / 5 WW points per slider)
2 tsp. olive oil
3/4 cup yellow onion, chopped.
2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 pound ground chicken (I usually opt for ground chicken breast – leaner)
1/2 cup reduced-fat grated Parmesan
1 Tbsp. bread crumbs (I use whole wheat crumbs if possible)
1 cup Prego Light Smart sauce, divided
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
8 whole wheat slider buns
1/2 cup reduced-fat mozzarella, shredded
Fresh basil leaves for topping
Spray butter (I use “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” spray)
Preheat oven to 375.
Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, onions and Italian seasoning and saute for 3-5 minutes until onions are softened.
In a medium bowl, add ground chicken, half of the Prego sauce, grated parmesan, sautéed onions, bread crumbs, salt and peppers. Mix together by hand until ingredients are dispersed evenly. Form into 8 small patties. Line a plate with wax paper and add patties. Cover and chill at least 20 minutes to ensure binding.
When you’re ready to cook, remove patties. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and cook at 375 for 15 minutes. Flip and cook another 10-15 minutes until cooked through. Remove patties from the oven.
Add a cooked patty to the bottom half of each slider bun. (I also spray the top halves and put them in next to the patties to let them toast a little.)Top with about 1 Tbsp. of shredded mozzarella. Add 1 Tbsp. Prego sauce from the remaining 1/2 cup. Return to oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted slightly. Top with a basil leaf and bun.
Then, well, you know what to do…
Have a great weekend y’all!
cookingonthebrightside 