Mini Thai Burgers with Sriracha Lime Cream Sauce

5 from 2 votes
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Thai Sliders are a fun and easy recipe made with just a few basic, but perhaps surprising ingredients that make them juicy and flavorful. Serve these mini Asian burgers for dinner or as a party appetizer. You can even make lettuce wraps for a low carb option. But don’t forget to add a little kick by topping them with a simple sriracha lime cream.

Originally published August 23, 2015.

Why I Love Thai-Inspired Flavors

My husband and I love Thai food. When we lived in New Jersey, our favorite was a great little place that was about five minutes down the road. The vacant interior was no indication of the quality (and I presume authenticity, though I have not yet traveled to Thailand) of the food or the popularity of the business.

The entire time we sat there in a nearly-empty restaurant, there would be a steady stream of people in and out picking up their takeout orders.

After moving to Maryland, one of our first orders of business was to find a new Thai place to replace our old favorite. We visited one and ordered some dumplings and a Thai Larb appetizer, and then a couple of entrees to share between the four of us. When asked how spicy we wanted it, we said that we like a little spice.

Apparently at this restaurant, “a little spice” really means a lot of spice! Upon seeing my son’s reaction to his first bite of the larb, one of the waiters quickly brought him a piece of bread to eat to calm down his burning mouth.

That is what is great about making Thai-inspired food at home. You have total control over the level of heat. And you can even have a little fun by infusing those flavors you love into other unexpected dishes, like Thai Ribs, Thai Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup, and even these Mini Thai Burgers.

And if I add a wee bit too much sriracha for my kids’ taste buds, well, at least they are already served on bread!

Closeup of a Mini Asian Burger with Thai flavors and Sriracha Lime cream sauce on top

Mini Thai Burgers Recipe 

These Thai Style Sliders are so simple, yet are super moist and intensely flavored. The ingredients are pretty basic, so you don’t have to go scouring any specialty shops to make some burgers with the tastes of Thailand. But it’s amazing what a little sriracha, soy (or alternative if you have gluten or soy allergy), and surprise, peanut butter will do to your basic burger.

A cucumber and carrot garnish add some crunch. And a drizzle of sweet, spicy, and citrusy cilantro lime cream made out of Greek yogurt adds some freshness. This is one bitty burger with a huge explosion flavor.

What You’ll Need

For the burgers:

  • Soy sauce – gluten free soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos can be used if a glute- or soy-free option is needed
  • Peanut butter – creamy is preferred
  • Sriracha sauce
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Lean ground beef
  • Slider buns – gluten free, if needed. Can also be served on lettuce leaves to make lettuce wraps
  • Garnishes – thinly sliced cucumber, julienned carrots, cilantro leaves, sriracha lime cream sauce lettuce, etc., if desired

For the sriracha lime cream:

  • Plain Greek yogurt
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Honey
  • Sriracha sauce – can be omitted if you don’t want the extra spice
  • Cilantro
  • Salt

How to Make Thai Sliders

  1. In a bowl, stir together the sriracha lime cream ingredients and store it in the refrigerator.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, peanut butter, sriracha sauce, garlic, and salt.
  3. Pour the mixture over the ground beef in a bowl and mix gently until thoroughly distributed.
  4. Form the beef mixture into 12 small patties.
  5. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Add the patties, reduce heat to medium, and grill for 4-5 minutes per side, or to your desired doneness.
  6. Serve on buns, topped with the cream and desired garnishes and toppings.
A row of Thai sliders on a platter from overhead

Variations

  • You can make four or five regular-sized burgers and grill them for 5-7 minutes per side.
  • To make gluten free Asian sliders, as mentioned, you will need to use a gluten free soy sauce or tamari, then serve them on gluten free buns. Gluten free slider rolls are a bit harder to find, so you may want to make the full-size burgers or try baking a batch of Gluten Free Hawaiian Rolls.
  • Another gluten free and also low carb option is to serve them as lettuce wraps.
  • Instead of the sriracha lime sauce, you can drizzle on some Thai Peanut Sauce.
Mini Thai Burgers topped with cucumbers, carrots, and cilantro lime cream on a wooden platter

What to serve with Thai sliders

To round out a meal if you serve these Asian burgers for dinner, try these.

Or add them to a game day or party menu with some Asian-inspired appetizers like the ones on this list.

A row of Thai Sliders on a wooden platter
A row of Thai Sliders on a wooden platter
5 from 2 votes

Thai Style Sliders

An easy recipe to infuse Asian flavors into fun little burgers. Makes a great appetizer or dinner on the grill.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 23 minutes

Ingredients

For the burgers:

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce, gluten free soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos, if a gluten- or soy-free alternative is needed
  • 1 Tablespoon creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed or finely minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/3 pounds lean ground beef
  • 12 Slider buns (gluten free, if needed), thinly sliced cucumbers, cilantro leaves, julienned carrots, lettuce, etc. for garnishing and serving, as desired

For the sriracha lime cream:

  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/8 teaspoon sriracha sauce (can omit if you don't want the spice)
  • 1 Tablespoon minced cilantro
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

For the burgers:

  • Preheat your grill or grill pan on the stove to high.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, garlic, sriracha, salt, and peanut butter.
  • Place the beef in a mixing bowl, pour over the soy sauce mixture, and mix with your hands to combine and evenly distribute the mixture through the meat.
  • Separate the beef into twelve equal pieces and shape into small patties.
  • Place on the grill and red6ce heat to medium. Grill for 4-5 minutes per side, or to your desired doneness.
  • Serve on buns, topped with the cream and desired garnishes and toppings.

For the sriracha lime cream:

  • Combine the ingredients in a small bowl and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Nutrition Facts
Thai Style Sliders
Amount Per Serving (1 slider)
Calories 216 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Cholesterol 35mg12%
Sodium 425mg18%
Potassium 168mg5%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 14g28%
Vitamin A 5IU0%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 44mg4%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Categories:

More burger recipes

More Asian-inspired dinner recipes

Enjoy

10 Comments
  1. Tastiest looking sliders I’ve seen in a long time. It could be because of how much I love Thai food.
    Oh, and I feel for you and the hunt for a new Thai place. Our favorite had closed and it took us what seemed like forever to find one we like as much.

  2. My hubby would be the one gasping for water at the restaurant, so I’d have to make these light on the heat for him! But they sound perfect to me!!

  3. While I like the “look” of a nice big over the top juicy burger, I prefer to eat sliders like these! I also love my food on the spicier side. I’m sure I would love these!

  4. It’s always such a bummer when you expect food to taste one way, and then it’s kind of bland. But these sliders do not look bland at all!! I need this in my life.

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