By Kelly Bogard

Earlier this week, you may have seen my blog about a common misconception about beef. It sure had people fired up! Beef is high in protein and has some unique qualities that make it a healthy choice, especially for families.

Last Friday, I spent some time cooking with the Texas Beef Council and learning more about lean beef. You absolutely must try these Sweet Hawaiian Mini Burgers that we made! I know it doesn’t say anything about Texas in the name, but I really think you and your family will enjoy this recipe.
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For the mini burgers, you will need…
1 lb. 95-percent lean ground beef
4 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
4 slices canned pineapple
12 Hawaiian sweet or small whole-wheat dinner rolls, split
lettuce[/wpcol_1half] [wpcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=”vertical-align:text-top;”]

And for the sauce, you will need…
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup pineapple preserves
1 tbsp. packed brown sugar[/wpcol_1half_end]

First things first—turn your oven to broil. It will heat up pretty quickly, so you can modify the next steps as needed. (I mixed the steps up a bit from the original recipe listed on the recipe card below.)

In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the lean ground beef and Worcestershire sauce. lean ground beef

Then shape the meat into 12 mini patties, about ½-inch thick. Arrange them on a baking sheet. lean beef patties

Move your pan of patties to the oven, three to four inches from the heat. Let them broil for about four minutes.

While your meat is broiling, combine all of the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and stir over medium heat until it begins to bubble. Then remove it from the heat.sweet hawaiian mini burger sauce

By now, your patties have been cooking for about four minutes. Remove them from the oven, flip them and baste them with the sauce. Return them to the same place in the oven for another three to four minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees.  Remove them from the oven and let them rest so they keep their juiciness.
lean meat patties with sauce

Now place your pineapple slices on a broiler rack or sheet pan and brush with sauce. Move the pan to the oven and position where the pineapple slices are three to four inches from the heat.
pineapple slices

Let them broil for about two minutes. Remove them from the oven, flip and brush with more sauce. Then return to the broiler for two more minutes.pineapple slices with sauce

Remove the pineapple slices from the oven. While they are still warm, cut them into thirds to fit on your mini burgers.cut pineapple slices

To build each mini burger, place a small piece of lettuce on the bottom of the bun, then add the meat and top with a slice of pineapple. Then add the top bun, and you are ready to eat!building sweet hawaiian mini burger

 

This is a meal that your kids will love to both eat and help make. So get your kids in the kitchen this weekend and show them how much fun it can be to cook food that is not only good for them, but tastes good, too.

A special thanks to the Texas Beef Council and all of my new blogging friends who made last Friday so fun and educational. From all of us at Texas Table Top, enjoy!

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Sweet Hawaiian Mini Burgers

Summary: Protein-rich mini burgers with a sweet kick

Sweet Hawaiian Mini Burgers

Ingredients

Burgers

  • 1 lb. 95-percent lean ground beef
  • 4 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 canned pineapple slices
  • 12 Hawaiian sweet or small whole-wheat dinner rolls, split
  • Lettuce
Sauce
  • 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/4 cup pineapple preserves
  • 1 tbsp. packed brown sugar

 

Instructions

  • Combine lean ground beef and Worcestershire sauce in a medium bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
  • Shape into 12 1/2-inch thick mini patties. Set aside.
  • Combine sauce ingredients in small saucepan.
  • Bring sauce to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
  • Remove from heat. Set aside.
  • Place pineapple slices on rack in broiler; brush with sauce.
  • Place pan in oven so surface of pineapple is three to four inches from heat.
  • Broil four minutes, turning once and brushing with sauce.
  • Remove pineapple; keep warm.
  • Place patties on a rack in a broiler pan so the surface of the beef is three to four inches from the heat.
  • Broil seven to eight minutes to medium (160°F) doneness, until beef is not pink in the center and juices show no pink color, turning once and brushing burgers with remaining sauce after turning.
  • Cut each pineapple slice into thirds.
  • Line bottom of each roll with lettuce, top with a mini burger and then with a pineapple piece.
  • Close sandwiches and serve.

  

Prep time (duration): 10 minutes

Cooking time (duration): 15 minutes

Number of servings (yield): 4

Recipe courtesy of Texas Beef Council, http://www.txbeef.org.

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