Thick roasted sweet potato rounds topped with taco seasoned ground beef, chunky guacamole and a chipotle crema. Open faced, no bun anywhere.
Course Appetizer
Keyword loaded taco sweet potato sliders
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 30 minutesminutes
Total Time 50 minutesminutes
Servings 12sliders
Ingredients
For the Sweet Potato Rounds
2largesweet potatoesabout 2 ¼ lbs, wide and evenly round, cut into ½ inch rounds
2tablespoonsolive oil
¾teaspoonkosher salt
For the Taco Beef
1poundground beef85 percent lean
1tablespoonchili powder
1 ½teaspoonsground cumin
1teaspoonsmoked paprika
½teaspoongarlic powder
½teaspoondried oregano
½teaspoonkosher salt
1fresh jalapenoseeded and minced
2tablespoonswater
For the Guacamole
2ripe avocados
2tablespoonsfresh lime juice
3tablespoonsred onionfinely minced
2tablespoonsfresh cilantrochopped
1clovegarlicminced
¼teaspoonkosher salt
For the Chipotle Crema
½cupsour creamfull fat
½teaspoonchipotle powder
2teaspoonsfresh lime juice
½teaspoononion powder
1tablespoonwaterto loosen
To Finish
2tablespoonsfresh cilantrochopped
1limecut into wedges
Instructions
Roast the Rounds
Heat the oven to 425F with two rimmed sheet pans inside. Scrub the sweet potatoes, trim the tapered ends, and cut them crosswise into ½ inch rounds. You should get about 12.
Toss the rounds with the olive oil and salt until both cut faces are coated, then spread them on the hot pans with space between each round.
Roast 28 to 32 minutes, flipping once at 15 minutes, until browned at the edges and tender in the middle. Move them to a rack for 2 minutes.
Cook the Taco Beef
Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces, 6 to 8 minutes, until there are dark browned bits on the pan.
Drain off all the fat. Return the pan to medium heat and add the jalapeno, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt and water.
Stir 2 minutes until the spices coat the meat and the water has cooked off.
Make the Guacamole and Crema
Scoop the avocados into a bowl and mash with a fork until chunky, leaving visible pieces. Fold in the lime juice, red onion, cilantro, garlic and salt.
Whisk the sour cream, chipotle powder, lime juice and onion powder together, then add the water a little at a time until it drizzles in a steady line.
Build the Sliders
Lay the warm rounds out on a serving platter in a single layer.
Spoon taco beef onto each round, keeping it inside the edge, then add a spoonful of guacamole on top of the beef.
Drizzle the chipotle crema over each one, finish with chopped cilantro, and serve with lime wedges. Build within 10 minutes of serving.
Notes
No bun: The base is a ½ inch roasted sweet potato round. There is no bread in this recipe.
Space the rounds: Crowded rounds steam and go floppy. Use two preheated sheet pans with at least half an inch between rounds.
Drain the beef: Greasy beef softens the round. Drain all the fat before the spices go in.
Chunky guacamole: Smooth guacamole slides off. Stop mashing while pieces are still visible.
Build to order: Assembled sliders do not hold. Roast the rounds and cook the beef ahead, then build within 10 minutes of eating.
Air fryer: 400F for 14 to 16 minutes, flipping halfway, single layer only.