Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Sliders

Bacon, ground beef, cheese and your favorite condiments are all combined into these mini bacon cheeseburger style Sloppy Joes.  Best of all, the meaty filling can be made ahead and heated in a crockpot for parties, game day, or anytime.

1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 small-medium onion, diced
1/4 cup real bacon bits
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup mustard
1 teas liquid smoke
1 cup grated cheese (your choice--cheddar works well)
salt
pepper
mini hamburger buns or dinner rolls, sliced

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef, crumbling it as it cooks. Drain. Remove and set aside cooked meat.

In the same pan, saute the onion with a little oil until it is translucent.

Return the ground meat to the pan.

Add bacon bits, ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard, and liquid smoke and stir.  If the sauce is particularly thick, thin it with some more ketchup, dill pickle juice (if you like relish on your burgers), water, or beer, if you happen to have some handy.

Simmer 30 minutes.

Add the grated cheese stir until it is melted.

Salt and pepper to taste.

This mixture can be kept warm in a crockpot on low until needed.

Scoop the filling onto slider buns. Garnish with a mini pickle on a toothpick, if desired.