Duck season has come to an end here.  I hope that many of you ended up with a stocked freezer just waiting to be turned into a delicious meal. If you’re looking to change up the standard popper recipe, give these Duck Popper Slider’s a try!

In Tennessee, Active Military and Veterans are privileged with their own day of hunting.  An overly hospitable Blue Bank Resort and the guide services of long-time friend, Caleb Dunn*, provide an amazing experience on Reelfoot Lake.  We were treated as honored guests, fed like kings, and fortunate enough to have a sky full of waterfowl. As the hunt came to an end, we had a boat full of ducks and a handful of current and prior service members that were honored to be given such treatment and thankful to take part in what turned out to be one amazing hunting experience. Good dudes, good food, a good dog, and some favorable conditions made for a great time!

*Apparently Caleb has his own recipe similar to this one except it is served as more of an open-faced sandwich that he compares to Philly Cheesesteak.  I haven’t personally tried it, but the guy can cook and I’ve yet to try any of his food that wasn’t delicious!  I typically drag myself away lethargic and over-indulged.  With that being said, his concept may also be worth trying.

What are Duck Popper Sliders?

Poppers are a very common wild game appetizer typically made with either duck or dove, and sometimes geese.  In addition to the breast meat, the most common ingredients are jalapeno peppers, onions, cream cheese, and bacon.  Duck Popper Sliders are a spinoff of this traditional recipe and they equally, if not more, delicious!

Ingredients Needed for Duck Popper Sliders

As I mentioned above, the ingredients for these sliders are essentially the same as poppers with just a couple of extras.  You will need the following:

• Duck breasts
• Bacon
• Jalapeno peppers
• onion
• soft cheese such as goat cheese, brie, cream cheese, etc.
• Hawaiian rolls
• Fischer & Wiser Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce (or comparable sauce)
• Salt & Pepper
• oil or butter

How to Make Duck Burger 

I chopped the partially frozen duck breasts and bacon and mixed them together at an 80/20 ratio before running the mix through the meat grinder.  A food scale is the most efficient way to accomplish this, but to put in a clearer perspective: A limit of Mallards in Tennessee (4, with no more than 2 being female) would be mixed with approximately 1/3 lbs. of bacon and can feed two hungry couples and a really hungry seven-year-old! If you’re a “bacon makes everything even better” person then, by all means, do your thing and alter the ratio as you see fit!

How to Make Duck Sliders

Form the ground meat into patties that are just a bit larger than the rolls. Place the oil or butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Dice the jalapeno (seeds removed) and onions. Sauté them in skillet until they reach your likeness. Set the sautéed veggies to the side. Add the slider patties to the skillet and cook to medium-well, or however you like your burgers prepared. Place the patty on the bottom half of the toasted roll and top it with the sautéed jalapenos and onions before drizzling raspberry chipotle sauce over the top. Spread the cheese on the top half and combine the halves to form the slider.

Tips for Tasty Duck Sliders

There are two key things to keep in mind when making these duck sliders:

1. As with any other grinding process, you want to keep everything cold. I mean really cold.  I put all of my grinder components in the freezer for about thirty minutes prior to processing any meat.  I even have the bowl that the ground meat falls into in there. It also helps to have the meat partially frozen as well.  
2. Toast those buns! Buns have the ability to take your burgers to the next level.  For these duck sliders, place the halved Hawaiian roll face down in the skillet until its crisped and golden brown.  This will add warmth, texture, and even more flavor. 

Duck Popper Sliders

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Ingredients

• 8 Duck breasts
• 1/3 lbs. Bacon
• 4 Jalapeno peppers
• 1 onion
• 1 tbsp oil or butter
• 1 tbsp of soft cheese (goat cheese, brie, cream cheese, etc.)
• Hawaiian rolls
• Fischer & Wiser Roasted Raspberry Chipotle Sauce (or comparable sauce)
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Patty the ground meat into 2-ounce patties that are just a bit larger than the rolls.
2. Place one tablespoon of oil or butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Dice the jalapeno (seeds removed) and onions. Sauté in skillet until they reach your likeness.
3. Remove the vegetables from skillet, leaving them in a serving bowl to the side. Add the slider patties to the skillet and cook to medium-well, or however you like your burgers prepared.
4. Using the same skillet, toast the inside of Hawaiian rolls. This leaves the top of the bun soft with a warm crisp inside.
5. Place the patty on the bottom half of the roll and top it with the sautéed jalapenos and onions (1-2 tbsp) before drizzling raspberry chipotle sauce over the top. Spread the cheese on the top half and combine the halves to form the slider.
6. Enjoy your Duck Popper Sliders!