Mr. Crumby’s Kitchen: Bacon Bleu Cheese Sliders

Bacon Bleu Cheese Sliders are one of the best things to come out of Mr. Crumby’s Kitchen! Four-bite burgers, packed with bacon, seasoning, and just the right amount of bleu cheese. Even the bleu haters will love them!

It’s the mooooost wonderful tiiiiiime of the yeeeeear…

And no, those aren’t jingle bells you’re hearing in the background – they’re referee whistles!

Yep, football season has returned!!

In foodie terms, it’s time to crank out new and delicious tailgating recipes to feed the hungry crowds!

To kickoff the season (watch out for falling puns,) I pulled Mr. Crumby in from the sidelines, and we teamed up to tackle this touchdown of a snack (or appetizer, or meal) – converted one of his favorite burgers into these Bacon Bleu Cheese Sliders, and they are the perfect match for some Gallo Family Merlot!

Tailgating: it’s a term I’m fairly familiar with, and a pastime I adore!

I remember the first football game I ever attended, and while I couldn’t understand most of what was going on, I was so happy to join the crowd in their joys and disappointments. As I went to more games, the mechanics began to make sense.

Eventually, every Friday night became football night.

When most people think football, beer comes to mind, right? It’s a great match with most food, and is super convenient – a cold bottle or icy can being enjoyed, no need to worry about cleaning glasses or hassling with red cups.

But what about the football fans out there who aren’t huge brewsky fans (you know you’re out there!), and prefer a nice warm red or crisp white wine with their burgers and hot dogs?

Gallo has you folks covered, and makes it so easy to stay away from using glasses with their mini wine bottles!

As you know, my hubby is an excellent chef, and I’m excited to share his best dishes with you in the Mr. Crumby’s Kitchen series. When the opportunity arose to pair one of my favorite wines with tailgating food for this week’s #SundaySupper, I knew he would have a hand in the recipe.

As a butcher, he knows his meats, and just what to do with them to enhance and elevate them to restaurant-worthy dishes. These Bacon Bleu Cheese Sliders are no exception, and have become a meal I request pretty often since he perfected it a few months ago.

Your eyes do not deceive you.

I just said I ask for food with bleu cheese in it.

Me, the girl who hates everything about the moldy, penicillin-esque crumbles.

Don’t get me wrong, I still despise the stuff, but not when it’s in these burgers. Mr. Crumby swore to me that he got the ratio so spot-on, that even my bleu-hating self would love them, and he was absolutely right.

The sliders merely leave a hint of bleu cheese on your taste buds; there’s just enough mixed in them to help bind the meat together. It’s the bacon that’s the other star in these three-bite burgers, as it not only tops them, it’s also mixed into the beef.

Our core group of mutual friends get together every Sunday at our respective houses, where each person or couple hosts and cooks the main dish for the night in a round. While we often have to work on Sundays, we will very likely still show up afterwards, snacks in hand to share. Mr. Crumby loves making people happy with his food, and these sliders are guaranteed to do just that…even for bleu cheese-haters like me.

And as for the beer vs. wine tailgate debate, some football foods just taste better with something a little fruity and non-carbonated, and the flavors in these sliders will blow you away if you pair them with Gallo’s Merlot or Cabernet (my personal fave.) As the analogy goes…

Peanut Butter : Jelly :: Bacon Bleu Cheese Sliders : Gallo Family Wines

OK, so I clearly made that one up, but I promise it’s true! Give them a try and tell me what you think!

What’s your favorite tailgating food?

It’s time for a #SundaySupper virtual tailgate party! Hop by them all and see how else you can pair Gallo with football food!

Pre-Game Appetizers

• Buffalo Chicken Dip by Whole Food | Real Families
• Chicken Thigh Kabobs with Spiced Yogurt Dip by MealDiva
• Chorizo Queso Dip by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Chorizo Stuffed Mushrooms by Casa de Crews
• Hatch Chile Deviled Eggs by Shockingly Delicious
• Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
• Skillet Jalapeno Popper Dip by Life Tastes Good

Game Time Mains

• Al Capone Dog by Palatable Pastime
• Bacon Bleu Cheese Sliders by The Crumby Cupcake
• Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Quail by Flavor Mosaic
• Brat Burger by Curious Cuisiniere
• Brie Tomato and Quinoa by Family Foodie
• Crispy Chicken Wings by Feeding Big
• Crispy Maple Hot Wings by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
• Melty Turkey Cheese Sliders by Feed Me, Seymour
• Sticky Sweet and Sour Baby Back Ribs by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

The Victory Celebration

• Apple Crisp in a Jar by Desserts Required
• Caramel Apple Dip by Recipes Food and Cooking
• Double Crusted Apple Pie Galette by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Grandma’s Brownies by Alida’s Kitchen

Who says you have to be at the stadium to tailgate? Here are Five Easy Tailgate Food Tips plus Football Party Recipes #SundaySupper with Gallo Family Vineyards.

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect wine to go with your tailgating snacks, Gallo Family Vineyards has a handy store locator to help! They’re also full of great tailgating ideas, which you can find right here on their blog. While you’re educating yourself, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & YouTube for wine-spiration all year long!

ORDER OUR #1 BEST SELLER COOKBOOK!

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards.