How to Make Duck Popper Sliders

Duck season has come to an end across the country leaving behind memories of all the highs and lows of another 60 days of chasing waterfowl. Hopefully, you’re also left with plenty of ducks in the freezer for wild game dinners to come. If so, the Duck Popper Slider recipe from Cody Marshall of Wayfinder’s Galley is a must-try meal that you’ll want to add to the mix in the days ahead.

Here’s how to make it happen…

The Patties

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 it 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.

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. Salt and pepper to taste.
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 jalapeños 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!