Copycat Chili’s Santa Fe Burger Sliders

If you’ve ever had the Santa Fe Burger at Chili’s, you know it’s all about that smoky, tangy sauce paired with fresh toppings. But restaurant versions are often loaded with seed oils and preservatives. My Copycat Chili’s Santa Fe Burger Sliders take that iconic flavor and give it a ‘Good Stuff’ clean ingredient makeover.

Using my signature sheet-pan ‘Big Patty’ method, we pile these high with fresh guacamole, cilantro, and a homemade Santa Fe sauce that is completely soy-free and naturally sweetened. It’s the perfect easy weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer that actually uses real-food ingredients.

The “Good Stuff” Ingredient Swaps

• The Buns: Standard buns often contain dough conditioners. I prefer my Homemade Hawaiian Slider Buns or an Organic Brioche Bun (check for unbleached flour and real honey!).
• The Pickles: Look for Dye-Free Pickles (like Woodstock or Bubbie’s) to avoid Yellow 5.
• The Clean Ingredient Chili’s Santa Fe Sauce: Fast-food sauces are loaded with soybean oil. My clean version swaps that with an avocado oil mayo.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Santa Fe Sliders

Step 1: The “Big Patty” Method

Press 1½ lbs of ground beef into a 9×13 baking dish. Season generously with steak seasoning (or salt, pepper, and garlic). Press it down evenly to fill the entire pan.

Note: The meat will shrink slightly as it cooks-this is totally normal!

Step 2: The First Bake

Bake the beef at 425°F for 15 minutes. Let it sit for a minute to reabsorb the juices, then carefully drain off the remaining grease. While the patty is baking, combine the ingredients for the Santa Fe Sauce and the Buttery Glaze ingredients.

Step 3: Assemble & Melt

Slice your slider buns in half horizontally. Place the bottom buns in a pan, the beef patty, and a layer of cheddar or pepper jack cheese. Top with the other half of the buns. Brush on the butter glaze. Bake at 350°F for 15–20 minutes until golden.

Step 4: The “Santa Fe” Finish

Once baked, lift the top “sheet” of buns. Layer on your choice of:

• Jalapenos
• Tomatoes
• Guacamole– I have a quick homemade guac recipe that we love!
• Diced Red Onions
• Pickles
• Cilantro
• The Copycat Santa Fe Sauce (See recipe below!)

The Clean Copycat Chili’s Santa Fe Sauce

Mix these together in a small bowl while the burgers bake:

• 2/3 cup avocado oil mayonnaise or homemade mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika- I like to use smoked paprika
• 1 tsp onion powder
• salt & pepper, to taste

Party FAQ & Expert Tips

Try out our other slider recipe:

• Easy Oven-Baked Cheeseburger Sliders

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Copycat Santa Fe Burger Sliders

Yield: 12-15 sliders

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

A clean-ingredient take on the restaurant classic! These sheet-pan sliders feature a smoky, lime-infused Santa Fe sauce, creamy guacamole, and fresh toppings. No seed oils, no food dyes—just bold, southwestern flavor made simple for the whole family.

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Ingredients

The Sliders

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• 1½ lbs ground beef
• 2 tbsp Steak Seasoning (or garlic powder, pepper & salt)
• 12-15 Slider buns
• 12-15 slices cheddar cheese or pepperjack

Buttery Glaze

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• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 3 tsp worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp honey

The Santa Fe Toppings- Your choice of:

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• 1/4 cup Jalapenos
• 1/4 cups Tomatoes
• 1/2 cup Guacamole
• 1/4 cup Diced Red Onions
• 1/4 cup Pickles
• Fresh chopped cilantro

Clean Copycat Chili's Santa Fe Sauce

Toggle ingredient group

• 2/3 cup avocado oil mayonnaise or homemade mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika- I like to use smoked paprika
• 1 tsp onion powder
• salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Prep the Beef: Preheat oven to 425°F. Press the ground beef into an even layer in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Season generously with steak seasoning.
2. Bake the Patty: Bake for 15 minutes. Carefully drain off the excess grease and set the beef patty aside to rest.
3. Prepare the Sauce & Glaze: While the beef cooks, whisk all Special Sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside in the fridge. Also whisk together everything in the buttery glaze.
4. Assemble for Melting: Reduce oven heat to 350°F. Slice the slider buns horizontally. Place the bottom buns in a baking pan. Add the beef patty, and a layer of cheese.
5. The Bun Bake: Place the top buns on. Brush with melted butter glaze and sprinkle. Bake for 15–20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the buns are golden brown.
6. The Final Build: Carefully lift the top layer of buns and the patties, drizzle the bottom buns with the santa fe sauce, put the patty back on and spread with guacamole. Top with your choice of:

Jalapeños
Tomatoes
Guacamole
Diced Red Onions
Pickles
Cilantro. Replace the top buns.
7. Serve: Slice into individual sliders and enjoy hot!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 236Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 332mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 13g

Nutrition information is calculated automatically as a courtesy and is an estimate only. Accuracy is not guaranteed as values can vary based on specific brands and preparation methods used.

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