Perfect Little Sliders

I've thought about posting a burger "recipe" for a while now, but these are one of my quick dinners, so I usually don't take the time to make them look cute and take pics. Today, since I was making these cute sliders, though, I decided to type up the recipe and post. Another reason I'm doing this is for those who are just starting out cooking, and who don't know that you need to flatten your patties pretty well before grilling, lest you end up with a chunky charred hunk of ground beef that doesn't fit the bun. I'm a fan of my patty fitting my bun, which will happen for you too, if you take the time to form your own patties and make them relatively flat (see pic at the end).
So, if you already know burger basics, this post may insult your intelligence. If you're new to cooking ground beef, I hope you find this helpful.

Burger Sliders

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef (I like the 85/15)
• burger seasoning*
• 8 dinner rolls, sliced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Onion Strings (optional)
• American cheese slices (optional)
• other hamburger toppings, if desired

Instructions:
Cut some wax paper into 4x4 or 4x5 pieces.
With a knife, roughly divide ground beef into 8 equal portions.
Roll each portion into a ball. Working with one ball of ground beef at a time, start flattening the ball in your hands, and then place onto a piece of waxed paper. Gently press the beef into a flat circle, about three inches or so in diameter and 1/2 inch thick. I usually make mine slightly thicker around the edges and when they cook, they'll end up relatively flat. Place on a plate or sheet pan to wait. Repeat with remaining balls.
Sprinkle patties with your favorite burger seasoning. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Preheat your grill to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit (or whichever temperature you like to grill burgers at). While grill preheats, lightly butter the cut sides of the buns and set aside. 
When grill is hot, carefully place patties on the grill surface, leaving about 1/2 inch between burgers. Close grill lid. Grill for about 3-4 minutes, or until edges are starting to set. Then flip burgers with a spatula to grill for another 2-3 minutes, or until burgers are done to your liking. 
Top with 1/2 slice of American cheese, if desired and grill with the lid down for 30 seconds, or until cheese is melted.
Remove patties to a plate. Place buns, buttered side down onto the grill. Close grill. After about 30-40 seconds, start checking for doneness. I like mine just toasted. Remove with spatula and serve with the patties and any toppings you like.
Makes 4 servings/8 sliders