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5.0 from 1 vote

These Waffle Fry Wagyu Sliders are my take on the ultimate bite-sized burger — crispy waffle fries stacked with juicy Wagyu beef, melted cheese, and a dollop of garlicky aioli. They’re fun to make, seriously delicious, and always a hit for game days or parties.

For this version, I’m using store-bought frozen waffle fries for convenience — they air fry beautifully and save a ton of time and cleanup. But if you want to make your own from scratch, you’ll just need a crinkle cutter and a few large russet potatoes. Wash the potatoes, slice them with the crinkle cutter, and rotate each cut 90 degrees to create that signature waffle pattern. Soak them in water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch, pat them dry, and then deep fry until golden and crispy.

Now, let’s talk about the Wagyu ground beef. While the name “Wagyu” might instantly make you think of A5 Wagyu — that ultra-premium, $100–$150 per pound steak — Wagyu ground beef is actually very affordable. I found it locally for around $10 per pound, which is a steal considering the flavor you get. It’s usually a blend of Wagyu and American beef, so you still get that rich, buttery taste Wagyu is known for, but at a fraction of the price.

If these sliders were made with pure A5 Wagyu, you’d be looking at $200 sliders, no joke. But this ground blend makes it accessible and just as flavorful. You can absolutely use regular ground beef instead — even a leaner 90/10 blend if you want to make them a bit lighter.

When you’re forming the patties, don’t stress about making them all the same size. Waffle fries come in all shapes and sizes, so your patties don’t have to be uniform either. Some will fit smaller fries, others will fit larger ones — it all balances out once you start stacking everything together.

And while there’s cheese in this recipe, I’m using a dairy-free American cheese — it melts beautifully, has great flavor, and keeps the recipe fully dairy-free for anyone avoiding milk-based ingredients. Just make sure the waffle fries you’re using are also dairy-free, since some brands coat them in buttermilk or milk-based batter.

Once you’ve got your beef prepped and your fries cooked, everything comes together quickly — crisp bacon, fresh veggies, creamy aioli, and that first perfect stack that ties it all together. Let’s get into it.

Waffle Fry Wagyu Sliders

Recipe by Caleb

5.0 from 1 vote

Course: Appetizers, Lunch, DinnerDifficulty: Beginner

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Total time

minutes

Ingredients

US Metric

1 lb 453.59 g Wagyu ground beef (makes 9 patties)
1 tsp 4.93 ml burger seasoning
3 slices 3 American cheese, cut into quarters
9 slices 9 bacon, cooked until crispy
1 Bag 1 Bag Waffle fries (use 18 full size fries)
9 9 lettuce leaves
2-3 2-3 tomatoes (about 9 slices)
1 1 Red onion (about 9 slices)
9 9 Pickle chips
9 9 Cocktail skewer (for serving)
1/2 cup 118.29 ml mayo
1 tbsp 14.79 ml olive oil
1 1 garlic clove, minced or finely grated
1 tsp 4.93 ml lemon juice
Pinch salt
Pinch black pepper

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Chill for at least 15–20 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Cook the waffle fries: Air Fryer – Cook at 400°F for 10–13 minutes, flipping or shaking halfway through, until golden and crispy.
Oven – Bake at 450°F for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Cook the bacon in a skillet or on a griddle until crispy. Drain on paper towels and cut slices in half if needed to fit the sliders.
Mix the Wagyu beef with burger seasoning until just combined. Form 9 small patties, each just under 2 ounces.
Grill or pan-sear over medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes per side. Near the end, top each patty with American cheese and let it melt.
Assemble the sliders by starting with one waffle fry as the base
Add a lettuce leaf, tomato slice, and red onion slice.
Place a Wagyu patty with melted cheese on top.
Add a piece of bacon and a pickle chip.
Finish with a small dollop of garlic aioli.
Cap with another waffle fry and secure with a cocktail skewer. Serve immediately