Coney Island Sliders

Coney Island Sliders

1/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 medium yellow onion
2 medium Chile peppers (hot or mild) or 1 bell pepper
1 1/2 pounds 90 percent lean ground beef
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
12 whole-wheat dinner rolls

In a wide, shallow pot, combine 1/2 cup water, brown sugar, ketchup and chili powder. Stir well and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Meanwhile, thinly slice onion and peppers. Shape beef into 12 small patties. Heat oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high. Fry burgers in batches just until brown, about 1 minute per side. (If they fall apart a little, mix any loose meat into the sauce.) Move burgers to a plate. Add onions and peppers to skillet and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water to skillet and stir to scrape up any brown bits. Add onions and peppers to pot with sauce, then add burgers and replace lid. Simmer on low at least 20 minutes, up to 1 hour for best flavor. Serve on buns with plenty of sauce.