This cheeseburger has every component you could ask for! Between two toasted brioche buns is a perfectly seasoned burger patty, sharp cheddar cheese, sweet thick-cut bacon, crispy fried onion strings, and bbq aioli with all the fresh fixin's.
Let's get into all of these components! First, the brioche buns are sweet and fluffy. Next, the burger patty is perfectly seasoned with garlic, onion powder, and a blend of smoked paprika and sweet paprika. The sharp cheddar cheese balances out the rich beef flavor. Some texture is added with freshly fried thin onion strings. Then, of course, bacon is on there because, duh! Barbecue and bacon just go together. Lastly, the bbq aioli is creamy and tangy, meshing all the layers together into the ultimate bite.
These cheeseburgers are perfect for a day by the pool or a gathering outside. Although there are a lot of elements, it doesn't take long to come together. So when you're grilling for memorial day, pull this recipe out and impress your family and friends.
BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger
Ingredients
BBQ Aioli
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
Fried Onion Strings
- 1 sweet onion thinly sliced
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- Frying oil
Burger Patty
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
Burger Toppings
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Bacon
Instructions
- Firstly, prepare the bbq aioli. In a small bowl, combine the barbecue sauce and mayonnaise. Set in the fridge until ready to serve.
- In a large bowl, combine the burger seasonings with the ground beef. Gently form into six ½ inch thick patties that are a little bigger than the size of your buns. Cover and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the thinly sliced onions. Cover onions with buttermilk and toss. Let sit for 10 minutes to marinate. While the onion marinates, in another bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, and celery salt. In a large pan or pot, add enough oil to cover the bottom 2 inches of the pan. Heat to 375 degrees. Working in batches, remove the onions from the buttermilk, drop into the flour mixture, and toss, then carefully drop into the hot oil. Fry for about 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove and place on a paper towel-lined pan to absorb the excess oil.
- If grilling, heat the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side. If pan searing, heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add one tablespoon of olive oil and swirl around the pan—Cook for about 5 minutes on each side. Near the end of cooking the second side, add the cheese over the patties and let it melt.
- Remove the patties from the pan or grill and place the buns cut side down. Toast for 1-2 minutes or until golden.
- Now it's time to assemble the cheeseburger! On top of the toasted bottom bun, add lettuce and sliced tomato. Then add two slices of bacon. Over the bacon, place the burger patty with the melted cheese and a handful of crispy onion strings on the toasted side of the top cut bun, spread bbq aioli, and place on top.
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