Best Apple Butter Barbecue Burgers Recipes

Summer is synonymous with barbecue season, and there's nothing quite like biting into a juicy, flavorful burger hot off the grill. But why settle for a plain old burger when you can kick things up a notch with some delicious apple butter barbecue sauce? This sweet and smoky sauce adds a depth of flavor that takes your burger from ordinary to extraordinary. Read on to learn more about apple butter barbecue burgers recipes.

What is Apple Butter?

Before we dive into the recipe, let's first talk about the star ingredient: apple butter. Apple butter is a thick, spiced spread that's made by cooking down apples with sugar and spices until it reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency. It's often used as a spread on toast or as a topping for pancakes, but it can also be used in cooking and baking to add a delicious apple flavor. In this recipe, we use apple butter as the base for our barbecue sauce.

The Burger Patties

Of course, no burger is complete without a juicy, flavorful patty. For this recipe, we recommend using ground beef that's around 80% lean and 20% fat. This will help keep the burgers moist and juicy while cooking. To add some extra flavor, you can mix in some finely diced onions or garlic into the beef before forming the patties. Be sure to season the patties with salt and pepper on both sides before cooking.

The Apple Butter Barbecue Sauce

The real star of this recipe is the apple butter barbecue sauce. To make the sauce, you'll need the following ingredients:

• 1 cup apple butter
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

To make the sauce, simply whisk together all the ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking. If you prefer a spicier sauce, you can add some cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the mix.

Cooking the Burgers

Once your patties are formed and your sauce is made, it's time to grill up those burgers. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Place the burger patties on the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they're cooked to your desired level of doneness. During the last minute of cooking, brush the patties generously with the apple butter barbecue sauce. Don't be afraid to add extra sauce if you like your burgers extra saucy.

Serving Suggestions

Once your burgers are cooked to perfection, it's time to assemble your burger. Place the cooked patties on a toasted bun and top with your favorite burger toppings. We recommend some crispy bacon, sliced red onions, and a handful of fresh arugula for some peppery flavor. Don't forget to drizzle some extra apple butter barbecue sauce on top for good measure.

Conclusion

Apple butter barbecue burgers are the perfect dish for summer barbecues, but they're also delicious any time of year. With a sweet and smoky sauce and juicy, flavorful patties, these burgers are sure to be a hit with everyone. Give these apple butter barbecue burgers a try at your next cookout and watch as your guests rave about them.

Valuable Tips When Making Apple Butter Barbecue Burgers Recipes

When it comes to summer barbecuing, burgers are the go-to meal for many households. Burgers are versatile, easy to cook, and everyone enjoys them. However, have you ever thought about making apple butter barbecue burgers? The combination of the smoky, savory meat and the sweetness of apple butter is sure to please anyone's palate. Here are some valuable tips when making these burgers.

Choose the Right Meat

When it comes to burgers, the type of meat you choose is critical to the success of your dish. Although most people use beef for burgers, combining beef and pork can add a unique flavor that will enhance the apple butter barbecue burgers. Additionally, people who prefer lean meat should avoid using too-lean beef or turkey meat as it may result in dry burgers.

Season the Meat

Seasoning is one of the most critical steps when making burgers. Without adequate seasoning, your meat will taste bland and unappetizing. When preparing apple butter barbecue burgers, you should consider using both dry and wet rub. A good dry rub should contain salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder while a wet rub should contain apple cider vinegar and honey.

Add Apple Butter

Apple butter is the star of this recipe, so it's essential to add it to the burgers. The apple butter adds sweetness and depth to the burgers, creating a delicious flavor. You can add apple butter to the meat mixture or add it to the top of the burgers after grilling them. Use around 1-2 tablespoons of apple butter per burger patty.

Grill the Burgers

Grilling is the best method of cooking apple butter barbecue burgers because it adds an authentic smoky flavor that complements the apple butter's sweetness. When grilling, you should preheat your grill to medium-high heat, place the patties on the grates, and grill each side for about 4-6 minutes, depending on how well-done you like your burgers.

Add Extra Toppings

Adding toppings to your apple butter barbecue burgers can make them even more delicious. Some toppings that go well with these burgers include crispy bacon, grilled onions, cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce, and avocado. You can also use brioche buns or pretzel buns to make your burgers even more unique.

Let the Burgers Rest

After grilling your apple butter barbecue burgers, it's essential to let them rest for at least five minutes. This step allows the meat's juices to redistribute evenly, creating a juicy, tender burger.

Experiment with Different Sauces

Although the apple butter adds enough sweetness to the burgers, you can experiment with different sauces to create a unique flavor. Some sauces that go well with apple butter barbecue burgers include mustard sauce, chipotle sauce, sriracha mayo, and garlic aioli.

Grill Over Charcoal

Grilling over charcoal adds a deep smokiness to the burgers that you can't achieve with a gas grill. Charcoal also creates a crust on the burgers that enhances their flavor. If you have never grilled over charcoal before, it's worth giving it a try, and you'll be pleasantly surprised by how much better your burgers taste.

Keep the Burgers Moist

No one likes a dry burger, so it's crucial to keep the burgers moist when cooking them. One way of doing this is to use high-fat meat like chuck steak, which adds flavors and helps to keep the burgers juicy. It's also essential to avoid overcooking the burgers, especially if you're using lean meat.

Cook Outdoors

Although you can cook apple butter barbecue burgers indoors, nothing beats cooking them outdoors. Outdoor cooking allows you to enjoy the beautiful weather while cooking, creating an enjoyable experience that everyone will remember. Additionally, cooking outdoors adds a smokiness to the meat that can't be replicated indoors.

Let Your Meat Rest Before Cooking

If you've just taken your meat out of the fridge, it's essential to let it rest for at least 30 minutes before you start cooking. This step allows the meat to come to room temperature, reducing cooking time and giving you better control over the cooking process. In conclusion, apple butter barbecue burgers are a unique twist on the traditional burger, and they are sure to be a hit with everyone. When preparing these burgers, it's essential to choose the right meat, season it adequately, add apple butter, grill the burgers, add toppings, experiment with sauces, grill over charcoal, keep the burgers moist, cook outdoors, and let your meat rest before cooking. With these tips, you can create the perfect apple butter barbecue burgers that everyone will enjoy.