BARBECUE CHEESEBURGERS

Barbecue Cheeseburgers image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

For the barbecue sauce:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
3/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup apricot preserves
3 tablespoons yellow mustard
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
For the burgers:
2 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 red onion, sliced into rings
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 slices monterey jack or pepper jack cheese
6 sesame seed hamburger buns, split
2 avocados, sliced

Steps:

Make the barbecue sauce: Heat the vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the chili powder and cook, stirring, until toasted, about 1 minute. Stir in the ketchup, preserves, mustard, vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth; let cool to room temperature.
Make the burgers: Combine the ground beef and 3 tablespoons of the prepared barbecue sauce in a bowl; mix with your hands until just combined. Form the meat into six 1/2-inch-thick patties; season both sides with salt and pepper.
Preheat a grill to medium. Toss the onion with 1 tablespoon of the barbecue sauce and the vegetable oil. Grill (use a grill basket if you have one), turning occasionally, until lightly charred, about 8 minutes.
Transfer 1/2 cup of the remaining barbecue sauce to a separate bowl for brushing. Increase the grill temperature to medium high and grill the patties, brushing with the barbecue sauce and flipping occasionally, about 8 minutes for medium rare; top with the cheese during the last minute and cover to melt. Toast the buns on the grill. Serve the burgers on the buns; top with the grilled onions, avocado slices and more barbecue sauce.