Best Smoky Bacon Burgers Recipes

SMOKY BACON BURGERS

Steps:

• Combine the ground beef, onion, egg yolk, salt, pepper, and liquid smoke in a medium bowl and mix well.
• The mixture should be soft, yet hold its shape.
• Add up to 1/2 cup bread crumbs if mixture will not come together.
• Mix with your hands-- like a man should!
• Feel free to add small amounts of any other seasonings you think would add to the flavor.
• I like to add a bit of minced garlic, seasoned salt, cayenne, etc.
• Have fun with it.
• Divide the mixture into four equal portions and form into patties that are about the diameter of the buns you'll be using.
• This should make them fairly thin and large.
• Wrap a slice of bacon around the center of each patty and secure with toothpicks.
• Chill in refrigerator at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours to chill and firm up the patties.
• Bring patties up to room temperature while preparing a hot fire in grill.
• Throw on a few water-logged mesquite wood chunks and grill the burgers to your liking, removing the toothpicks before turning over.
• While the burgers are on the grill, lightly toast the buns under the broiler or on the grill.
• Be sure you have the large hamburger buns, not those puny ones like you see in McDonald's happy meals.
• You're making man-sized burgers here!
• Place the hamburger patties, buns, tomatoes, lettuce, and anything else you want to use to build your burger, on individual plates and let each person make their own.
• These burgers go great with potato chips, macaroni salad, baked beans, and corn on the cob for a fantastic Summer meal.
• A chocolate pudding or slice of cream pie makes a great dessert.
• This recipe can be doubled or tripled or whatever to serve as many as you need.
• Enjoy!

THE ULTIMATE BLT BURGERS WITH HONEY MOLASSES-GLAZED BACON, GRILLED LETTUCE, AND SMOKY TOMATO MAYO

Steps:

• Preheat a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Roughly chop 6 of the bacon slices, and add to the grill pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon just barely begins to turn crispy, about for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cooked bacon to a food processor and process for 4 to 5 seconds. Set aside for later use, (in the patties).
• Honey Molasses-Glazed Bacon:
• In a small mixing bowl combine the honey, molasses, vinegar, and cayenne and mix until well combined. Brush the remaining 12 bacon slices on both sides with the honey mixture. Heat a large fireproof nonstick skillet on the grill. Add 1/2 the bacon and cook over medium-high heat until crispy, about 5 minutes, flipping once. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining bacon.
• To make Grilled Lettuce: Soak the radicchio leaves, for about 10 minutes, in an ice bath to lessen the amount of bitterness. Remove the leaves from the ice bath and pat dry with paper towels. Brush the leaves with 1 tablespoon oil. Put on the grill and cook briefly on each side. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into 1-inch wide strips. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil, the sherry vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Add the radicchio and toss to coat.
• Smoky Tomato Mayo: Put the tomato on the grill and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until most of the skin has blackened. Transfer to a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap. After 10 minutes, squeeze the tomato into a strainer to remove the seeds and most of the skin (you can leave a little bit of the burnt skin). Discard the seeds and skin. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the tomato, smoked paprika, garlic, and mayonnaise and puree. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Patties: Combine the beef, reserved bacon (that has been chopped in the food processor), tarragon, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well, handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form into patties to fit the size of the buns.
• Brush the grill pan with vegetable oil. Arrange the patties in the pan and cook, turning once, just until done, about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. During the last few minutes of cooking, top with equal amounts of cheese and put the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the grill to toast lightly.
• To assemble the burgers, spread a generous amount of the Smoky Tomato Mayo on the cut side of the buns. Top the bun bottoms with 2 slices of Honey Molasses-Glazed Bacon, a cheese-topped patty, and equal amounts of Grilled Lettuce. Cover with the bun tops and serve.

SMOKY APPLEWOOD BACON BURGERS

Steps:

• MIX ground beef and Seasoning Mix until well blended. Shape into 4 patties.
• GRILL over medium heat 4 to 6 minutes per side or until burgers are cooked through (internal temperature of 160ºF). Grill onion in grill basket or grill rack 3 minutes or until tender and lightly browned, stirring frequently. Add cheese slices to burgers 1 minute before cooking is completed. Toast rolls on the grill, open-side down, about 30 seconds or until golden.
• SERVE burgers on toasted rolls with bacon and grilled onions.