Western BBQ Burger
Juicy ground beef patties topped with crispy bacon, melted cheddar, and tangy BBQ sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes—a satisfying weeknight burger that tastes like a backyard cookout.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 680
- Protein
- 38g
Ingredients
- ½ lb ground beef, 80/20 blend
- 4 strips bacon strips
- 2 slices cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- 2 buns burger buns
- 4 leaves lettuce leaves
- ½ tomato tomato
- 1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1
Place the bacon strips flat in a large skillet and set the heat to medium-high; cook, stirring once every 30 seconds, until the edges turn dark brown and crispy, about 8 minutes.
- 2
Remove the bacon to a clean plate and set aside; leave 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat in the skillet.
- 3
Divide the ground beef into 2 equal portions and gently shape each into a ball; press each ball flat into a patty roughly the size of your bun and about 0.75 inches thick, with a shallow indent pressed into the center with your thumb.
- 4
Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly on both sides of each patty.
- 5
Tear the tomato in half lengthwise and slice each half into 2 thick slices; set aside.
- 6
Place the skillet (with bacon fat) back over medium-high heat until the fat shimmers and slides quickly when you tilt the pan, about 30 seconds.
- 7
Gently lay each patty in the hot skillet; do not press or move them for 3 minutes, so a golden crust forms on the bottom.
- 8
Flip each patty using a wide spatula and cook for 2 more minutes on the other side, until the second side turns the color of warm honey.
- 9
Lay 1 slice of cheddar cheese on top of each cooked patty and turn the heat to low; cover the skillet loosely with foil or a lid and wait 45 seconds until the cheese turns glossy and soft.
- 10
Transfer each patty to a bun, placing the melted cheese side facing up.
- 11
Drizzle 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce directly onto the melted cheese on each patty.
- 12
Layer 2 lettuce leaves, then 2 tomato slices, then 2 pieces of bacon broken into smaller bits on top of each burger.
- 13
Press the top bun gently onto the filling and serve immediately.
Tools you’ll need
- 12-inch skillet or cast iron pan
- wide spatula
- knife and cutting board
- foil or lid
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