The Best Bacon Cheeseburger

Home Grilled Bacon Cheeseburgers are a summer time staple, and always a welcomed dinner on those hot summer days. Hamburgers can be as simple or as loaded as you desire, and they have a wonderful versatility in how they can be dressed, making them a crowd friendly meal.

Our family favorite, no contest, is bacon cheeseburgers. The flavor of this famous combination of hamburger and bacon with cheese; adorned with lovely fresh vegetables, is unbeatable in our opinion. They can be enjoyed with the simple, traditional squeeze of only ketchup; or finished with your favorite combination of condiments and sauces.

Believe it or not, the flavor of burgers can vary quite a lot. Everything from the choice of beef patties and cheeses used, to the sauces, dressings, and the style of bun will change the flavor of the simplistic hamburger.

Bacon is one of the most famous and well loved additions to burgers, and brings a deep, smoky flavor that compliments the beef patties. Fresh or caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, tomato slices, and crisp lettuce are also common staples of the delicious cheeseburger.

What is a bacon cheeseburger made of?

A traditional bacon cheeseburger is made from a grilled seared beef patty, strips of crispy bacon, a slice or two of cheddar cheese, and perhaps a mess of caramelized onions. Traditional burgers do not have extra condiments like mayo or mustard; the only thing you may find on a classic burger made in the traditional way is a dollop of ketchup.

Where was the original bacon cheeseburger made?

Lansing, MI is the birthplace of this iconic combination. In 1963 the chairman of restaurant chain A&W, Dave Mulder, had the brilliant idea to add some bacon strips to a cheeseburger. The world never looked back and the tasty idea was quickly adopted by restaurants everywhere.

What is the best bun for burgers?

The selection of the bun is largely personal when building your burger. Most commonly you will see soft sesame seed buns, or simple plain buns in your grocery stores. But, these burger buns are very weak in texture and tend to fall apart easily making a mess of your experience. We are discussing some of our favorite bun options and why we love them.

Ciabatta rolls are a strong, Italian bun that has a thick crust which will hold all of your burger fixings, and however many beef patties you want to enjoy. The texture of these rolls is strong and hearty, so they will fill you up. Ciabatta also has a delicious flavor that brings the burger up a notch and lands it squarely in the class of ‘fancy burgers’.

Brioche buns are very similar to the strong texture of ciabatta, but they have a soft crumb that doesn’t require quite as much strength to chew. This is usually our families choice when making bacon cheeseburgers at home because they toast beautifully and hold together well.

Pretzel rolls are another delicious choice for a burger bun. The rich flavor and strong texture lends to a decadent burger with plenty of satisfying chew. The beautiful, stark colors of pretzel buns also create a show stopping burger.

More common options include potato rolls, onion rolls, and sweet yeasted dough buns. These options are easy to find, universally pleasing, and build a classic burger that everyone will love.

What is the best way to cook bacon for cheeseburger?

The key to a delicious bacon burger is a selection of good quality, crispy bacon strips. Organic, nitrate free, and thick cut are what you want to look for in bacon. The way the bacon is prepared will also lend itself to the flavor of your burger. Applewood smoked will be sweeter than a hickory smoked bacon, while a peppered bacon will add some extra spice.

The bacon needs to be fully cooked before adding to your burger patty as it is a finishing dressing. Cook the bacon in a skillet on your stove or grill top, and set it aside until the beef patties are cooked and ready to be assembled.

When the patties are fully cooked, place the strips of bacon over each patty along with a slice or two of cheese. Close the grill lid and allow the cheese to melt, you can also toast the buns at this point if you would like.

What are some of the best burger toppings?

The classic burger toppings of cheese, sliced tomato, and a leaf of lettuce are well loved and always a welcomed sight for burger building. But, some of the lesser known toppings can really make your bacon cheeseburger stand out and bring it into the class of extraordinary eats.

• Caramelized onions are a knockout topping on the grilling scene, and bring burgers into a decadent experience with rich flavor
• Avocado can be used as a creamy substitute to mayo and brings a scrumptious flavor that pairs well with bacon
• Pickles of all kinds will bring your burger into a complex flavor realm with pleasing crunch
• Jalapeno peppers and other chilis, both fresh and pickled, will add some heat
• Mustards like dijon, honey, whole grain and others can add a complex and vibrant layer of flavor
• Siracha sauces, homemade ‘big mac’ sauces, and mayo based dressings finish burgers with a creamy, spicy note
• BBQ sauces are always a popular choice for bacon burgers
• Red onions are wonderful to enjoy raw and will bring a noticeable flavor punch to your burger
• Grilled pineapple is a non traditional topping that you could add to your burger
• Getting creative with the cheese will change up your experience. Goat cheese, Swiss, smoked gouda, and manchego are a few delicious options to try
• Make it a breakfast style burger by adding a fried egg

What goes with a bacon cheeseburger?

Hamburgers are an American tradition; like apple pie and hot dogs. The delicious and decadent bbq scene has no shortage of scrumptious sides to choose from for your next cookout. Here are some of our favorite ideas.

• Classic American potato salad
• A fresh macaroni salad
• A scoop of melty mac n cheese
• Enjoy a hearty serving of loaded baked beans
• Sip a classic Moscow Mule
• Try some grilled peaches with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream for a classic summer dessert

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