Never get drive-thru food again when you can get a delicious, indulgent bacon cheeseburger right at home!
I’m not going to lie, reader: cheeseburgers are my favorite food. I think something is comforting in them from times when I was grilling with my grandparents on the weekends, but even a classic diner-style burger or a fast-food fix does the trick for me. It’s an indulgent craving that I sit on and patiently wait for my cheat day to come around so that I can gorge myself on a beautifully stacked burger. That’s why, when it’s time for me to satisfy that bacon cheeseburger craving, I don’t settle for anything less than the very best.
This bacon cheeseburger easily tops the list of burgers I’ve eaten (I’m unsure whether or not to be proud to say, but it’s an extensive list), but it’s probably because I make it every time! When you’re getting a cheeseburger from a diner, you may be satisfied, but their recipe is theirs. If you’re swinging through a drive-thru to get your fix, you’re getting an inherently inferior version of an otherwise heavenly experience in favor of something quick and convenient. No, there’s something distinctly special about the food you make for yourself: you know what you want more than anybody else!
When I make my bacon cheeseburger, I get to pick the fat ratio in my ground meat, I get to pick the toppings that go with it, I get to pick the amount of condiment I drizzle over the top, and I get to pick the bun! From the ground up, I get to construct the perfect burger just for me, and, can I just say, there’s nothing nicer than a scrumptious meal tailor-made for your hunger! About as perfect as it can get, make your next bacon cheeseburger rather than buy it with our simple yet oh-so-meaningful recipe!
Have It Your Way
How do you like your burgers? I personally love a bacon cheeseburger that’s loaded with vegetables like sliced tomatoes, grilled mushrooms, a ring of red onion, some sour pickles, and a hefty leaf of lettuce. Then, I make sure to decorate my creation with mayonnaise and classic yellow mustard to create a perfectly balanced (in my opinion) sandwich with every flavor from creamy to sharp, from meaty to crisp. That said, there are loads of different burgers you can make that’ll satisfy your unique cravings, from Mediterranean-inspired pita burgers to black bean sliders. Try out some of these variations of our bacon cheeseburger recipe to suit your appetite!
Incorporate some pickled vegetables, some jalapeño slices, and lime into a burger mixed with finely chopped cilantro, and you can have yourself a banh mi-inspired burger that’ll taste like the refreshing baguette sandwich of Vietnam. Or swap out ground beef for ground or pulled pork, tomato for a pineapple ring, and ketchup for some teriyaki sauce for a punch of Hawaiian flavor that’ll taste like a luau in Maui. Substitute lettuce for spinach and substitute American cheese for stuffing your burger patties with delicious feta to savor a scrumptious Mediterranean flair. If you’re looking for something simpler, recreate a restaurant favorite with In-And-Out’s mustard smash burgers—just smash your ground beef on your skillet with some mustard for that familiar taste and mouthfeel!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 4 slices American cheese
- 8 slices bacon
- 4 hamburger buns
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 4 lettuce leaves
- 1 tomato, sliced
- Mayonnaise
- Ketchup (optional)
How to Make Bacon Cheeseburger
Step 1: Preheat your grill or skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 2: Season the ground beef with salt and pepper, then divide into 4 equal portions. Form each portion into a patty slightly larger than your buns.
Step 3: Place the bacon slices on the grill or skillet. Cook until crispy, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Step 4: Grill or cook the patties for about 4 minutes on one side. Flip the patties, add a slice of cheese to each, and cook for another 3-4 minutes for medium doneness.
Step 5: While the patties cook, toast the hamburger buns cut-side down on the grill or skillet until lightly toasted, about 1 minute.
Step 6: To assemble, spread mayonnaise on the bottom buns. Add a lettuce leaf, a slice of tomato, a cheese-topped patty, and two slices of bacon. Add ketchup if using, then cover with the top bun.
Step 7: Serve immediately.
FAQs & Tips
How to Make Ahead and Store?
Bacon cheeseburgers taste best when they’re hot and fresh; however, if you’ve got leftovers that need to be stored away or expect to indulge yourself again later on, you can wrap your finished burgers in foil and keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you want to reheat your bacon cheeseburgers, unwrap your sandwich and briefly bake it in your air fryer or oven, or cover it with a wet paper towel and microwave it until hot.
What Difference Does the Fat Ratio Make?
We recommend using ground beef with an 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio for our bacon cheeseburgers, but you can go for a leaner ground chuck if you’re trying to reduce the amount of fat in your final sandwich (which is understandable, given the slices of bacon also included). Or, if you’re looking to really indulge in some tasty goodness, opt for a higher fat-content ground meat and savor the flavor.
Should I Sauce The Top Or Bottom Of My Burger?
The arrangement of your ingredients in any sandwich might seem innocuous, but the fact is that the order in which you assemble your toppings dictates the structural integrity of your bacon cheeseburger! I always advise that you put your lettuce on the bottom of the burger itself (to catch any drippings and salvage the bottom bun from getting soggy), then your meats, and then other vegetable toppings. I suggest putting your condiments on the top bun and then placing the bun to finish your sandwich assembly.
Serving Suggestions
What goes best with a bacon cheeseburger? That depends on who you ask! Do you think fries are the quintessential couple for a good bacon cheeseburger? Go ahead and plate yours with classic French fries (or asparagus fries for a healthier alternative)! Do you think the best addition to a bacon cheeseburger is more bacon? We’ve got you covered with bacon chili cheese fries, and spicy corn and bacon macaroni! If you’re looking for something a little healthier to compensate for your indulgent bacon cheeseburger cravings, I typically pair mine with stuffed poblano peppers or grilled artichokes. The point, though, is that your perfect burger is made exactly how you like it — so, too, should its sides!
Bacon Cheeseburger
Ingredients Â
- 1 pound ground beef 80/20 lean to fat ratio
- 4 slices American cheese
- 8 slices bacon
- 4 hamburger buns
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 4 lettuce leaves
- 1 tomato sliced
- Mayonnaise
- Ketchup optional
InstructionsÂ
- Preheat your grill or skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the ground beef with salt and pepper, then divide into 4 equal portions. Form each portion into a patty slightly larger than your buns.
- Place the bacon slices on the grill or skillet. Cook until crispy, about 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Grill or cook the patties for about 4 minutes on one side. Flip the patties, add a slice of cheese to each, and cook for another 3-4 minutes for medium doneness.
- While the patties cook, toast the hamburger buns cut side down on the grill or skillet until lightly toasted, about 1 minute.
- To assemble, spread mayonnaise on the bottom buns. Add a lettuce leaf, a slice of tomato, a cheese-topped patty, and two slices of bacon. Add ketchup if using, then cover with the top bun.
- Serve immediately.
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