What makes my ultimate cheeseburger recipe so delicious? Aside from the crispy bacon, mega-juicy burgers, and grilled onions, the secret is definitely in the homemade burger sauce. It is so good you'll want to put it on everything--chicken fingers, French fries...a spoon.
It's pretty much grilling weather year-round here in Charleston, so this burger is great any time of year. This recipe is from my cookbook, The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook.
If you'd like to check out more cheeseburger-inspired recipes, then I know you'll love these cheeseburger bowls or this grown-up mushroom Swiss burger.
Looking for sides to serve with this Cheddar bacon cheeseburger? My Oven Baked Onion Rings, blue cheese potato salad, tostones, and elote pasta salad are the perfect choices.
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Ingredients
Let's get started! First, gather these ingredients:
- Ground round
- Hamburger buns
- Cooked bacon
- Cheddar cheese slices
- Red onion slices
- Duke's mayonnaise
- Hickory barbecue sauce
- Yellow mustard
- Ketchup
- Paprika
- Garlic salt
- Worcestershire sauce
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Tomato slices
- Lettuce leaves
- Sandwich-sliced pickles
(See recipe card for quantities.)
Instructions
Here's how to make this recipe, step-by-step:
First, make the burger sauce.
Next, shape the patties.
Grill the burgers and red onion slices. Top each of the burger patties with a slice of cheese and let stand until melty.
Finally, assemble the burgers.
Hint: Before adding the burgers to the grill, let the grill preheat for 4 to 5 minutes. Then, use a grill brush to remove any leftover remnants from before.
Substitutions
Looking for an ingredient substitute to make this fit with your diet or what you have on hand? Check these out:
- Cheese - Instead of Cheddar cheese slices, use Swiss, Monterey Jack, crumbled blue cheese, or your other favorite cheese.
- Bun - Use gluten-free buns to make these bacon cheeseburgers gluten-free.
- Vegetarian - Use plant-based hamburger instead of ground round and omit the bacon.
Variations
Here are more ways to change up this recipe:
- Brunch Burger - Add an over easy egg to this burger for the ultimate bacon and egg burger.
- Southern-ified - Instead of sliced red tomato, add a fried green tomato. You can also spread pimiento cheese on top of the burger instead of Cheddar cheese slices.
- Avocado - Add slices of avocado for another texture and layer of flavor.
Equipment
Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:
- gas or charcoal grill
- mixing bowl set
- metal grill spatula
Storage
Store the ingredients separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to eat, reheat the burgers and bacon and assemble with your desired toppings.
These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.
Tasty tip
Make an indention in the center of each burger patty before grilling. This helps the burgers keep a uniform shape while cooking.
Frequently asked questions
The toppings for this ultimate cheeseburger recipe include crispy bacon, grilled red onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato, Cheddar cheese, and a smoky-sweet burger sauce.
This is a Cheddar bacon cheeseburger, and for me, the sharper the Cheddar, the better.
There are a few secrets to creating the best hamburger. First, all the ingredients should be cold so the fat doesn't run out of the burger. Second, don't overwork the meat mixture. Finally, for the juiciest burger, salt the patties just before grilling. Salt draws out moisture so if you salt the meat too early, the burgers will be tough and dry.
Aside from the answers to the previous question, I add Duke's mayonnaise to my burgers so they stay extra juicy during grilling.
This is a great question! Making an indention in the center of the burger patty before you grill it helps the patties stay uniform during cooking and prevents them from shrinking so much.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Even more
Check out some more of my most recent recipes:
🍽Get the recipe
The Ultimate Burger with Bacon and Cheddar Cheese
Equipment
- gas or charcoal grill
- mixing bowl set
- metal grill spatula
Ingredients
For the burger sauce:
- ½ cup Duke's mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon hickory bbq sauce
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon paprika
For the cheeseburgers:
- 2 pounds ground round
- ¼ cup Duke's mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 6 slices sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 6 hamburger buns
- 12 slices bacon, cooked until crisp
- Sandwich-sliced pickles
- Tomato slices
- Lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Make the burger sauce. Stir together the mayonnaise, bbq sauce, ketchup, mustard, and paprika in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve or up to 5 days.
- Make the burgers. Gently combine the ground round, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Shape the mixture into 6 (¾-inch-thick) beef patties.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill the patties for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until almost done. Place the cheese slices on the patties and let stand until melted.
- While the burgers cook, grill the red onion slices alongside for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until tender.
- To serve, spread the burger sauce on the bun bottoms. Top with the patties, bacon, pickles, tomato, red onion, and lettuce. Replace the bun tops and serve immediately.
Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:
- Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
- When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
- I tested this recipe using a gas grill. Keep in mind that your cook times may be different if using a different type of grill.
- When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
Food safety
Follow these food safety guidelines when making this ultimate cheeseburger recipe
- Cook the burgers to a minimum temperature of 160°F
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched the raw burgers
- Wash your hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave grilling food unattended
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas grill
James Carr says
awesome for grilling or cooking on a stove
AshleyFreeman says
Thanks James! So glad you liked it!
Vanessa says
Nothing like a great burger in the summer! These were excellent!
AshleyFreeman says
For sure! Glad they were a hit!
veenaazmanov says
A Homemade cheese Burger will definitely be delicious. I love the combination of sauces for this delicious Burger sauce. Surely a Happy Meal.
AshleyFreeman says
Happy Meal! I love that!
Ned says
Not only was this the ultimate burger, but it was FANTASTIC! I was the rockstar at our last BBQ. Thank you for this!
AshleyFreeman says
Yay! I'm so glad to hear that!
DK says
This really was the ultimate cheeseburger! And what made it extra awesome was the burger sauce - it was so tasty!
AshleyFreeman says
Yeah! I could eat that sauce on everything!
Beth says
This really is the ultimate burger! Burgers like these are what I live for. I never want a burger that doesn't require a knife and a fork!
AshleyFreeman says
I love that Beth!