There are a lot of foods that go well with summer. Brownies, root beer floats, strawberry shortcake and hot dogs come to mind. But few foods can rival a juicy burger straight off the grill. Am I right?
To get the desired juiciness, use meat that is 80% lean. You might be tempted to buy something a little leaner. Resist the temptation and embrace the extra fat since that’s where the flavor comes from. You know what else gives burgers a lot of flavor? Bacon! Crumble a few strips into your meat along with a little Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper and you’ve got the makings of an amazing burger.
When it comes to the toppings, the sky’s the limit. We were inspired by another popular summer sandwich, the BLT, when we topped our burgers with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and more bacon. Oh, and we also added a little avocado since avocado makes everything a little better.
BLT Bacon Burgers
Ingredients
Burger
2 pounds 80% lean ground beef
6 strips bacon, crisp cooked and crumbled
4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Toppings
6 bakery style hamburger buns
1/2 cup mayonnaise
6 lettuce leaves
6 to 12 strips crisp cooked bacon
1 medium ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
1 to 2 medium tomatoes, sliced
Directions
In medium bowl, gently work crumbled bacon, Worcestershire sauce, salt and ground black pepper into beef. Form beef mixture into 6 large patties about 1/2 inch thick. Place an indentation into the center of each burger with your thumb to prevent burgers from taking on a domed appearance while cooking.
Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat.
Spray burgers with cooking spray or lightly brush with oil. Place burgers on grill rack; grill over medium high heat 5 minutes. Flip; cook about 5 minutes more or until center of patties read 160°F.
Spread some of the mayonnaise onto the bottom of each of the buns. Top with lettuce, bacon and burgers. Finish with avocado, tomato slices and bun tops.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes | Servings: 6 burgers
Here are other great burgers from around the web: