Grilled Bacon Cheeseburgers with Caramelized Onions

These bacon cheeseburgers deliver bacon and cheese in every bite, with chunks of both mixed into the patty, then grilled and topped with melted American cheese slices for a double dose of cheesy goodness.

📝 Ingredients

• 3 slices thick cut bacon
• 2 pounds 80% ground chuck beef
• 4 ounces diced Cache Valley Dairy medium cheddar cheese ((about 1/2 cup))
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper (, plus more for seasoning the onions to taste)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (, plus more for seasoning the onions to taste)
• 1 yellow onion (, thinly sliced)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 6 brioche or white buns
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6 slices Cache Valley Dairy American cheese
• sliced tomato
• dill pickles
• lettuce
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce (, optional)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Cook the bacon. In a medium to large skillet (I use cast iron), cook your bacon over medium high heat, turning once or twice until half-way cooked, about 4-5 minutes. Transfer the bacon strips to a cutting board and reserve the bacon renderings in the pan and set aside.
2. 2Make the hamburger mixture. Dice the bacon into small pieces and add to a large mixing bowl with the ground beef and diced cheddar cheese. Season with the black pepper and kosher salt, and then use your hands to gently mix together.
3. 3Shape the cheeseburger patties. Take a large handful of meat, about 6 to 7 ounces, and form a ball in your hands. Form the meat into patties about 3/4-inch thick and press your thumb into the center of the patty to form a dimple to keep it from doming when cooked.
4. 4Chill the patties. Place in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes, or make ahead and refrigerate overnight.
5. 5Preheat your grill to high. Scrape the grates clean, if needed.
6. 6Caramelize the onions. While the grill is heating, heat the reserved bacon renderings over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring often for about 5 minutes. Lower the heat to medium-low, add 1 tablespoon of butter, and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook for about 10 more minutes or until soft and caramelized, lower the heat to simmer and keep warm, or remove from the heat and cover with a lid.
7. 7Butter the buns. Spread the remaining butter on the cut side of the buns and set aside.
8. 8Grill the cheeseburgers and toast the buns. When the grill is hot (at least 450°F), place the burgers on the grates and cook for 3-5 minutes, undisturbed, then flip, and cook for another 5 minutes or until the internal temperature is 135°F for a medium-done hamburger. Add a slice of the American cheese to each burger and cook just until the cheese melts. Transfer to a platter and let rest for about 5 minutes while you toast the buns on the grill grates.
9. 9Make burger sauce. Mix the mayonnaise with the ketchup, and if you’d like a bit of BBQ sauce.
10. 10Assemble your bacon cheeseburgers. Spread the sauce on the bottom and tops of the buns with the cheeseburgers and garnish with lettuce, tomato, pickles and the caramelized onion.