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Smoked Gouda & Bacon Burgers

Smoked Gouda and Bacon Burgers with Sweet Barbecue Sauce

This is the ultimate gourmet burger experience. Juicy beef patties are topped with melted smoked Gouda, crispy bacon, and tangy hot sauce onions, then finished with a sweet and spicy homemade barbecue sauce. Served on buttery toasted bread, it's a crave worthy combination of smoky, savory, and sweet flavors.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

For the Sweet Barbecue Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion thinly sliced
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ½ cup dark brown sugar
  • ½ cup apple juice
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh ginger peeled and chopped
  • 2 tbsp unsulphured molasses

For the Burgers:

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 large onion about 1 lb, halved and thinly sliced
  • Kosher salt
  • ¼ cup hot sauce like Frank’s RedHot
  • ¼ cup beef broth
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 8 slices firm white bread ½ inch thick
  • 8 slices thick cut bacon
  • 2 lbs ground beef chuck 80/20 fat, formed into 4 patties
  • 3 oz smoked Gouda cheese shredded (1 cup)
  • ¼ cup Sweet Barbecue Sauce from above

Instructions
 

  • Make the Sauce: In a large skillet, heat oil over moderately low heat. Cook sliced onion with salt, covered, for 20 min until caramelized. Add butter, then ketchup, brown sugar, apple juice, lemon juice, ginger, and molasses. Simmer for 25 min until thickened. Puree in a blender. Season with salt. (Makes ~2 cups; you need ¼ cup).
  • Cook Onions: In a clean skillet, heat oil. Cook the second portion of sliced onion with salt, covered, for 5 min until soft. Stir in hot sauce and broth. Remove from heat. Season.
  • Toast & Cook Bacon: Heat a griddle. Butter one side of each bread slice; toast buttered side down until golden. Remove. Cook bacon on griddle until crisp. Drain. Wipe griddle.
  • Cook Burgers: Season patties with salt. Cook on hot griddle for 2 min per side for medium rare. Top each with shredded Gouda for the last minute to melt.
  • Assemble: Place a cheesy patty on the unbuttered side of 4 toasts. Top with 2 bacon slices, hot sauce onions, and 1 tbsp barbecue sauce. Cover with remaining toast, buttered side up. Serve.