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I only have 3 words for you today…
GO MAKE THIS!
No really… go make this and um.. wipe your chin; you’re drooling!
So okay I lied.. I have more than 3 words but seriously… Holy All That’s Holy!
See today is National Cheeseburger Day and while I’m not a big beef eater (I like it but it doesn’t really like me) I *had* to celebrate.
Okay truth be told, I forgot to take out stuff for dinner tonight and since I have a 1.5 hour commute home I had time to think about what in the world I was going to make for dinner. Then I remembered what today was (yeah I know.. I forget birthdays but can remember food holidays. Sick, right?! LOL). So I stopped at the butchers and picked up some ground meat. When I got home I proceeded to start prepping my meat mixture when I opened up the fridge and saw it…
… it… he who just called out my name so sinfully and gave me that ‘come hither’ look…
BACON!
SHUSH! Yes… bacon talks and has a look…. go with it people 🙂
I knew I HAD to incorporate bacon in some facet. I didn’t want the typical strips of bacon on top, that’s so 80’s.. LOL I set it out on the counter and started rummaging more in my fridge… OHHHHHHHHHH Smoked Cheddar from the butcher too! Perfect! I was soooooooo cubing that bad boy and adding it in the meat mix instead of on top.
Call me a rebel, I know …
So I candied the bacon (I know right.. Candied Bacon!) and then put it in the meat mixture, add the cheddar cubes and some seasoning but yet something was missing…
… something sweet that would counter the saltiness of the bacon and cheddar. Yeah I know I “candied” it but I wanted a more pronounced sweetness.
OHHHHHHHHHH!!! Maple Syrup! YES YES YES!!! Seriously.. I’m so smart I scare myself at times! LOL
This thing smelled AMAZING as I was cooking it and when I took that first bite I swear I heard angels sing! I should get like a medal or wings for this thing! No, really, I’m serious! Like I should get a National Holiday after this contribution 🙂
These are sooooooooo going to be on my menu for the next Football game and party. Make these Big Boy sized or Sliders… either way, you are soooooo going to rock the food table that day!
Lay the bacon flat on a plate and sprinkle 1/2 of the brown sugar over it.
In a 12-inch skillet over medium heat cook the bacon for 4-5 minutes or until slightly crispy on one side.
Flip over and sprinkle the rest of the brown sugar.
Cook until very crisp, 4-6 more minutes.
Lay the bacon on a plate and allow to cool.
Chop up the bacon into small pieces.
In a bowl add the beef, steak seasoning, cheese cubes, bacon pieces and maple syrup.
Mix just until combined (do not overwork the meat.
Form into patties gently indenting the top of one side to help prevent “doming”.
In the same skillet that the bacon was cooked in, put the flame to medium.
Add the patties to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes on one side. *Note I like my burgers medium. If you like them still mooing, cook for 3-4 minutes.
Flip, reduce the flame to medium-low and cover with a lid for ~4-5 minutes. *Note I like my burgers medium. If you like them still mooing, cook 3-4 minutes.
Test with a thermometer – beef should be 160-165F.
Notes
I kept the garnish simple – more melted cheddar on top and baby spinach. It needs nothing else.
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