Bacon Bourbon Burgers Food

BOURBON BACON CHEESEBURGERS

Steps:

• To a large skillet, saute bacon pieces over MED heat until crispy, about 8-12 minutes. I used center cut bacon, so there wasn't too much bacon grease, but if yours is particularly greasy, drain about half the grease. Add onion and garlic, cooking until soft and tender, about 3-5 minutes.
• Add cider vinegar, brown sugar, bourbon, water, cayenne, and black pepper. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is mostly cooked off, about 10-15 minutes. Mixture will be thick and syrupy.
• Use immediately, or place into airtight container and refrigerate for 2-4 weeks.
• Add a drizzle of olive oil to a large skillet and heat over MED-HIGH heat. Add hamburger buns, cut side down, and toast until golden brown. Turn off heat and remove to a plate to cool.
• In a large mixing bowl, add ground beef, heavy cream, salt and pepper. Peel the onion and grate (using a hand grater or even a box grater) about 2 Tbsp of onion into the meat. Use the fine side of the grater, so you're getting very small pieces of onion. You'll get onion juice too, and that's good.
• Use your hands to mix gently until just combined. Form into 4 patties (for 1/3 lb burgers, make 6 patties, and for a 1/4 lb burger, make 8 patties). Make an indentation in the center of each burger with your thumbs to ensure even cooking.
• Heat a drizzle of oil in the same skillet over MED heat and cook burgers about 5 minutes per side, or until cooked to desired doneness.
• The last minute of cooking, place cheese slices on patties and cover pan with aluminum foil. Serve hamburgers on toasted buns with lettuce and bourbon bacon jam.

BACON BOURBON BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Mix ground beef, bourbon, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, steak seasoning, and garlic salt in a bowl; divide and shape into 2 patties.
• Cook on the preheated grill for about 5 minutes; turn, top each burger with bacon and Cheddar cheese, and continue cooking until the burgers are cooked to your desired degree of doneness, about 5 minutes more for well done. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Serve on split buns topped with tomato and lettuce.

BOURBON BURGER

Steps:

• Combine well-chilled ground chuck with bourbon and Worcestershire sauce and mix lightly with a fork to combine. Add oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper and mix lightly with a fork to combine. Combine more thoroughly with hands, being careful not to over mix. Separate meat mixture into 6 even portions and form into patties. Set patties on a board.
• Heat nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat.
• Heat olive oil and butter in nonstick skillet over medium heat for 1 minute. Add onion slices to skillet and toss in the oil and butter. Add salt, pepper, oregano, and cumin and toss. Continue to saute onions, but start cooking burgers.
• Place patties on grill pan and cook for 2 1/2 minutes on 1 side. Flip patties and place cheese on top of each. Cook for 1 minute and then tent foil over patties and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove patties from grill and place on a clean board. Replace foil tent over patties and let rest for 5 minutes. Turn heat under grill pan down to low and give pan a quick wipe with a damp paper towel (held in tongs).
• Once onions start to turn slightly golden, pour bourbon into skillet, off the burner. Once alcohol cooks off, turn heat under skillet down to low, and let onions absorb liquid.
• Place bun halves on grill pan and toast until lightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from grill pan and butter with 1/2 tablespoon of butter per bun. Place 1 patty on each bun bottom, top with approximately 1/4 cup onions, and bun top.
• Serve and enjoy!