Gouda & Bacon Burgers

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • One 1-pound onion, halved and thinly sliced
  • Salt
  • 1/4 cup Frank's Red Hot or other hot sauce
  • 1/4 cup beef broth
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • Eight 1/2-inch thick slices of firm white bread
  • 8 slices of thick-cut bacon
  • 2 pounds ground beef chuck (20% fat), formed into 4 patties the same size as the bread slices
  • 3 ounces smoked Gouda, shredded (1 cup)
  • 1/4 cup Sweet Barbecue Sauce

Cooking Instructions

Step 1: In a large skillet, heat the oil.  Add the sliced onion and a pinch of salt, cover and cook, stirring a few times, until the onion is crisp-tender and just turning translucent, 5 minutes.  Stir in the hot sauce and beef broth and remove from the heat.  Season with salt.

Step 2: Heat a large griddle.  Spread the butter on 1 side of each bread slice and griddle buttered side down over moderate heat until toasted, about 2 minutes.  Transfer the toast to a plate.  Add the bacon to the griddle and cook over moderate heat until crisp, about 4 minutes per side; drain on paper towels.  Wipe off the griddle.

Step 3: Season the beef patties with salt and cook on the griddle over moderately high heat until medium-rare, about 2 minutes per side.  Top each burger with 1/4 cup of smoked Gouda and cook until the cheese melts, 1 minute.

Step 4: Set the burgers on the unbuttered sides of 4 toast slices.  Top with the bacon, onion, and Sweet Barbecue sauce.  Close the burgers and serve with more barbecue sauce at the table.

Enjoy these delicious burgers from Food & Wine!