Unique Bacon Jam Burger Recipe Made on the Stove

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I tested these easy, minimal mess bacon jam burgers 15 times so that you don't have to. This burger is packed with unique flavors from both the sweet and savory bacon jam and the creamy dijonnaise sauce. These elevated, unique flavors are going to take your cookout to the next level.

I have been cooking burgers for over a decade and this sweet and savory burger is easily the most unique burger I have ever had. The bacon jam recipe that pairs with this burger brings the perfect amount of sweet to go with the tangy dijonnaise sauce and savory burger.

Summer is the best time of year to enjoy these yummy burgers because they can be made out on the grill and serve at summer barbecues for Memorial Day weekend, Labor Day weekend, or July 4th weekend.

All of the ingredients can be prepped ahead of time so that cooking the burgers while hosting will take no more than 15 minutes. These are the best burgers to add to the menu for a weeknight dinner, the whole family will love it and it might just become one of your favorite burger recipes.

This was inspired by my Honey Sriracha Burgers and Mushroom Swiss Burger on this site, and pairs well with these Grilled Tomatoes with Mozzarella and Basil recipe.

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Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Can these burgers be prepped ahead of time?
Equipment needed to make bacon jam burgers
Storage
Top Tip
FAQ
Related
Pairing
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💬 Comments

Ingredients

The ground beef chosen for this recipe is an 80/20 ratio of meat to fat. This meat to fat ration will not only give you a very juicy burger once done cooking, but the high fat content also helps keep the burger patties juicy even once some of the fat is lost during cooking. The bacon and onion jam provides a sweet and crispy element to the dish while the dijonnaise sauce provides a little tanginess. Tomato is used as a topping to add an acidic element to balance the flavors and the lettuce adds a little extra crispy. The ingredients are finished off with a fresh, buttery brioche bun.

ground beef
onion soup mix
worcestershire sauce
bacon onion jam
dijonnaise sauce
tomato
iceberg lettuce
American cheese
brioche buns

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Step 1: In a medium bowl, mix the ground beef, onion soup mix and worcestershire sauce until combined. Form the burger patties leaving a dimple in the middle of each patty.

Step 2: Turn the heat on the stove up to medium-high heat. Add a little olive oil to a large skillet. Place the burgers in the pan. Cook about 3-4 minutes until burger is slightly caramelized and flip. Place a slice of cheese on the burger and cover. Cook another 4-5 minutes until cheese is melted and burger is cooked to the desired temperature.

Step 3: Slice the tomato and prep the lettuce slices. Place olive oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Place the buns in the pan face down to toast.

Step 4: Assemble the burgers. Spread dijonaise sauce on the brioche buns. Place a slice of lettuce on the bottom bun. Place a tomato slice on top of the lettuce. Place the burger patty on top of the tomato and top with a generous amount of bacon jam. Close the burger with the top bun. Serve immediately.

Hint: add a small dimple to the center of each burger patty. This will keep the beef patties from shrinking during cooking. Adding a dimple allows the meat to expand evenly while cooking and helps counteract the meats natural tendency to shrink when coming into contact with direct heat. There are a lot of tips that I share on my site to help you make sure your burgers do not shrink during cooking.

Substitutions

Lettuce - instead of ice berg lettuce, you can use romaine lettuce or arugula
Bun - use gluten free buns instead of brioche buns to make this gluten free
Vegetarian - the beef hamburger can be replaced with a plant-based burger to make this vegetarian. The bacon would also need to be replaced with a plant-based bacon in this case

Variations

Spicy - add chili pepper flakes or ground cayenne pepper to the bacon jam to add a little heat to the dish
Honey Sriracha - replace the topping with a honey sriracha combination with crispy onions and blue cheese for a different flavor profile
Smashburgers - use smash burgers as the burger bun for a different burger patty texture

See this smash burger version on my website!

Can these burgers be prepped ahead of time?

Yes, this is especially helpful if you are prepping for a summer barbecue that you are hosting because a lot of the prep can be done in advance so that all you have to do is cook the burgers when your guests are over.

All of the toppings can be cut and saved in the fridge following the storage instructions in this recipe. The beef burger patties can be mixed and formed in advance. I suggest placing the formed, raw burgers in a single layer on a tray, covering with plastic wrap and then placing them in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Equipment needed to make bacon jam burgers

To make this recipe, you will need a medium bowl, large skillet, cast iron skillet or frying pan with a lid, and a sharp knife and cutting board. A small bowl will also be needed to mix the dijonnaise sauce.

If grilling these burgers, you will need a gas grill, charcoal grill or pellet grill.

Storage

Store the burger topping ingredients (lettuce, tomato) separately from the burger ingredients (burger patties) in the fridge, and reheat and recombine when ready. Good for 2-3 days. The dijonnaise sauce and bacon jam will be stored in a separate airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

The burger patties do stand up well to freezing in freezer safe bags for up to 2 months.

Top Tip

Don't overcook the burgers! Sear the outside and cook to a minimum internal temperature of 135 degrees for a medium rare burger. The internal temperature of the burger can be read with an instant read meat thermometer. This will result is an extra juicy burger and assure the patties do not dry out and cause you to have a dry burger.

FAQ

What ingredients are needed for the bacon onion jam?

To make the bacon onion jam you will need thick-cut bacon, yellow onion, brown sugar, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, and salt. For amounts and instructions see my savory and sweet bacon jam recipe on my site.

Can these burgers be grilled?

Yes, these burgers can be cooked out on the grill. To do this cook the burgers on medium high heat for about 3-5 minutes on each side while adding the cheese after the burger is flipped. Cooking the burgers on the grill will still result in a very juicy cheeseburger with an added smoky flavor.

What else can homemade bacon jam be used for?

Some of my favorite ways to use leftover bacon jam are to add them to bacon jam cheeseburger sliders, use it on a grilled cheese or simply enjoy it with cream cheese and crackers. This sweet and salty bacon jam is packed with unique flavor and pairs well with a lot of different foods.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with these bacon jam burgers:

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