Bacon Blue Recipe

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lay bacon slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil or parchment. Bake 12–18 minutes until crisp to your liking. Remove bacon and transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Keep bacon warm or reheat briefly before assembling.

Blue cheese spread

In a small bowl, mash the softened cream cheese with a fork until smooth. Fold in crumbled blue cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice and black pepper. Mix until combined but still slightly chunky. Taste and adjust seasoning; set aside at room temperature so it’s spreadable when assembling.

Divide the ground beef into two equal portions (about 8 oz each). Lightly form into patties slightly larger than the buns, making a shallow thumb indentation in the center of each to prevent doming. Season both sides with kosher salt and black pepper and brush or sprinkle Worcestershire sauce on each patty.

Heat a heavy skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add a light drizzle of neutral oil if the pan isn’t well seasoned. Place patties in the pan and cook 3–4 minutes on the first side without moving until a deep brown crust forms. Flip and cook 3–4 minutes more for medium (adjust 1–2 minutes for rarer or longer for more well done). Internal temp: 130–135°F for medium-rare, 140°F for medium.

During the last 60–90 seconds of cooking, top each patty with half of the blue cheese topping (or more to taste) so it softens and begins to melt. Cover pan briefly with a lid to help the cheese melt if needed.

Butter the cut faces of the buns. In a clean skillet over medium heat or in the oven, toast the buns cut-side down until golden and lightly crisp, about 1–2 minutes in a pan or 3–5 minutes in the oven.

Place lettuce leaf (if using) on the bottom bun, add the patty topped with blue cheese, then layer three strips of crisp bacon (3 per burger). Add tomato slices and pickled red onion if desired. Spread any remaining blue cheese mixture on the top bun or add a drizzle of hot sauce if using.

Close burger, press gently, and serve immediately while hot.

Makes two generous bacon-blue burgers. Blue cheese is salty—adjust added salt to taste. Leftover blue cheese spread keeps tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.