Bacon Cheeseburger Recipe

Mix and portion

Place the ground beef in a bowl. Add kosher salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Gently fold the mixture 8–10 times to combine—do not overwork. Divide into 4 equal portions (about 4 oz each for a 1 lb total) and form into patties slightly larger than the buns, about 3/4-inch thick, with a shallow thumb dent in the center of each patty to prevent doming during cooking.

Bring to room temperature

Set the patties on a plate, cover lightly, and let rest at room temperature for 15–20 minutes while you prepare other components. This helps them cook evenly.

Cook the bacon

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) OR use a medium skillet. For the oven method: arrange bacon on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil on a rack and bake 12–18 minutes until crisp to your liking. For the skillet: place bacon in a cold skillet, turn heat to medium-high and cook 3–5 minutes per side until crisp. Transfer to a paper-towel–lined plate to drain.

Prepare vegetables and buns

While bacon cooks, thinly slice the red onion and tomato. Separate and rinse lettuce leaves and pat dry. Halve the buns and spread softened butter on cut sides. Toast buns cut-side down in a dry skillet over medium heat or under the broiler for 1–2 minutes until golden; watch closely to avoid burning.

Make the sauce by combining mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and optional hot sauce in a small bowl. Stir until smooth and taste-adjust seasoning. Set aside.

Preheat pan or grill

Heat a cast-iron skillet or grill to medium-high. If using a skillet, add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and swirl to coat. The surface should be hot and just starting to shimmer.

Cook patties

Place patties on the hot surface, cook undisturbed for about 3–4 minutes until a brown crust forms. Flip and cook 2–3 minutes more for medium doneness (adjust time for preferred doneness). During the last minute of cooking, place a slice of cheddar on each patty and cover the pan (or close grill lid) to melt cheese, about 30–60 seconds.

Rest patties

Remove patties from heat and let rest 2 minutes while you assemble. Resting preserves juiciness.

Spread about 1 tablespoon of the prepared sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Place lettuce on the sauce, then the cheeseburger patty. Top each patty with 1–2 slices of cooked bacon (1.5 slices per burger if using 6 slices for 4 burgers), 2 pickle slices, a tomato slice, and red onion rings to taste. Spread remaining sauce on the top bun and crown the burger. Serve immediately with fries or a side salad.