Loaded Cheeseburger Recipe

Make burger sauce

In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, ketchup, dill pickle relish, yellow mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning; set aside chilled.

Toast buns

Heat a large skillet over medium. Brush cut sides of buns with 1 tablespoon butter. Place buns butter-side-down in skillet and toast until golden, about 1–2 minutes. Remove and keep warm.

Cook bacon

Lay bacon strips in a cold skillet and set over medium heat. Cook, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. When cool, chop or leave whole as desired.

Sauté onions

Reserve about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet (discard excess) or wipe skillet and melt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter over medium-low. Add the thinly sliced onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, 8–10 minutes. Sprinkle in brown sugar and continue to cook 2–3 minutes more to caramelize lightly. Stir in apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce; cook 1 minute to deglaze and coat the onions. Transfer onions to a bowl and keep warm.

Form patties

Divide ground chuck into four equal portions (about 4 oz each) and gently form into patties slightly larger than buns, pressing a shallow dimple into the center of each to prevent puffing. Season both sides with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.

Cook patties

Heat a heavy skillet or griddle over medium-high until very hot and lightly oiled. Add patties and cook without moving until a crust forms, 3–4 minutes. Flip and cook 2–3 minutes more for medium (adjust time for desired doneness). During the last 60–90 seconds, divide the shredded white and orange cheddar evenly across patties (about 1/4 cup per patty), cover the pan with a lid or large bowl to melt cheese, about 1 minute.

Warm BBQ-coated bacon

While cheese melts, place cooked bacon back into the skillet for 30 seconds. Brush or toss bacon with remaining BBQ sauce (about 3 tablespoons) to glaze and warm through.

Assemble burgers

Spread about 1–2 tablespoons of burger sauce on the bottom bun. Add lettuce leaf (if using), then the cheese-topped patty. Pile a generous spoonful of sautéed onions over the cheese, add two glazed bacon strips, and drizzle an additional teaspoon of BBQ sauce over the bacon if desired. Top with tomato slice and pickles (optional). Finish with the top bun smeared with a little more burger sauce.

Serve

Serve immediately while hot, with extra burger sauce and BBQ sauce on the side. Recommend fries or a simple slaw.