Bacon Cheeseburger Recipe

Make and shape patties

Place ground beef in a bowl. Sprinkle kosher salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce over the meat. Gently mix with hands or a fork just until combined—do not overwork. Divide into four equal portions (about 4 oz each). Shape each portion into a loose ball, then flatten into patties about 3/4 inch thick with a slight dimple in the center to prevent puffing.

Preheat cooking surface

Heat a heavy skillet, cast-iron pan, or griddle over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and spread to coat once the surface is hot.

Cook patties

Place patties on the hot surface with space between them. Cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until a brown crust forms. Flip once and cook 2-3 minutes for medium (adjust 1-2 minutes more for medium-well). In the last 1 minute of cooking, place a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty and cover the pan with a lid or a foil tent to melt the cheese.

Cook bacon

While patties rest, arrange bacon slices in a cold skillet or place on a rimmed baking sheet if baking. For skillet: cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 8-10 minutes. For oven: preheat to 400°F (200°C) and bake on a rack-lined sheet 12-18 minutes until crisp. Transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.

Crisp and keep warm

If bacon cools and becomes less crisp, re-crisp briefly in a hot oven (375°F/190°C) for 2-3 minutes just before assembling. Keep warm with patties.

Prepare sauce

In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, and yellow mustard until smooth. Taste and adjust—add a pinch of smoked paprika for a smoky note if desired.

Prepare produce

Slice tomato into 4 even slices. Lightly season tomato slices with 1/4 tsp salt and a pinch (1/8 tsp) black pepper. Thinly slice red onion into rings. Separate and rinse lettuce leaves; pat dry. Keep pickle slices handy.

Toast buns

Butter the cut sides of the hamburger buns with the softened butter. Place buns butter-side down in a skillet or on the griddle over medium heat and toast until golden, about 1-2 minutes. Alternatively, toast in a 375°F (190°C) oven for 3-4 minutes.

Finish and assemble

To assemble each bacon cheeseburger: spread about 1 tablespoon of the sauce on the bottom bun, add a lettuce leaf, place the cheeseburger patty with melted cheddar on top, then arrange 1-2 slices of crisp bacon over the cheese, add a tomato slice, a few onion rings, and 2 pickle slices. Spread a little sauce on the top bun and close the sandwich. Serve immediately.

Serving suggestion

Serve hot with fries or potato chips. Provide extra ketchup and pickles on the side.