BBQ Burgers with Bacon & Crispy Onion Strings 

These BBQ Burgers are an irresistibly juicy and flavor-packed take on a classic—infused with tangy barbecue sauce directly in the patty, topped with sharp cheddar, crispy bacon, and crunchy onion strings. The clever use of a panade made from torn bread and BBQ sauce keeps the burgers ultra-moist while layering in bold, smoky-sweet flavor. Finished with lettuce, tomato, and toasted buns, these burgers feel gourmet yet comfortingly familiar—a showstopper for cookouts, game nights, or anytime you crave something extraordinary. 

Ingredients

• Burgers
  
  

  • 1½ lb 80/20 ground beef chuck
    
    

  • 1 slice white sandwich bread, crust removed and torn into ¼-inch pieces
    
    

  • ⅓ cup BBQ sauce (homemade or store-bought)
    
    

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
    
    

  • 1 tsp chili powder
    
    

  • 1 tsp dried oregano
    
    

  • 1 tsp salt
    
    

  • ½ tsp black pepper
    
    

• Toppings & Serving
  
  

  • 4 hamburger buns
    
    

  • Sharp cheddar cheese slices
    
    

  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon
    
    

  • Tomato slices
    
    

  • Lettuce (e.g., butter, iceberg, or romaine)
    
    

  • Extra BBQ sauce for serving 

• Fried Onion Strings
  
  

  • 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
    
    

  • 2 cups buttermilk (or DIY buttermilk)
    
    

  • 1 egg
    
    

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
    
    

  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
    
    

  • ½ tsp salt
    
    

  • ½ tsp pepper
    
    

  • Vegetable or canola oil for frying 

Directions

1. Make burgers: In a bowl, mash bread, BBQ sauce, garlic, and spices into a chunky paste. Gently mix in ground beef until combined—but don’t overwork.
   
   

2. Divide into four, loosely form into balls, flatten slightly larger than buns, and make a dimpled center. Chill in fridge at least 15 minutes.
   
   

3. Cook:
   
   

   • Stovetop: Heat drippings or oil in skillet, cook patties until browned (~3–4 min). Flip, brush with BBQ sauce, cover, and cook another 2–5 min. Add cheese during final minutes. 

   • Grill: Grill until browned (~3–5 min), flip, brush with BBQ sauce, add cheese, then cook to desired doneness.
     
     

4. Toast buns: Spread butter on cut-sides and toast on grill or in oven until lightly golden.
   
   

5. Fry onion strings: Soak onions in buttermilk & egg. Combine flour, panko, salt & pepper. Dip onions, fry in hot oil (~375 °F) until golden (~1–2 min), drain on paper towels.
   
   

6. Assemble: On toasted buns, layer lettuce, burger, more BBQ sauce, tomato, bacon, and onion strings. Enjoy hot!
   
   

Nutrients (estimated per burger, yields 4 burgers)

Calories: ~720 kcal
Protein: ~40 g
Fat: ~45 g
Carbohydrates: ~35 g
Sugar: ~8 g
Sodium: ~900 mg