Western Bacon Cheeseburger

This Western Bacon Cheeseburger combines crispy onion rings, melty cheese, and smoky bacon with a perfectly seasoned beef patty – all brought together with sweet and tangy barbecue sauce.

Each bite delivers an incredible texture adventure: the crunch of golden-brown onion rings, the satisfying chew of perfectly cooked bacon, and that moment when your teeth sink into a juicy, perfectly seasoned patty. The barbecue sauce adds just the right amount of smoky-sweet kick to make this burger absolutely irresistible.

Ingredients

For the Burger:

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 4 hamburger buns

Toppings:

• 8 frozen onion rings
• 4 slices bacon
• 4 slices American cheese
• 1/2 cup Hickory Barbecue Sauce

Steps

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) or air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Arrange onion rings in a single layer and bake for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and crispy. They should make a clear crunching sound when tapped with tongs.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon for 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until it reaches your desired crispiness. For best results, start with a cold pan. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
3. Season ground beef with half the salt and pepper. Divide into 4 equal portions (about 4 oz each). Form into patties approximately 1/2 inch thick and 4.5 inches wide (they’ll shrink during cooking).
4. Create a 1/2 inch deep thumb impression in the center of each patty to prevent doming. Season the outside with remaining salt and pepper.
5. Heat cast iron skillet or grill to medium-high (about 400°F/200°C). Add 2 TBS oil if using skillet.
6. Cook patties for 3-4 minutes per side for medium doneness (160°F/71°C internal temperature). Add cheese during the final minute of cooking.
   • For rare: cook to 130-135°F (54-57°C)
   • For medium-rare: 140-145°F (60-63°C)
   • For medium-well: 165°F (74°C)
7. Let patties rest for 4-5 minutes while preparing buns.
8. Assemble burgers: spread 1 TBS barbecue sauce on bottom bun, add 2 onion rings, cheese-topped patty, bacon slice, another 1 TBS sauce on top bun. Serve immediately while onion rings are still crispy.