I is for: Inside Out Bacon Cheeseburgers {a Tailgate Special}

These burgers give you a delicious surprise when you bite into one!

JUMP TO RECIPE

After trying the awesome burger at Heirloom Cafe last week, I was inspired to create my own version for the blog. I decided to add crumbled bacon and use an aged white cheddar and stuff them both in the middle of a hamburger patty.

The result? Melty, meaty, cheesy, bacon-y perfection on a bun. These would be great for a tailgate. You don’t have to worry about packing cheese or bacon because they are already packed inside the hamburger patty. You could also make them with a grill pan on your stove.
(**UPDATE 1/1/13: Most of the Authentic Eats links on the website seem to be broken, so I’m posting the original recipe here).

First, you’ll need some ground beef. I think 80/20 works well for hamburgers so they don’t fall apart as easily. Each burger will use about 1/4 to 1/3 pound of meat, so plan accordingly depending on how many you will need. Separate meat into twice as many patties as you plan to make. (i.e. if you are making four hamburgers, make eight patties). On one of them, pile with cheese and cooked, crumbled bacon. (Note: next time I will use more cheese). Speaking of cheese, you can use whatever you like best, but my mom brought some Cougar Gold when she came for Thanksgiving, so I used some of that. It’s made at my alma mater, Washington State University. It’s a rich white cheddar, and it’s aged for a year in a can (yes, a can) and it’s pretty much the best cheese ever.

Cover filled patty with a plain patty and press together at the edges to seal. You also might need to flatten a little with your hand and then re-seal the edges. If you are going to a tailgate, put the patties in a large tupperware container or a large aluminum pan. (Do ahead step: these can be made the night before and stored in the refrigerator). Right before you are ready to cook them, season liberally with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

Grill burgers over medium heat, about 5-6 minutes per side. Since they are stuffed, they will take a bit longer to cook. You want to cook them on medium so that it gives the cheese a chance to melt inside while also cooking the meat all the way through.

Top with your favorite burger condiments and get ready to enjoy the delicious surprise awaiting you when you bite into the middle! (This is just one combination…but think of all the other possibilities: caramelized onions & mushrooms, jalapenos, blue cheese, or even brie!)

Print Recipe

Inside Out Bacon Cheeseburgers

(1 votes, average: 1.00 out of 5)

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Mains – American

By Jaymee Sire – Serves: 4 burgers

Prep Time: 10 minutes – Cooking Time: 10 minutes – Total Time: 20 minutes

Perfect for a tailgate because the bacon and cheese are stuffed inside the patties!

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 lbs 80/20 ground beef (recommended: 85% ground chuck + 15% ground sirloin, grass-fed, grain finished beef)
• 4 slices thick cut bacon, cooked & crumbled/chopped
• 4-8 ounces shredded or crumbled aged white cheddar cheese (or more traditional: 8 slices white American cheese)
• Kosher salt & freshly cracked black pepper
• 4 sesame seed or brioche hamburger buns
• burger condiments/toppings, such as: Stubbs BBQ sauce, Caramelized onions, Dijon mustard, Dill pickle chips

Instructions

1

Separate ground beef into six patties. On half of them, pile with cheese and cooked, crumbled bacon. Cover filled patty with a plain patty and press together at the edges to tightly seal. Create a divot in the center of each patty.

2

Before you are ready to cook the burgers, season liberally with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Grill burgers over medium-high heat, about 5-6 minutes per side, or until cooked through and cheese is melted inside. (Alternately, you can also cook in a cast iron skillet on with Safflower oil.) Serve with toasted hamburger buns and your favorite burger toppings. 

Notes

Any good melting cheese can be used in these!