Juicy BBQ Burgers

5 from 17 votes

These BBQ Burgers feature ultra juicy patties topped with crispy bacon, creamy avocado, and a creamy 2 ingredient secret sauce.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings Servings

Calories 1361kcal

Author Krystle Smith

Ingredients

For the Patties

1 Pound Ground Beef 80/20
¼ Cup Barbeque Sauce
Salt/Pepper

For the Onion Straws

1 Sweet Onion Thinly Sliced
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Cup Flour
½ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Pepper
¼ Teaspoon Cayenne
Peanut Oil For Frying

For the Secret Sauce

¼ Cup Barbeque Sauce
¼ Cup Mayonnaise

Toppings

1 Avocado Sliced
8 Slices Bacon Cooked Crisp
4 Brioche Buns
4 Slices Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Lettuce

Instructions

For the Onion Strings

Thinly slice onions. Heat peanut oil to 350 degrees F. Lay out 2 dishes for buttermilk and flour.
Dip onions into flour, then buttermilk, and then flour again.
Fry for 2-3 minutes until crispy.

For the Burgers

Combine ground beef and BBQ sauce.
Evenly divide into 4 patties. Sprinkle both sides liberally with salt and pepper.
Grill for 4-5 minutes per side or cook in a cast-iron skillet for 3-4 minutes per side. Add cheese.

For the Sauce

Stir together both ingredients.

Assembly

Set burgers on toasted buns. Top with bacon, avocado, lettuce, and sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips

- Ground Beef: Use 80/20 ground beef.
- Buttermilk: Make sure to use buttermilk for the onion strings as it helps soften them so they're not stringy.
- Onions: You can also use canned onion strings if you want to make this recipe 100% outdoors on the grill.
- BBQ Sauce: I like Sweet Baby Rays.
- Mayo: Mayo haters, I hear you! BBQ sauce is also great mixed with ranch.
- Avocado: Look for bright green avocados with flesh that gives slightly.
- Bacon: If cooking outdoors, take a shortcut with microwave bacon. I like the brand Hormel Black Label.
- Salt: I like to add salt and pepper after forming my patties. This leads to a nice crust and doesn't suck any of the moisture out of your meat.

How To Tell When They're Done

According to the FDA, burgers should be cooked to 160 degrees F and until no pink remains. Grilling this takes, on average, around 5 minutes per side.

Tips

Don't Over-Mix: Over-mixing beef will result in a tough burger that is prone to falling apart.

Uniform Size: Measure beef using a kitchen scale to ensure each burger is the same size and will cook evenly.

Chill: Chill your burgers for 20-30 minutes before placing them on the grill.

Indent the Center: Use your thumb to make an indent in the center of the burger to prevent it from puffing up when cooking.

Make Patties About 1 Inch Larger Than Buns: They'll shrink slightly when cooking.

Never Ever Press: Do not press your burgers down with a spatula.

Flip Only Once: This will help you form a golden brown crust and decrease the chance your patty will fall apart.

Nutrition