3-Way Onion Burger with Applewood Bacon and Aged Smoked Cheddar

4.50 (18)
⏱ 80 mins 🍽 Serves 4 🏷 Chipotle

This indulgent burger features three layers of onion flavour. A beef patty, seasoned with grilled scallions and wrapped in bacon, is topped with aged Cheddar. It's served on a toasted Kaiser roll with rich chipotle BBQ caramelised onions and a crown of crispy fried onion rings for added crunch. The recipe includes making a homemade smoky BBQ sauce from scratch.

3-Way Onion Burger with Applewood Bacon and Aged Smoked Cheddar

Ingredients

  • Chipotle BBQ Sauce:
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • 3 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 8 ounces tomato paste
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1 small can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, seeds removed and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 3 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/4 cup black cherry preserves
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • BBQ Caramelized Red Onions:
  • 4 large Spanish red onions
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • Minced garlic
  • Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 cup Chipotle BBQ Sauce
  • Burger Patties:
  • 2 bunches scallions, for grilling
  • Olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground chuck
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Applewood smoked bacon
  • 4 slices aged smoked Cheddar
  • *Toasted Kaiser rolls
  • Onion Rings:
  • Oil, for frying
  • 2 large sweet Vidalia onions
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup blue cornmeal
  • Salt
  • 2 eggs

Method

  1. Begin by preparing the chipotle BBQ sauce. Melt butter in a large saucepan, then add garlic, tomato paste and water, stirring until the paste dissolves.
  2. Introduce the chopped chipotle peppers and their adobo sauce to the pan, mixing them in.
  3. Stir in all the remaining sauce ingredients and allow the mixture to simmer for about 30 minutes. Once done, strain the sauce and set it aside.
  4. For the caramelised onions, thinly slice the red onions. Melt butter in a skillet, then add garlic, onions, salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until they become soft. Pour in 1 cup of the prepared chipotle BBQ sauce and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
  6. To make the beef patties, first trim the root ends from the scallions. Brush them with olive oil and grill on both sides until marked, then chop them.
  7. In a bowl, combine the ground chuck with the chopped scallions, about 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of pepper. Mix and form into patties roughly 1/2-inch thick.
  8. Wrap one slice of applewood bacon around each patty. Grill the burgers for about 5 to 6 minutes per side for medium-well. Add a slice of Cheddar cheese in the last minute of cooking. Cover and set aside.
  9. For the onion rings, heat oil in a deep-fryer to 175 degrees C.
  10. Slice the sweet onions into 1/4-inch thick rounds and place them in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal and 2 tablespoons of salt.
  11. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl, then add them to the onion slices, stirring to coat evenly.
  12. Working in batches, toss the egg-coated onion slices in the flour mixture until fully covered.
  13. Fry the coated onions in the hot oil until they turn a golden brown. Transfer them to paper towels to drain and sprinkle with salt.
  14. Finally, assemble the burgers. Lightly toast the Kaiser rolls.
  15. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the caramelised onions onto the bottom half of each roll. Place a cooked burger patty on top, then finish with a stack of the crispy onion rings.

Nutrition (per serving)

Nutrition data not available.

Recipe details

CategoryChipotle
AuthorFood Network UK