Chipotle-Honey BBQ Bacon Burgers With Gorgonzola Cheese

Submitted by ratherbeswimmin

"Build a Better Burger Contest, People’s Choice Award, 2002. Adam Payson, Omaha, Nebraska."

 

• Ready In: 59mins
• Ingredients: 22
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• Patties

• 1 1⁄2 lbs ground beef
• 4 ounces pork sausage
• 1⁄4 cup sliced green onion
• 2 tablespoons diced red bell peppers
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons fresh ground black pepper

• Chipotle-Honey BBQ Sauce

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup diced red onion
• 2 canned chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped
• 2 tablespoons diced green bell peppers
• 2 tablespoons diced red bell peppers
• 2 tablespoons diced roma tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dry mustard
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1⁄2 cup honey

• Remaining Ingredients

• 8 slices pepper bacon
• vegetable oil (for brushing on the grill rack)
• 4 kaiser rolls, split
• 4 ounces gorgonzola, crumbled
• 8 slices roma tomatoes

directions

1. Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.
2. Make the patties: combine beef, pork, green onion, bell pepper, and garlic in a big bowl; mix well.
3. Divide mixture into 4 equal portions; form into patties to fit rolls; coat with the black pepper; refrigerate until needed.
4. Make the sauce: when the grill is ready, heat the olive oil in a 2 quart saucepan or the grill rack.
5. Add in onion, chiles, bell peppers, tomato, and garlic; stir/saute until soft, about 5 minutes.
6. Deglaze with the vinegar and let simmer.
7. Add in the mustard; blend until smooth; stir in the ketchup and honey; bring to a slow simmer.
8. Cook bacon until crisp in a frying pan on the grill rack; keep warm for later use.
9. Brush grill rack with vegetable oil; place patties on the rack; cover and cook, turning once and basting frequently with the sauce, until done to preference—5 to 7 minutes on each side for medium.
10. During the last few minutes of cooking, place the rolls, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.
11. Assemble burgers: spread 1 teaspoon of the sauce over the cut sides of each roll.
12. On each roll bottom, place 1 ounce of the cheese, 2 bacon slices, a patty, and 2 tomato slices.
13. Add roll tops and serve.