Bacon in the Burger, Smoky Gouda and Spicy BBQ Mayo

A take on the classic Bacon Burger. This time ... the bacon is in the burger. Topped with a hickory/smoky BBQ mayo dressed up with chipolte, sauteed onions and smoky gouda cheese all on a hearty roll. Now, to me, the roll can make or break a burger. Take the time to pick up some good quality rolls vs. those packaged store bought ones. Also, take advantage of a store bought hickory/smoky BBQ sauce and just added a little chipolte and honey to save some time. Top it with smoky gouda cheese (available at any major grocery store) which is a must for this. If you want to have friends over for burgers and a pot of chili or soup for a simple dinner ... This is the burger to make.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 6
• Yields: 6 Burgers

Ingredients

• Burger

• 6  hamburger buns (a good onion roll is what I prefer, or good kaiser roll)
• 3⁄4 lb ground beef
• 3⁄4 lb ground turkey
• 6  slices  hickory smoked bacon, diced very fine
• 1⁄2 cup onion, diced very fine
• 1⁄2 cup  fresh breadcrumb
• 1  tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1  tablespoon barbecue sauce (plain right from the jar)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  grill  seasoning
•  nonstick cooking spray, to fry the burgers

• Onions

• 1  large onion, thin sliced
• 1  teaspoon honey
• 1  teaspoon butter
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  of the adobo sauce (not the chipolte)
•  salt
•  pepper

• Sauce

• 1⁄2 cup barbecue sauce (I prefer a hickory or smoky brand, use your favorites)
• 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise
• 1  tablespoon honey
• 1  chipotle chile in adobo, chopped fine (according to taste you can use more or less)

• Toppings

• 1  cup  smoky gouda cheese, grated
•  bibb lettuce (I prefer a soft lettuce vs a Romaine or iceberg)
•  tomatoes, slices (optional)

Directions

1. Sauce -- Simply mix in a small bowl or measuring cup, the BBQ sauce, mayo, honey and chipolte, refrigerate - Done!
2. Burgers -- Now, I like to use the food processor if you have one. First for the breadcrumbs, next the onion, and then the bacon. But if you don't have one, you can hand chop or grate the ingredients. Use what you have. They still turn out great.
3. Bread Crumbs - 1 slice of whole wheat or any bread you have on hand. It will be approximately 1/2 cup. Either pulse in the food processor or fine chop.
4. Onions - 1 small onion. You can grate it by hand. Or use the food processor. It should be about 1/2 cup.
5. Bacon - Freeze. If you freeze the bacon it is so much easier to work with. NOT rock hard, just 15-20 minutes is all. Dice the bacon as fine as you can. Or you can use the food processor.
6. Burger -- Mix the bread crumbs, onions, worcestershire, BBQ sauce, and grill seasoning until well combined. Then add in the bacon, ground beef and turkey, and mix lightly. Don't over mix. Form 6 patties and set on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (wax paper or foil) and just freeze; my trick for 10-15 minutes. It just firms them up quickly and makes them easier to cook.
7. Cooking -- I like to use my grill pan, but you can use a saute pan as well. Bring to medium high heat add your burgers. They will take about 6-8 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook about 5 more minutes. You want to completely cook them because of the bacon. Top with the smoky gouda, remove from the heat and cover. The heat from the pan will melt the cheese in just a couple of minutes.
8. Onions -- As the burgers cook, start the onions. In a small saute pan, add the butter, honey, onions, adobo sauce, salt and pepper, and cook on medium high heat. They will take about 8-10 minutes until tender. Just stir now and then and you can reduce to medium after they have cooked a couple of minutes. Just let them simmer until tender.
9. Serving -- Rolls, now I like to toast mine, but that is personal taste - you can if you want. Spread your bottom burger bun with some of the spicy mayo, then top with the burger, next -- some of the onions, lettuce, and (optional tomato), and finish it off with the top bun, also slathered with the spicy BBQ mayo. ENJOY!