When making beef burgers, adding ground bacon to the meat mixture is a game-changer. It makes the patties incredibly juicy and flavorful!
I started making these burgers after I transitioned to a low-carb diet. Suddenly, with no bun, the burger became the star of the show, and I wanted it to be as flavorful and as juicy as possible.
My go-to burger recipe is these broiled burgers. They are excellent. But if you want to make the ultimate burger, all you need to do is mix some ground bacon 🥓 into the meat. It makes for an incredibly flavorful and juicy burger.
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Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make these tasty burgers. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
Bacon: whatever is your favorite brand, go ahead and use that. You'll need 4 oz, which is half a standard 8-oz package.
Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef (85/15). I find that leaner than that is too dry, even with the addition of bacon.
Seasonings: I almost always use kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried parsley, and red pepper flakes. It's fine to use fresh garlic instead of powder. It's also fine (and fun!) to experiment with different spices. See the discussion below about variations on the basic recipe.
Instructions
How to make bacon burgers? Simply mix ground raw bacon into the ground beef. You can go for a 50/50 ratio if you wish, mixing 8 oz ground beef with 8 oz ground bacon.
But I like to keep things a bit less fatty and salty (though still delicious!) by mixing 4 oz of bacon into 1 lb. of ground beef.
Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:
You start by cutting the bacon into pieces and freezing it briefly, to make it easier to chop.
Next, you process the bacon pieces in your food processor until it's finely ground. Now, mix together the ground bacon, the ground beef, and the seasonings.
Form the mixture into patties and cook them over medium heat until they're cooked through, 4-5 minutes per side.
Frequently asked questions
There's no need for any type of filler (such as breadcrumbs) or binder (egg) in these tasty burgers. Simply mix the ground beef and the bacon, add the seasonings, shape into patties, and pan-fry.
Toppings can include smoked cheddar cheese (my personal favorite), a fried egg, bacon, or avocado. Or all of the above!
Yes. But if you do, you should cook the patties until they're cooked through. If you prefer your burgers medium-rare, you should probably cook the bacon and crumble it before mixing it into the ground beef. The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 °F, which should ensure that the bacon is fully cooked too.
Variations and substitutions
I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. When I do vary this recipe, it's usually to include different spices. Some of the spices that I've enjoyed include dry mustard, chili powder, dried thyme, and cumin.
Serving suggestions
These delicious burgers make a filling, tasty low-carb meal - no bun needed. See the photos? That's how I usually serve them. Unless you want a bun, of course, such as cloud bread or 90-second bread.
As for side dishes, they're great with fries. Jicama fries or zucchini fries for keto options, and steak fries if you don't mind the carbs.
Storing leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, in the microwave, on 50% power.
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Recipe card
Juicy Bacon Burgers
INGREDIENTS
- 4 oz bacon (½ package)
- 1 lb. lean ground beef (85/15)
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried parsely
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut the bacon into pieces and freeze the pieces for 20 minutes to make it easier to process.
- Process the bacon in a mini food processor on the "chop" setting until finely ground. Mix it into the beef with the remaining ingredients.
- Form the mixture into four ¾-inch-thick patties. Use your thumb to make a shallow dimple in the middle of each burger. This helps them retain their shape.
- Heat a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium heat, about 3 minutes. Add the burgers. If the skillet is well-seasoned, there's no need to add oil. Otherwise, add a tablespoon of oil to the pan before adding the burgers.
- Cook the burgers until cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side over medium heat.*
- Serve immediately with your favorite hamburger toppings.**
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NOTES
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 