Bacon Cheese Stuffed Burgers
Everyone’s summer favorite just got way better! We all love a big, classic juicy burger, but these Bacon Cheese Stuffed Burgers really kick things up a notch. Get ready for your taste buds to go crazy! These burgers are everything – SO juicy, incredibly flavorful and super easy. And don’t forget my secret burger sauce!
If you love a juicy burger – this stuffed burgers recipe is for you! The combination of cheese and bacon cooked right into the patty makes them EXTRA juicy and then the secret sauce takes this burger to the next level of delicious! My family requests these all summer long!
These were the juiciest burgers ever! So good!
— Mary
There are few things better in life than a juicy burger, fresh off the grill. I know you agree! These are what we grilled for our Mother’s Day cookout and then again for our Memorial Day celebration. They turn out so flipping delicious, the whole family was raving about them. They’re definitely going to be a regular cookout item!
Ingredients needed
Making the perfect juicy burger doesn’t require tons of ingredients or special equipment. Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Ground meat. Good quality ground meat is a must if you are looking to make the most juicy, flavorful burgers. I buy grass-fed beef and I opt for 96/4 lean beef. The added cheese and bacon will keep these lean burgers plenty juicy without being overly greasy. Feel free to use any type of ground meat you prefer. Ground chicken or ground turkey would work great!
- Flavor creators. To take these to the next level, we’re adding in chopped cooked bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, Worcestershire sauce, and salt + pepper.
- Buns. Challah buns are soft and flavorful. But feel free to use any favorite type of bun. You could even wrap your burger in lettuce for a low carb option. I recommend spreading a little butter on each half of the bun and then lightly grilling them for the best taste and texture.
- Cheese. Even though we’re stuffing these with shredded cheese, they don’t turn out super cheesy. Stuffing them with cheese does keep them amazingly juicy, but if you want a really cheesy burger, add a slice of your favorite cheese to the top during the last minute or two of grilling.
- Burger sauce. Our burger sauce is made from basic ingredients that truly make this the BEST burger. You’ll need mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle juice, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt & pepper and cayenne pepper (if you like a little spice).
- Toppings. Use your favorites here. We love lettuce, tomato, and red onions.
Looking for a healthier burger? Check out my other burger recipes: Easy Turkey Burgers, Healthy Burgers, Juicy Chicken Burgers, Chicken Parmesan Burgers, Black Bean Veggie Burgers, and Salmon Avocado Burgers.
How to make this recipe
Just a few simple steps and you’re well on your way to a killer stuffed burger! For the full, printable recipe, scroll down to the recipe card. Here’s the simple method:
- Cook the bacon. We want the bacon cooked, but not cooked so long that it becomes crispy. It will continue to cook and release flavor in the meat.
- Make the burger patties. Add chopped bacon, beef, shredded cheese, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to a large bowl and combine. I use my hands to evenly disperse the ingredients. Do not over-mix because you’ll run the risk of ending up with tough meat. Form the mixture into 4 patties.
- Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour. This will help the patties keep their shape on the grill.
- Grilling time. Over direct heat, 3 minutes per side, or until the meat registers 160ºF.
How to grill burgers
My husband is actually the grill master in our household, but here’s how it goes down.
- Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat.
- Place patties on the grill. Only flip one time and after about 3 minutes.
- If using, place sliced cheese on top of patties in the last minute or two of cooking.
- Butter buns and grill until golden. This will most likely only take about 30 seconds.
- Assemble your burgers with your favorite burger toppings!
How long to grill burgers
If you’re using 1/4 pound ground beef per burger, the grill times (per side) below will ensure you have your perfect burger.
- Medium rare – 2-3 minutes. It’s okay and safe for your burger to be pink in the middle as long as it has reached an internal temperature of 160ºF.
- Medium – 3-4 minutes. I like my burgers barely pink in the center and about 3 minutes per side usually does the trick.
- Well done – 5-6 minutes. In my opinion, an overcooked burger is a dry, ruined burger, but I know there are people that like a burger well done.
Secret sauce
Adding sauce to my burger is actually a new thing for me. I’ve always been a mayo girl, but after making this sauce for a family gathering, I’ll never go back to just plain mayo on my burger! This sauce is epic and will elevate the flavor of any burger recipe. And it’s so easy to whip up!
While the burgers are firming up a bit in the fridge, make the burger sauce. Simply, stir mayonnaise together with ketchup, pickle juices, garlic powder, paprika and salt & pepper to taste. Store the sauce in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
Assembly
Once you’ve mixed together the sauce, prep all of the burger fixings. Slice tomatoes, wash and tear lettuce, slice the onion, and get together anything else you want to serve, like pickles and all of the condiments.
To assemble, add plenty of secret sauce (or whatever condiment you prefer) to the bottom bun, then add lettuce. Next, stack the burger patty on top of the lettuce. Top the beef patty with any other desired toppings and add the top of the hamburger bun. Enjoy!
Expert tips
- I use 90% lean ground grass-fed beef. It has plenty of flavor but is not overly greasy. You can use any ground meat that you prefer, even ground bison, turkey or chicken.
- Burger patties should be evenly formed and more wide than thick. The patties will shrink up as they cook.
- While grilling, DO NOT push or press on your burger. When you press on it, all of the juices leave the burger and this can lead to dry burgers. It’s a good idea to have a food thermometer, so you don’t have to worry about making sure the juices run clear.
- The stuffed burger patties can be made up to 8 hours in advance and feel free to double the recipe, if you’re serving a crowd.
Frequently asked questions
We recommend refrigerating the patties for about an hour before grilling. This will help them stay together and keep their form.
It is recommended to make a thumbprint indentation into the center of each patty before it goes on the grill. This is to ensure that the meat cooks evenly and it helps the patty hold its shape, rather than swelling, as it shrinks during cooking.
To be safe, ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160ºF.
Variations
- Stovetop burgers. If you can’t or don’t want to use the grill, try cooking them in a skillet. Simply add 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to a cast iron skillet or nonstick skillet or grill pan and place it over medium heat. Once your pan is hot, cook for 3-5 minutes per side until they’re no longer pink.
- Ground meat. Choose any favorite meat for this recipe. Aside from your classic beef or turkey, there’s lamb, pork or buffalo.
- Cheeseburger. I typically use cheddar or American cheese, but some other tasty options are pepper jack, Colby, blue cheese, Swiss or feta cheese.
- Juicy Lucy. This is a popular stuffed burger that originated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It’s the ultimate stuffed burger! Not only is it stuffed with cheese and bacon, but there are also caramelized onions added to the mix. Grab a yummy recipe for the juicy Lucy burger HERE.
Serving suggestions
You have the perfect summer burger, now what are you going to serve with it? Here are some of our favorite burger sides.
- Crispy Sweet Potato Fries – these are so good, but you can always bake up some store-bought fries!
- Grandma’s Best Potato Salad – always a cookout favorite.
- Best Deviled Eggs – because in my family, deviled eggs go with everything.
- Reduced Guilt Spinach & Kale Greek Yogurt Dip – break out the chips + veggies with this delicious yogurt dip!
- Best Coleslaw Recipe – the perfect coleslaw to go with your yummy burgers.
- Greek Pasta Salad – fresh, flavorful and perfect for serving a crowd!
- Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies – don’t forget a little something sweet after the burgers!
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves them as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Bacon Cheese Stuffed Burgers
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 pound ground beef (I like to use 96/4 extra lean)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 slices cheddar cheese or other favorite variety (optional)
- for serving: toasted hamburger buns, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, burger sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayo, etc.
Burger sauce
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- dash of cayenne, optional for spice
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the bacon until it is cooked, but not yet crispy. It will finish cooking in the burger patties. Let it cool slightly and then chop it into small pieces.
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl and use your hands to combine the mixture until the bacon and cheese is evenly dispersed. Do not overmix, though.
- Evenly divide the ground beef into 4 equal servings and form into patties. Make the patties more thin than thick because they will shrink up some while cooking.
- I like to cover and refrigerate the patties for about 1 hour, if I have time. (This will help the burgers keep their shape on the grill.)
- While burgers are in the fridge, you can make the burger sauce: stir mayonnaise together with ketchup, pickle juice, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne (if using) and salt and pepper to taste. Place in refrigerator until you're ready to use.
- Prep your burger toppings: slice tomatoes, tear lettuce, slice the onion, etc.
- To grill, place each burger onto preheated grill or grill pan. Cook 3 minutes on one side and then flip and cook for another 3 minutes or until burgers register 160 degrees F. If adding cheese slices, do this after the burger has been flipped to the second side and after about 2 minutes. Top each patty with a slice, cover and cook 1 minute.
- Serve as desired, on toasted buns with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and burger sauce or other condiments. Enjoy!
Notes
- Medium rare – 2-3 minutes. It’s okay and safe for your burger to be pink in the middle as long as it has reached an internal temperature of 160ºF.
- Medium – 3-4 minutes. I like my burgers barely pink in the center and about 3 minutes per side usually does the trick.
- Well done – 5-6 minutes. In my opinion, an overcooked burger is a dry, ruined burger, but I know there are people that like a burger well done.
Did you make this recipe?
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I only make burgers at home for my family. I’m not a fan. I decided to eat one tonight. OMG they were so good. I’m a fan now. They were juicy and so tasty. Everyone loves them. Don’t forget the sauce, it’s awesome. Thanks so much for this recipe. Will be in our dinner rotation from now on.
This makes me so happy to hear!! Thanks so much for your feedback!
Can you freeze burger mixture ?
I think that would work fine.
My burgers fell apart on the grill 🙁 maybe because I made them too big and I let them chill for a few hours. But everyone loved them. Did they fall apart because of the size?
Hmmm… maybe they were too big. I haven’t had that problem before. The chilling of the patty actually should have helped them from falling apart. Was your grill oiled well?
These are our new favorite burgers! Will be making these all season long!
I made these burgers for the first time and they were absolutely delicious! Everyone thought they were great and cooking in the cast iron pan put the crust my husband loves just like you get from the grill. This will be my new go to for burgers!!
SOOOOOO GOOD
So happy you enjoyed!
My wife and I are burger people. There are very few things that top a flavorful burger.
We made Kim’s Bacon and Cheese filled Burger last night for supper.
They were AMAZING. My wife said it was better than my ‘Famous’ burger that everyone asks for.
And I have to agree.
The bacon helped make the burgers super juicy. I used 80/20 but will probably try the 90/10 that Kim recommends. Our burgers were so juicy they wanted to fall apart. Slicing up the bacon and mixing it into the burger, spread the flavor throughout. Bacon makes everything better, right?
Burger Sauce
I normally make a burger sauce from another on-line source. But my wife doesn’t like ANY sauce. (She thinks catsup is too spicy).
But we both loved this sauce! The Paprika and Onion Powder made all the difference.
While cleaning up after dinner, my wife was wandering around the house talking about how good it was. I printed out the recipe, and she instantly put it into our binder.
Thanks Kim for another GREAT recipe.
Your comment makes me so happy and thanks so much for taking the time to leave it!
This is the second time I have made these, and cooked on a Traeger grill with hickory pellets. This is a winner recipe. I received many compliments and a request for the recipe. I added green peppers. This will be my go to recipe for grilled burgers!
Just wow! I did this recipe over the weekend and its finger licking good!
We had these for dinner this weekend and they were loved by all! Thanks!
One of the best hamburgers I have ever eaten. I pan fried mine. SO GOOOOOD!
These were the juiciest burgers ever! So good!
Wow, these burgers were so juicy and delicious and the perfect dinner treat!
This just might be the most perfect burger! Yum! 🙂
Holy moly these were awesome! I did them in my cast iron pan, bc I don’t grill, and didn’t make the burger sauce- but the burgers themselves were 💯 will make again!! Thanks for another great recipe! When I tell my son we are having one of yours he gets excited to try it!
Yay! Super happy to hear! Thanks so much for your comment.
These are so good, we make them at least twice a month! I usually use ground turkey and uncured turkey bacon, and they turn out great every time. I usually throw some avocado on top (and make extra for my work meals lol)
Yay! So glad to hear you love these burgers as much as I do! Thanks so much for your comment!
Yum! My family devoured these burgers! Great recipe and we loved the burger sauce too.