Quick Summary: A bacon cheeseburger elevated with homemade blueberry bourbon BBQ sauce. The sweet-savory combination is perfect for summer grilling or 4th of July cookouts. Includes tips for cooking juicy burgers indoors. Prep: 20 min | Cook: 15 min | Serves: 4
Jump to: RECIPE | Ingredients | Step-by-Step Directions | Tips for Cooking Burgers Indoors | FAQ
At HeathGlen Organic Farm, we grow 600+ blueberry plants, which gives us plenty to sell at the farmers markets, and plenty to bring in to the kitchen for recipe development.
This blueberry bacon cheeseburger started as an experiment after hearing about the popularity of a blueberry cheeseburger at a local burger joint.
I used a homemade blueberry BBQ sauce to add a sweet-savory depth to the burger, and it did indeed make for a memorable summer burger. It’s perfect for 4th of July or any summer cookout where you want to impress without much extra effort.
Ingredients & Additions to Bacon Cheeseburgers
Cheeseburgers are easy to customize and can adapt to the tastes of the crowd at a Summer barbecue or gathering.
Here are some popular additions or substitutions for customizing a blueberry-bacon-cheeseburger:
- Replace lettuce with spicy arugula
- Replace gouda cheese with blue cheese
- Add blueberry jam or this homemade blueberry BBQ sauce
- Add a basil aioli instead of mayo (see notes in recipe card for directions)
- Toast the buns with a bit of butter or oil if you want extra crunch
- Use red onions for added color
Blueberry Bacon Cheeseburger (Step-by-Step)
Step #1: Cook the bacon to your preferred crispiness
Step #2: Grill or pan-fry the burgers (see cooking tips for best burgers below)
Step #3: While burgers are cooking make a blueberry BBQ sauce (or use a pre-made blueberry jam
Step #4: Assemble the burgers with your preferred burger accompaniments
Tips for Cooking Perfect Burgers Indoors
While outdoor grilling is a popular method for burgers in the Summertime, our weather in Minnesota doesn’t always cooperate. I tend to opt for cooking burgers in a grill pan on the stove or with this Cuisinart indoor grill, so I can enjoy them quickly and without a lot of grill prep.
There are a few keys to making the juiciest, tastiest burgers in a skillet however. Here are the tips to consider for a 5-star burger:
- Get chuck that has at least 20% fat; lean burgers are just not optimal for flavor
- 1 pound of burger will make about 3 good sized patties (1/2-inch-thick and 4 1/2 inches in diameter) that fit in standard grocery store buns
- Heat a cast iron pan up before placing the burgers in it.
- Cook over medium high heat at the beginning to get a good sear and then lower the heat a bit to cook it through
- If your sear is good but the inside of the burger is not getting done, lower the heat a bit more and place a cover on the skillet
- If you want perfectly melted cheese on your burger, wait until they are 90% done, place the cheese on top and cover the skillet with a see-through cover if possible. Watch for the cheese to melt to your desired consistency and then remove burgers and let them rest about 3-5 minutes
- For patties that are loosely packed and 1/2-inch-thick, cook about 4 minutes on one side, and then flip and cook 3 minutes on the other side. This will be medium-rare.
FAQ
Gouda melts beautifully and has a slight sweetness that complements the blueberries. Blue cheese is another excellent choice if you want a sharper contrast.
Yes, but the homemade BBQ sauce has more complexity from the bourbon, balsamic, and spices. If using jam, add a splash of balsamic vinegar to balance the sweetness.
The burger and bacon are compliant. The bun and blueberry sauce with brown sugar are not. Skip the bun and use the sauce sparingly, or enjoy this as a cheat day indulgence.
Yes. It keeps refrigerated for about a week and the flavor improves after a day.
Look for chuck with at least 20% fat. Leaner beef makes drier, less flavorful burgers.
Check out this collection of over 80 blueberry recipes, developed and tested from our farm (HeathGlen). Available in pdf form as a digital ebook ($14.95), or as a print book from Amazon (paperback or hardcover).
Blueberry Bacon Cheeseburgers
Equipment
- skillet Cast iron is preferable for the burgers
- bowls
Ingredients
Bacon Burgers
- 5 Ounces bacon strips cut in half
- 1 Pound chuck ground beef
- 2 ½ Ounces cheese I used gouda
- 4 hamburger buns
Blueberry BBQ Sauce
- ½ Teaspoon Hot sauce Cholula
- ½ Teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ Cup Catsup
- ¼ Cup Balsamic vinegar
- ¾ Tablespoons brown sugar packed
- 3 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ Teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion chopped
- 3 Cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ Cup bourbon
- 3 Cups blueberries can be frozen
- ½ Teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
For Bacon Cheeseburgers
- Cut bacon strips in half and cook in a large skillet over medium high heat until done to your preference (crispy or softer).5 Ounces bacon
- Form ground beef into 3 1/2-inch patties about 4 1/2 inches in diameter. Sprinkle with salt and use your thumb to add a small indent in the middle of the patty to help keep it from shrinking.Heat a bit of oil in a cast iron skillet and when it is hot add your patties to the skillet.Sear on one side about 4 minutes, or until browned. Flip and cook on the other side about 3 minutes for medium rare.When the burgers are almost done to your preference, add the cheese on top and cover the pan, cooking a little longer until the cheese is melted (about 1-2 minutes)1 Pound chuck ground beef, 2 1/2 Ounces cheese
- While the burgers are cooking, lay out your accompaniments and toast the buns. Assemble the burgers: Spread the toasted buns liberally with mayonnaise. Place lettuce on top of the mayo, followed by the cheeseburger, a few spoonfuls of blueberry sauce, 3 1/2 slices of bacon, and a slice of red onion.a big pinch of arugula. Repeat with the remaining burgers.4 hamburger buns
For Blueberry BBQ Sauce
- Mix together the first seven ingredients in a bowl (the hot sauce through the allspice).1/2 Teaspoon Hot sauce, 1/2 Teaspoon liquid smoke, 1/2 Cup Catsup, 1/4 Cup Balsamic vinegar, 3/4 Tablespoons brown sugar, 3 Tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1/4 Teaspoon ground allspice
- Add 1 Tablespoon oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat. When hot add the chopped onions and saute for about 3-5 minutes or until caramelized. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.Add the bourbon, and bring to a low boil for about 3 minutes. Add the blueberries and the vinegar-mustard mixture, stir, and return to a boil. Add the salt, lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until thickened to your preference.1 Tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 onion, 3 Cloves garlic, 1/3 Cup bourbon, 3 Cups blueberries, 1/2 Teaspoon kosher salt
- Serve the blueberry sauce on the side or use as a burger topping. I used 1/4 – 1/3 cup blueberry sauce per burger.
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