Bacon Burger with Special Sauce

Ingredients:

For the Burger:

• 1 lb ground beef (80% lean)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 burger buns
• 8 slices of bacon
• 4 slices of cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)
• Lettuce, tomato, pickles (optional toppings)
• 

For the Special Sauce:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tbsp mustard
• 1 tbsp pickle relish
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Special Sauce:

• In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle relish, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
• Stir everything together until smooth and well-blended. Taste and add salt and pepper if needed. Set aside.

2. Cook the Bacon:

• In a skillet or griddle over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy, about 5-7 minutes, flipping occasionally.
• Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess fat. Set aside.

3. Make the Patties:

• While the bacon cooks, divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions and form them into patties that are slightly larger than your burger buns (they will shrink as they cook).
• Season both sides of each patty generously with salt and pepper.

4. Cook the Patties:

• Heat a grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, place the patties on the grill or in the pan.
• Cook the patties for 3-4 minutes on each side for medium doneness, or longer if you prefer them more well-done.
• During the last minute of cooking, place a slice of cheddar cheese on top of each patty and cover to melt the cheese.

5. Toast the Buns:

• Split the burger buns and toast them lightly in a separate pan or on the grill for about 1-2 minutes until golden brown.

6. Assemble the Burger:

• Spread a generous amount of the special sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun.
• Place a cooked patty with melted cheese on top of the sauce.
• Layer the crispy bacon on top of the patty, then add any additional toppings you like, such as lettuce, tomato, and pickles.
• Finally, top with the other half of the toasted bun.

7. Serve:

• Serve the bacon burger hot with your favorite sides like fries or onion rings.

Enjoy your juicy, flavorful Bacon Burger with Special Sauce!