BBQ Bacon Onion Ring Burger – A Backyard Classic

4 2 minutes read

This BBQ Bacon Onion Ring Burger brings bold flavors and hearty textures to your plate. Featuring a juicy grilled beef patty, crispy bacon, gooey melted cheese, crunchy onion rings, and tangy barbecue sauce, it’s everything you want in a burger. Inspired by the fast food favorite from Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, this homemade version delivers all the satisfaction with a personal touch. Pair it with sweet corn on the cob, baked beans, or creamy potato salad for the ultimate cookout combo.

Why You’ll Love This Burger

Whether you’re throwing a summer barbecue or just craving a solid burger night, this burger is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It’s loaded with flavor, easy to prepare, and loved by kids and adults alike. Plus, it’s customizable to suit your taste.

What You’ll Need

Ground beef: 80/20 blend gives the best flavor and juiciness.
Bacon: Thick-cut smoky bacon is ideal, but regular-cut works too.
Cheese: American cheese melts beautifully, though cheddar is a great alternative.
BBQ sauce: Use a tangy, flavorful BBQ sauce like Kinder’s or make your own.
Onion Rings: Frozen work great, or go all out with homemade onion rings.
Hamburger buns: Sesame seed buns give it that classic burger shop touch.

How to Make It

Step 1: Shape the ground beef into four thick patties. Place them on a baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine your favorite burger spices and season the patties evenly.

Step 2: Preheat your grill to medium-high. Place patties on the hot grill and cook for 2–5 minutes on one side, depending on your preferred doneness.

Step 3: Flip the patties and continue cooking until fully done.

Step 4: Add a slice of American cheese on top of each patty during the last minute of cooking. Let it melt, then remove the burgers from the grill and place them on a plate.

Step 5: Lightly toast the burger buns on the grill until golden and crisp.

Step 6: Assemble the burger: Place the grilled patty on the bottom bun, top with crispy bacon, a couple of onion rings, a generous drizzle of barbecue sauce, and finally the top bun.

Helpful Tips

Pattie size matters: Shape patties slightly larger than your buns since they shrink while grilling.
Get the grill hot: Ensure your grill is properly preheated for the best sear and flavor.
Make it a double: For big appetites, stack two patties for a hearty double burger.
Oven-baked bacon: Cook your bacon in the oven at 400°F for 8–10 minutes on a foil-lined baking sheet for less mess and perfect crispiness.