This evening I was craving burgers for some reason. I decided to make Bacon Cheddar Burgers, but not your typical bacon and cheddar on top burgers. I mixed diced crispy bacon and shredded cheddar into my ground beef along with sliced green spring onions. They turned out amazing and full of flavor. To make them even better, I put a nice thick piece of Cabot's Vermont White Cheddar on top with a slice of tomato and slice of sugar free bread and butter pickle. I cooked the burgers in a large skillet on the stove. While they were cooking, I pulled out my big bag of coleslaw mix and sauteed it in Kerrygold butter in another skillet and seasoned it with sea salt and black pepper. Easy peasy. I love the convenience of having the slaw mix ready to use either hot or cold or in soups. It's a real time saver on weeknights. I snapped a few photos and included the simple recipe below. Enjoy!
Bacon Cheddar Burgers
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef (I used Maverick Ranch 91% lean organic grass-fed beef)
2 sliced green spring onions
1/2 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
4 strips cooked bacon, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Directions:
In a medium bowl, mix together ground beef, onions, cheddar cheese, bacon, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix just until combined; divide and form into 4 patties about 1/2-inch thick.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook burgers approximately 5 to 7 minutes per side, or to desired doneness.
*Note: I prefer to use lean beef and then add my own additional fat, like olive oil to add moistness.
12 comments:
Hi GGC,
I'm interested in the ground beef you used. Did you find it locally?
I'd heard that Aldi's has organic grass-fed, grass finished gr. beef (their own store brand, "Simply Nature") so I went to check it out. It's USDA certified organic and $6.99/lb. When I saw on the label that one of the sources of the beef was a S. American country (I forget which one) I decided to "think about it." I recently read that S. American beef might not always be the high quality that it once was famous for and that some growers have ways of getting around the "organic" and "grass-fed/finished" part. I also don't know much about Aldi's, other than it seems a lot of people really like them, so I thought before I buy I'd try to do some homework "in my spare time" --LOL-- to try to figure out if people are satisfied or not. I guess I could just pick up a pound and see what it looks/cooks/tastes like! :-)
www.aldi.us/en/grocery-home/fresh-meats/usda-choice-beef-more/beef-detail/ps/p/simplynature-organic-grass-fed-ground-beef-2/
I especially want to get away from feedlot-produced ground beef. We have access to locally produced pastured beef, but may not be strictly "organic" or "grass-finished." However, even if it's not it should be a great improvement over factory farmed. I've used our local hamburger and have been very satisfied with it.
Hi CyberSis,
Yes, I actually found it at Kroger. I believe our Publix sells it as well. It's from Maverick Ranch. I've mostly just used their bacon. We have several local farms that produce grass-fed beef here and I've tried several and did not care for them at all.
For one thing, the smell when opening a package of it is so off putting that you can't imagine eating it. I thought it might have been bad but bought it several times at different places and it was the same thing. It seemed tougher/chewier and I just did not care for it. I just refused to buy or eat it. I decided to give Maverick a try since I like their bacon and really like it. No funky smell...lean, and tasty. I was actually getting ready to buy some Laura's beef when I saw this sitting beside it and picked it up. Did you see that I put a link to the beef on my post? They sell other natural meats that aren't organic or grass-fed as well but the one I've purchased is organic and completely grass-fed.
We have an Aldi's nearby but I just can't get into it for some reason. I sort of feel the same way about Trader Joe's. I know there are those that a big fans of both but when I go into either of those places, I can't wait to get out of there. Is that weird or what? LOL I will go into Trader Joe's for something specific but don't care to shop there. I wish I liked Aldi's since there is one close by, but I gladly pay more not to go there! LOL I know that it sounds ridiculous but it's the truth. If you end up trying their beef and like it, let me know. I'd go in there (or send hubby...LOL) to pick some up if it was good. In case you didn't see the link for Maverick...this is the one I like (it comes in a 1-lb brick style). http://www.maverickranchmeats.com/html/OrganicGrassFedBeef.html
Hi GGC,
Yes, I did see the link. I spent quite a bit of time on their site this evening. I'll look for it at Kroger. Looks and sounds like a very nice product.
LOL on Aldi's. No, I don't think it's ridiculous at all. I've only been inside a couple of times myself and didn't buy anything either time! Well, their web site says "you can't eat frills, so they don't have any" ... or some such ... and the quarter in the shopping cart thing is just goofy! :-)
I hear you about TJ's, too. We don't have one anywhere close to us, so the one time we had business near one I was really excited about a big shopping expedition. Well, I don't know what I was expecting ... but that wasn't it! They didn't have the one item I was especially looking for and my big purchase was a teeny tin of dark chocolate-covered cocoa nibs!
I feel the same way about Aldi's and Tj's too. Haven't been in either for a very long time! We buy grass fed beef here for $6.99 a pound it is angus beef, quite tasty. We shop at www.shady-maple.com check out their website sometime just for the fun of it. They are located in Amish/Mennonite country. Another great recipe!!
Do you ever use a sous vide to "pre cook" your burgers? Although grass fed ground beef is usually not contaminated, cooking them in a sous vide and then drying and grilling will allow you a safe to eat, medium rare juicy burger. Personally, I form 1/3 to 1/2 lb. burgers and freeze slightly so that it holds shape when using vacuum sealer. Then I either cook or freeze. I add similar items/spices as you do to the ground beef before forming the burgers.
The sealed burgers are in the sous vide for about 1 -2 hours at 131*F. When removed, I pat dry and place on a preheated very hot grill outside or an inside grill pan on my cooktop for about 1-2 minutes per side to get a caramelized finish crust.
I bought a couple packs of Laura's ground beef at Kroger a while back. Mercy, it was so rubbery I think it would have bounced if I had dropped it. I even tried making some chili with it and couldn't wait for it to get gone. Never again. It is almost $10 a pound. YIKES!!
Aldi is owned by trader joe I believe!
Hi Maryann,
That sounds like a great price for grass-fed angus. Do you purchase it locally in stores or direct? I will check out their site. Thanks! :-)
Hi Anonymous,
No, I've never used a sous vide to make burgers before. Do you know if you would have to be concerned about BPA in the plastic coming in contact with the meat while it's cooking (even with the low temp)?
Hi Charlotte,
I have used Laura's before...but not for chili. I can NOT stop laughing at your description (bouncing)...LOL. :-)
Hi Anonymous,
Well, that explains why I don't care for either place then! LOL :-)
Hi,
We buy the angus at shady maple where we do most of our food shopping.
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