May Day officially welcomes the warm weather, the renewal of the green world around us… and cookouts! Oh, we have been waiting to bust out the grill all winter, and now is our chance! We can’t just make any old burger; we have to make burgers that truly feel like a celebration! That means these May Day Burgers! Buns toasted in succulent bacon drippings, savory, beefy burgers topped with crisp bacon, melty Colby-Jack cheese… oh yeah, it’s all coming together! A spicy, tangy, sweet sauce helps make the most of this burger. Get ready to grill up an unforgettable sandwich with these May Day Burgers!
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ground beef chuck
- 12 slices bacon, halved
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- coarsely ground black pepper, to taste
- 6 sesame hamburger buns, split
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
- 1 teaspoon Louisiana-style hot sauce
- kosher salt, to taste
- 12 slices Colby-Jack cheese
- pickle chips, to taste, for serving
Directions
Step 1 –Form the ground beef into 12 thin 4-1/2-inch-wide patties.
Step 2 –Place the patties on a baking sheet and refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
Step 3 –Preheat the grill to high.
Step 4 –Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Step 5 –Add the bacon slices to the skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until they are browned and crisp, 15-20 minutes.
Step 6 –Transfer the bacon slices to a resting plate and pour the drippings in a bowl.
Step 7 –Return the bacon slices to the skillet in a single layer.
Step 8 –Drizzle the bacon slices with the maple syrup and sprinkle with the pepper.
Step 9 –Cook the bacon, turning to coat in the syrup, until glazed, about 1 minute.
Step 10 –Transfer the bacon to a resting plate to cool.
Step 11 –Brush the cut sides of the buns with the reserved bacon drippings.
Step 12 –In a small bowl, add the mayonnaise, the ketchup, the mustard, and the hot sauce and mix to combine.
Step 13 –Season both sides of the beef patties with the salt and the pepper.
Step 14 –Grease the grill grates right before placing the patties on the grill.
Step 15 –Working in batches, grill the patties until they are marked on the bottom, about 2 minutes.
Step 16 –Flip the patties and top each with a slice of the cheese.
Step 17 –Cover the grill and cook the patties until they reach an internal temperature of at least 140 degrees F for medium doneness, about 30 seconds.
Step 18 –Transfer the patties to a plate and toast the buns on the grill.
Step 19 –Spread the mayonnaise sauce over the toasted buns and top each with the pickle chips, two of the burger patties, and the bacon.
Step 20 –Serve.
