Whatever the color of your collar, we all have one thing in common: we love a free vacation day. And a free vacation day calls for fun with family and friends. Oh, and good food, of course. The juicy Ultimate Labor Day Burger is what you’ll want to be biting into the next time you are experiencing the freedom and carefreeness of time off. The view alone of the fluffy sesame seed bun stacked with a savory, thick beef patty, salty, melty cheese, tender, grilled onions, and creamy avocados will make you forget all about the stressors waiting for you back on the clock. The homemade sweet, tangy, apricot-infused barbeque sauce is what takes this burger from average to ultimate and convinces your taste buds (and brain) that it’s time to relax. Now, go clock out, punch out, log off, or however it is you leave work, and celebrate a job well done by indulging with an Ultimate Labor Day Burger!
Ingredients
For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup apricot preserves
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup water
For the burgers:
- 2 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1 red onion, sliced into rings
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 6 slices Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack cheese
- 6 sesame seed hamburger buns
- 2 avocados, sliced
Directions
Step 1 –In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
Step 2 –Add the chopped red onion and the garlic to the oil, stirring, and cook until softened, about 1 minute.
Step 3 –Stir the ketchup, preserves, mustard, vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and water into the onion mixture.
Step 4 –Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer and cook until it is slightly thickened, for about 10 minutes.
Step 5 –Transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth.
Step 6 –Let the barbeque sauce cool to room temperature.
Step 7 –Preheat the grill to medium heat.
Step 8 –In a large bowl, add the ground beef and 3 tablespoons of the cooled barbeque sauce.
Step 9 –Use your hands to mix the meat and the sauce until just combined.
Step 10 –Form the meat into 6 patties that are 1/2-inch-thick, making a small indent in the center of each with your thumb.
Step 11 –Season both sides of each patty with salt and pepper.
Step 12 –In a small bowl, toss the sliced red onion rings in the remaining vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of the barbeque sauce.
Step 13 –Grill the oil-coated onion rings, turning occasionally, until lightly charred, about 8 minutes.
Step 14 –Increase the grill temperature to medium-high.
Step 15 –Set the onions aside for serving.
Step 16 –Transfer 1/2 cup of the barbecue sauce to a separate bowl for brushing the patties while grilling.
Step 17 –Grill the patties, brushing with the barbecue sauce and flipping occasionally, until the patties have reached your preferred doneness, ideally an internal temperature of 145 degrees F for medium-rare, about 8 minutes.
Step 18 –Carefully top each patty with a cheese slice during the last minute of grilling, covering to melt.
Step 19 –Toast the buns on the grill.
Step 20 –Place the cooked patties on the toasted buns and top with the grilled onion rings, the avocado, and more of the barbecue sauce.
Step 21 –Serve.
