Venison Burgers with Bacon, White Cheddar, & Caramelized Sweet Onion

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 lb venison chuck/shoulder

  (substitute ground venison or beef)
• 2 oz bacon
• ½ tsp salt

  (or to taste)
• ½ tsp cajun seasoning

  (or to taste)
• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

  (or to taste)
• 6 slices bacon, halved
• 2 medium sweet onions

  (substitute white, yellow, or red onion)
• 4 slices white cheddar

  (substitute swiss, pepper jack, or colby)
• 4 leaves romaine or iceberg lettuce

  optional
• 4 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 4 tbsp mayonnaise

  optional
• 2 tbsp ketchup

  optional
• 4-8 each dill pickle slices

  optional

Instructions

• 1 Grind the cubed venison (or beef) chuck with raw bacon through a medium or
  coarse grinder plate, alternating cubes of meat and pieces of bacon so that they
  are evenly mixed.
• 2 Mix the ground meat mixture gently, and divide into ¼-⅓ lb patties.
• 3 Season the outside of the patties with salt, pepper, and Cajun or steak
  seasoning.
• 4 Cut bacon slices in half. Cook the bacon over medium heat, turning often so it
  doesn’t curl, or you can bake the slices on a sheet pan.
• 5 Remove the bacon to a plate and keep warm. Drain all but a few tablespoons of
  the bacon fat, reserving the rest to cook the burgers. Peel and slice the onions
  and add them to the bacon pan.
• 6 Saute onions in the bacon pan over medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes, or until
  the onions are softened and turning golden brown.
• 7 Get your cast iron or heavy gauge pan very hot, so that you can get a good sear
  on the burgers without drying out or overcooking the inside.
• 8 Sear the burger well on the first side, pressing the patty into the pan to get a
  good crust. Flip the patties and sear and press the second side. This should
  only take a few minutes.
• 9 Top the patties with cheese & bacon slices and remove from the heat once the
  cheese is melted.
• 10 Toast or gently warm the buns in the pan while the cheese is melting.
• 11 Spread caramelized onions (& mustard) on the bottom bun.
• 12 Top with burger patty, melted cheese, & bacon.
• 13 Add other condiments & lettuce, tomato, or pickles. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Info