Bacon Cheeseburgers

🧂 Ingredients

• 4 large Yellow or Sweet Onions

  sliced thinly
• 2 cups full-fat buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 (16-ounce) package of bacon
• 1-2 teaspoons pure granulated maple sugar
• 8 hamburger patties
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 8 slices cheddar or gouda cheese
• 8 hamburger buns
• Barbecue sauce for topping

Instructions

• 1 Whisk together full-fat buttermilk and eggs in a large bowl.
• 2 Slice yellow or sweet onions into thin slices. Separate onion slices and soak in
  buttermilk/egg mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour and
  up to 24 hours.
• 3 Mix flour, cornstarch, and spices in a large pie plate or baking dish. Gently
  shake off excess buttermilk mixture and coat onion rings with dry coating.
• 4 Preheat the corn or canola oil in a large cast iron skillet to 375 degrees Use a
  digital thermometer to accurately measure the temperature.
• 5 Working in small batches, fry the onion rings for about 2 minutes or until they
  are lightly golden brown. Carefully remove the onion rings with a stainless
  steel strainer or a large slotted spoon.
• 6 Let onion rings drain on a half sheet pan lined with clean dry paper towels.
• 7 Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper. Carefully line bacon slices on the
  sheet pan, overlapping just a touch.
• 8 Sprinkle lightly with pure granulated maple sugar.
• 9 Bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 20-22 minutes, or until to your
  desired doneness.
• 10 Remove the hot sheet pan carefully from the oven. Use tongs to remove the bacon
  slices and place on a plate lined with clean paper towels to drain the fat. Let
  cool slightly.
• 11 Preheat your charcoal grill.
• 12 Carefully oil the grates of your grill. Wad up paper towels and tip them into
  corn or canola oil. Use tongs to hold the paper towels while thoroughly coating
  the grates with cooking oil.
• 13 Sear the burgers directly over the preheated coals until nice grill marks are on
  the bottom, about 4 minutes. Flip the burgers only once. Use a long-handled
  metal spatula to flip the burgers.
• 14 Once seared, move the burgers so they are not directly over the coals. Cover the
  grill and let the burgers cook until they are to your desired doneness. Use a
  meat thermometer to properly check the internal temperature.
• 15 Add cheese and cover the grill to let it melt. Toast the buns on the grill if
  desired. Watch the buns carefully, as they can quickly burn.
• 16 Remove the cheeseburgers from the grill and top with buttermilk fried onion
  rings, maple coated bacon, and drizzle with a little barbecue sauce. Enjoy
  immediately.

Nutrition Info