Stuffed burgers are all the rage these days.  This is the recipe I keep up my sleeve for the times when I want to spoil the pants off a burger lover.  There’s really no other justification for a half-pound ground beef and bacon patty stuffed with melted cheese.

If you’ve got a bacon fiend on your hands, give them bacon in every bite.  Quit pretending it’s “good enough” to throw a couple pieces of bacon on top of the patty and put it instead inside the patty.  Cook and crumble or chop the strips, then include the bits when you mix everything up to form the patty.  I picked up this little trick years ago from a bacon-crazed buddy of mine.

I don’t add breadcrumbs to my burgers.  Sue me.  Fit the cheese into a divot in the bottom half of what will be a half-pound patty.  I happened to have pepper jack in the cheese drawer, so I used that and decided to top it all with guacamole, salsa, and pickled jalapeños.  You, of course, can use whatever cheese and toppings you like best on your burger!

Forget the pan and use your broiler to make an indoor burger.  Mark my words: I will never post a “stove top” burger recipe here.  When you are banished from your outdoor grill by Old Man Winter, your broiler will step in to console you with flame-kissed beef.

Regardless of cooking method, here’s a burger tip you should live by: Do Not Smash Your Burger With a Spatula.  I know that the sizzling sound is almost unbearably irresistible, but you’re enjoying that sound at the expense of flavor when you force all those juices out of the burger.

Oozing cheese.  Pretty sure I needn’t say more.

Cheese-Stuffed Monster Bacon Burger

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
Total Time: 25-30 minutes
Yield: 2 very, very large burgers

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
4 cubes (approx 1in x 1in x 1/2 in) cheese, cut from block
1 large egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
Toppings of choice (shown here: salsa, guacamole, pickled jalapeños)

1.  In large bowl, add ground beef, egg, chopped bacon, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.  Mix with hands until blended, but take care not to “over handle” the contents or the burgers will be too dense.  Form 4 patties.

2.  Use thumb to press a divot into 2 of the patties.  Place two cubes of cheese in the divots and then cover with remaining patties.  Gentle press edges together until well sealed.

3.  Move rack to top position in oven and set to broil.  Place patties on baking sheet and broil for approximately 5 – 8 minutes.  Flip burgers over and broil and additional 5 – 8 minutes, or until done.  Serve with desired toppings.