Western Burger Recipe

This Western Burger is stacked high with a big beef patty, bacon, barbecue sauce, and crispy onion rings! Loaded with flavor in every bite and the perfect addition to your summer grilling!

Nothing beats grilling season. Serve this burger with Homemade Onion Rings and a tall glass of Lemonade for a go-to meal the entire family will love!

RECIPE FEATURES

• Easy Grilling Recipe: Minimal seasoning and big flavor. These burgers are juicy and delicious without any fuss.
• Make-Ahead Option: Make and shape the patties ahead of time for a quick cook!
• Easy to Customize: Add your favorite toppings like bacon, tomatoes or lettuce.

I am a sucker for a delicious burger. Especially during the summer. We would visit my aunt and spend days out on the lake. Her treat to us? Carl’s Jr western bacon cheeseburger. They were such a treat and loaded with our favorite toppings. You just cannot beat a burger that is topped with crispy onion rings and slathered in bbq sauce.

For this recipe, I opted to use my homemade bbq sauce which adds a depth of flavor that is drool worthy. Pair that with the super simple juicy patty and crispy onion rings and you have yourself a copycat burger that rivals the original!

WHAT’S ON A WESTERN BURGER?

If you’re looking for the classic Carl’s Jr burger, it comes with a charbroiled all-beef patty, two strips of bacon, melted American cheese, crispy onion rings and tangy BBQ Sauce on a seeded bun. My recipe? All the same, minus the charbroil.

• Ground Beef: Keep in mind, the percentage of fat in burger is key. Fat provides moisture which gives you those super juicy burger patties. We like to stick with a meat that has 15 to 20 percent. A ground chuck is my go-to, but you can use any variety that works for you.
• Seasonings: Nothing too fancy. A simple burger seasoning or regular salt and pepper.
• Bacon: An optional ingredient, but one that really sends these burgers over the top. We like to cook bacon in the oven. It is such a time saver and you get evenly cooked pieces.
• Onion Rings: Homemade OR you can find fairly good tasting onion rings in the freezer section of most grocers. Follow the directions on the back of the package.
• BBQ Sauce: Again, you can make a homemade version or use your favorite brand. We love Stubb’s or Sweet Baby Ray’s.
• Toppings: Here is where you can get really creative. Sliced tomatoes, lettuce, or pickles. Add whatever your heart desires.

HOW TO MAKE WESTERN BURGERS

• PREP: Gather your ingredients and form the patties. I find it is easiest to get everything ready before you start cooking. That way your kitchen experience runs quick and smooth.
• COOK: Cook your burgers and onion rings. You can make the burgers on the grill, in the oven, or even in the air fryer!
• ASSEMBLE: Build your burgers! Try toasting the buns slightly and spreading a very thin layer of butter. This will send the flavor over the top!
• ENJOY: Serve and enjoy!

HELPFUL TOOLS

• Burger Press: Is this a necessity? No. Is it a must-have for summer burger making? YES! This easy press (affiliate) is amazing at forming equal patty sizes and is under $10 at the time of writing this post.
• Air Fryer (affiliate): One of THE MOST USED kitchen items I own. Perfect for when you want a burger but aren’t looking forward to pulling out the grill.
• Beef Seasoning: I always reach for the Traeger Beef Rub (affiliate). It adds the perfect balance of flavor and has a long shelf life.

RECIPE FAQS

MORE MUST-TRY BURGER RECIPES

• BBQ Pulled Pork Burger
• Queso Blanco Burgers
• Breakfast Burger
• Reuben Burger
• New Mexico Inspired Hatch Burgers
• Guacamole Bacon Burger

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5 from 1 vote

Western BBQ Burger

Created by: Jesseca

Course Dinner Recipes

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Total Time 8 minutes

4

This Western Burger is stacked high with a big beef patty, bacon, barbecue sauce, and crispy onion rings! Loaded with flavor in every bite and the perfect addition to your summer grilling!

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Ingredients

  

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• ▢ 1 lb ground beef
• ▢ 1 tablespoon burger seasoning
• ▢ 1-1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ▢ 6-8 slices bacon cooked
• ▢ Onion rings homemade or frozen, cooked
• ▢ Barbeque sauce of your choice
• ▢ Additional toppings
• ▢ Hamburger buns

Instructions

• Combine the beef, burger seasoning, and Worcestershire in a medium bowl. Gently mix with your hands until combined. 
• Divide into four equal pieces. Use your hand to form a thin and large round patty. You want them to be larger than you think. They will shrink and thick up while cooking. 
• Heat the grill to medium/high heat.
• Grill the burgers roughly 4 minutes on each side, or until the burger reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
• Remove the patty and layer on a bun with barbecue sauce, onion rings, and cooked bacon.

Notes

• Toast your hamburger buns with a tiny bit of butter. This gives you an incredibly delicious restaurant flavor and helps keep the toppings from soaking into the bun. 
• Start with the lowest time and work your way up. You do not want your burger to overcook. 
• Use 80/20 ground chuck for the best flavor. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1Servings | Calories: 698kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 120mg | Sodium: 1162mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g

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