Candied Bacon Maple Cheddar Burger

What Makes This Bacon Cheddar Burger So Darn Good

• Sweet meets salty. The sweet and salty contrast between the crispy candied bacon, gooey melted cheese, and smoky maple barbecue sauce is NEXT LEVEL.
• Made from scratch. I’ll show you how to candy bacon in the oven. Meanwhile, we’ll whip up an easy homemade BBQ sauce, caramelize the onions, and prepare the burger patties. Everything comes together pretty seamlessly by the time it’s ready to serve.
• Better than a restaurant! These BBQ bacon burgers offer all the gourmet burger vibes you’ll get at your local gastropub, minus the gourmet price tag. Make these candied bacon cheddar burgers from everyday ingredients that you’ll find at your favorite supermarket.

What You’ll Need

Check out my quick notes on the ingredients you’ll need below. Be sure to refer to the recipe card for the full printable recipe details and amounts.

For the Candied Bacon

• Bacon – I use thick-cut slices of Applewood smoked bacon. You can use streaky bacon, back bacon, or any kind you’d like.
• Brown Sugar – Light brown sugar or regular brown sugar will both work for candying the bacon strips in the oven. I combine my sugar with a bit of black pepper for extra zing.

For the Caramelized Onions

• Butter and Sugar – Softening the onions in a mixture of butter and sugar helps them caramelize, while a pinch of salt balances the sweetness.
• Maple Syrup – Just a splash, but oh-so-worth-it. Maple syrup and bacon are a match made in flavor heaven. Get your hands on some real maple syrup to use here and in the BBQ sauce (see below). You won’t be sorry.
• Onion – You’ll need one large yellow or sweet onion, like Vidalia. Slice the onion up nice and thin so that everything gets evenly coated and caramelized.

For the Maple BBQ sauce

• Ketchup – The perfect sweet-savory base for easy homemade barbecue sauce. 
• Apple Cider Vinegar – You can use another type of vinegar, like red wine or white wine vinegar, instead.
• Maple Syrup – Again, I recommend using the real deal. If you don’t have maple syrup, your next best option is honey or brown sugar as a sweetener in the sauce. 
• Worcestershire Sauce – For the ultimate umami flavor. Substitute soy sauce if needed.
• Hot Sauce – Use your favorite brand of hot sauce or chili sauce, like Tabasco or Sriracha.
• Garlic Powder – You can also use onion powder if you prefer.

For the Burger Patties

• Ground Beef – I like to use lean ground beef (80/20) when making grilled burgers. There’s just enough fat to keep the patties flavorful and juicy, without being overly greasy. I keep the ground beef simple in this burger recipe with a light seasoning of salt and pepper so that the maple barbecue sauce can do the talking!
• Cheddar Cheese – Putting the “cheddar” in this bacon cheddar burger is some sharp cheddar cheese. You can use any variety of cheese, really, but a good quality cheddar is my favorite.
• Burger Buns – Use your choice of burger buns or rolls. You can slice the buns in half and toast them beforehand if you’d like.

First, Prepare the Burger Toppings

I love these candied bacon cheddar burgers as all the burger toppings can be prepped ahead of time. This way, you can have everything ready to assemble as soon as the burgers are grilled! Otherwise, I’ll usually caramelize the onions and prepare the BBQ sauce while the bacon candies in the oven. Let’s get started following the steps below. Scroll down to the recipe card for the printable instructions.

• Prepare the bacon. Whisk black pepper and brown sugar together in a bowl. Next, line up your bacon strips on a baking rack set over a large, foil-lined baking sheet (a cooling rack works great here if you don’t have an actual baking rack). Next, sprinkle the sugar mixture generously over the bacon.
• Bake. Pop that sugary bacon into a 375ºF oven for about 20 minutes, rotating the pan about halfway through. Once the bacon is crisped and caramelized, leave it to cool on the rack.

• Caramelize the onions. While the bacon is in the oven, sauté thinly sliced onions in a skillet with butter, then add sugar, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Continue to cook the onions low and slow until they’re caramelized and golden.
• Make the maple BBQ sauce. Add the sauce ingredients to a saucepan on the stovetop and stir to combine. Then, simmer the mixture for 20-30 minutes to thicken. It’s as simple as that. Don’t forget to stir!

How to Make a Candied Bacon Cheddar Burger

With your toppings ready to go, the burger patties come together in minutes, and whenever you’re ready, go ahead and cook your burgers using the grill or your preferred method. Afterward, it’s just a matter of assembling the burgers on a toasted bun. Here’s how you do it:

• Prepare the patties. In a bowl, use your hands or a wooden spoon to fold salt and pepper into the ground beef. After, divide and shape the meat mixture into 8 even-sized patties.
• Grill. Drop those beef patties onto the hot grill for 4-5 minutes per side. Place slices of cheddar onto the freshly grilled burgers so that the cheese melts with the heat, then take them off the grill. Alternatively, you can cook these burgers in the air fryer.
• Assemble the burgers. Now, place a patty onto each bun. To build the burger, top each patty with a dollop of BBQ sauce, then caramelized onions, and a couple of slices of candied bacon. Close the burger with the top bun, and dig in!

Recipe Tips

• Be gentle with the ground beef. Overworking the ground beef when you’re mixing in the salt and pepper can result in tougher burgers. Make sure to gently fold in the seasonings until they’re just combined.
• Wet your hands when forming the burger patties. Or, rub them with a bit of olive oil. This can help with sticking.
• Keep the patties cold until you’re ready to grill them. You can make these beef patties anywhere from a few hours before to a day ahead of time. Either way, make sure to refrigerate the burger patties once they’re shaped. They need to hit the grill while still cold for a juicy burger that holds its shape.
• Don’t press your burgers while they’re cooking. I know, I know. There’s the inexplicable, overwhelming urge to whip out a spatula and press on things like grilled cheeses and burgers while they cook. Resist! Pressing on the burgers only serves to squeeze out all those precious juices. 

Serving Suggestions

This candied bacon cheddar burger is a delicious and satisfying meal no matter the occasion! 

• If you make these for a backyard cookout, serve juicy burgers with a creamy potato salad or a spicy Frito corn salad and corn on the cob.
• Serving these grilled cheeseburgers for the family? Enjoy them with a classic side of French fries, curly fries, or sweet potato fries.
• For game day or your next potluck, serve these burgers as a main with easy party appetizers like spinach and artichoke dip and mac and cheese balls.

More Topping Ideas

There’s no wrong way to dress a homemade hamburger! If you’re a traditionalist, go ahead and top your candied bacon cheeseburgers with ketchup, mustard, relish, or mayonnaise (or any combination thereof). If you crave the flame, beef up the hot sauce or add on jalapeno slices, chilies, or crushed red pepper. The sky is truly the limit. Here are some of my favorite burger toppings to try:

• Pickles
• Leafy greens
• Sliced avocado (or guacamole)
• Tomato slices or tomato relish
• Sautéed bell peppers
• More cheese (Monterey Jack, brie, gouda, etc.)
• A fried egg (turn this recipe into the best breakfast burger ever!)

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Whenever possible, I recommend storing these bacon cheddar burgers before they’re fully assembled. The candied bacon, caramelized onions, and maple BBQ sauce can all be stored airtight in the fridge for up to 4-5 days, as can the cooked burger patties.
• Reheat. To reheat, warm the cooked hamburger patties in the microwave, then assemble the burgers as usual.
• Freeze. I recommend preparing the bacon and caramelized onions fresh for serving, but the homemade BBQ sauce and the burger patties (cooked or uncooked) can be made ahead and frozen. When freezing the burgers, wrap the patties tightly in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container. Use parchment paper to separate any layers. Thaw the patties in the fridge, and either reheat them as above or grill them as directed in the recipe.

More Burger Recipes to Try

• Taco Burgers
• Bruschetta Burger
• Cheeseburger Sliders
• Caramelized Onion Dip Burger