I’ve been trying to get into the habit of meal planning for years now. I know how to go about it, so that’s not the problem. The issue is forcing myself to make the time to sit down and go through my cookbooks and magazines to decide on recipes and make a grocery list. I’ve been getting better – meaning maybe 2 weeks a month I’m able to make it happen. When I do, I realize how awesome it is and wonder why it’s such a struggle to do it more often! I save so much time at the grocery store when I have a list and I’m not just wandering the aisles trying to come up with meal ideas on the spot. Plus, I’m saving money since I have a plan for every ingredient I buy and throw away far less food. The real benefit, though, at least for me, is that dinners are much less stressful when I wake up knowing what we’re having that night as opposed to scrambling to put something together at the last minute.
If you asked Shane, these burgers would probably be the best thing to come from my recent meal planning efforts. We cooked them earlier this week, darting in and out to the grill between rain showers that were passing through the area. Minced bacon is incorporated into the burger patties themselves, making them juicy and rich. Served on homemade rolls with grilled zucchini on the side, they was an awesome meal. As much as I enjoyed the burgers, the real star of the show for me was the bacon onion balsamic jam. It was the perfect combination of savory and sweet and I’m already thinking of other ways I could use it! These burgers are pretty giant (more than 1/3 lb each before cooking) and I couldn’t finish mine, so the only change I’ll make next time is to divide the meat mixture into a few more, slightly smaller patties.
Bacon Burgers with Bacon Onion Balsamic Jam
from Fine Cooking
Bacon Onion Balsamic Jam
4 thick slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Burgers
2 thick slices bacon
1 1/2 lb 85% lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
4 hamburger buns (I made mine with this recipe)
To make the jam: Cook the bacon in a large skillet set over medium heat until browned but not yet crisp, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Pour off all but about 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan.
With the heat still on medium, add the onions to the pan with the bacon grease. Season with kosher salt and pepper then cover the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the cover, add a splash of water and use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the skillet. Replace the cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 7-10 minutes, or until the onions are softened and just starting to take on some color. Add the vinegar, mustard, 1/3 cup water and the bacon to the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer and continue cooking until the liquid has thickened and been mostly absorbed, about 2-4 minutes.
(You can make the jam up to 2 days ahead – store in the refrigerator and reheat gently before serving.)
To make the burgers: Mince the bacon with a sharp knife. In a large bowl, combine the bacon, ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Gently mix until combined, but don’t overwork. Divide into 4 equal portions, and form each portion into a burger, about 3/4 to 1 inch thick. Use your thumb to make an indentation in the center of each patty (this will keep the burgers from puffing and swelling in the center as they cook).
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (400-450 F). Oil the grates lightly (I use the tongs to hold a paper towel that’s been dipped in oil and rub it over the grates). Place the burgers on the grill (the side with the indentation should be facing up) and cook for about 4 minutes, or until grill marks form on the bottom. Flip the burgers and cook for about 4 more minutes (for medium), or until they are cooked to your desired doneness.
Grill the rolls lightly, if desired, then serve the burgers on the rolls topped with the jam.
Makes 4 burgers
You are so my kinda girl. This is burgers done right! Love the idea of adding minced bacon for extra flavor. They look amazing Tracey.
Ahhh I still need to make bacon jam!
I love bacon jam! The burgers look awesome and anything with bacon on it is better in my book. I have been doing all my meal planning for a year now. It has simplified my life in so many ways as I still want to make great meals, while juggling kids and life. 🙂 I am convinced it also saves me money lol.
I’m the same as well! I know planning my meals ahead of time is such a saviour but I still choose not to sometimes, mainly because I want to be able to buy anything that catches my eye when I’m grocery shopping. Bad bad habit but I’m trying to change to!
The bacon onion balsamic onion sounds absolutely great however!
These burgers were fantastic, possibly the best I’ve ever had! There was a great bacon flavor permeated throughout without being overpowering. Personally I would keep the size exactly how we had them, but I understand if you want them smaller in the future.
looks yumm!!!!
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I love balsamic and carmalized onions, so this sounds like a great combo!
I love that your husband not only reads, but comments on your blog! So sweet!
These look amazing!
Bacon jam has been on my list. ON bacon burgers. THIS is why I can’t go vegetarian.
Mmmmm, bacon. The onion balsamic jam sounds fantastic. Thinking I might need to make this. Think it would be good with yellow onions? I have a 10 pound bag of onions begging to be used!
The jam looks amazing! What a yummy dinner. I’m a big nerd about meal planning every week; it makes life so much easier.
I am so proud to share blogs with such creative folks. You give me ideas, which is (for me) the best function a blog can have.
These look so good – I can’t wait to try them. Love your blog – lots of great ideas!
You are obviously going to have to make two sizes of burgers, like I do here…big ones for the guys, little ones for me…it’s workable, really, it is. They look great and I can’t think of a thing not to like about these…will try them before Matt heads off after next week as I know anything with bacon has his name on it.
@Gloria – I definitely think you could make it with yellow onions. I always find the red a little sweeter so you might lose a bit of the sweet/savory combo, but I bet it’d still be fantastic!
what an awesome combination! bacon jam??? love it!
These Burgers sound fabulous! The jam is so full of flavor, I can’t wait to try it. I have never put bacon in with the meat before – great idea!
Stumbled upon this while looking for a way to jazz up some burgers with stuff I had laying around the house. Used yellow onions and it was a party in my mouth!
Oh dear, I’m going to be dreaming about those onions tonight!!
🙂
ButterYum
Oh my gosh, I’d be lost at the grocery store without a list! I’m a planner and list-maker 🙂
I’m making these as soon as I get my hands on some bacon (I don’t like it so I NEVER have any on hand) but I think Tony would love these (minus the onions, he is NOTTT a fan) so I’m thinking these and homemade steak fries for him one night for dinner. This is def going on the top of my to-make list 🙂 Thank you for sharing, it looks tasty as always!
This is SO good to hear! This recipe is tabbed in Fine Cooking and I’m really looking forward to making it. The jam does look good so I’m glad to hear that you thought so too. Many thanks for your review of the recipe!
I also love the bacon balsamic jam. Definitely a keeper!
These burgers look amazing! That bacon jam on top sounds simply divine!
I love your burger. They look so yummy! I’ll try to make it for my family some time. Thanks for the recipe!