Caramelized Onion Bacon Burger

Welcome to the most flavorful, juicy, delicious homemade burger of your LIFE! My Caramelized Onion Bacon Burgers are so delicious, you wouldn’t believe that these are healthier than your traditional fast-food burger!

Save this recipe for your next grill date, or anytime that you’re tempted to run into the fast-food line and fulfill your burger cravings. This recipe is proof that healthy does NOT mean that your food has to be boring!

When I first started out on my journey of health and wellness (which you could say started at the time of birth, but *really* began after I went into recovery from my eating disorder), I was under the popular notion that in order to be healthy, your meals needed to be boring. AKA, you needed to just eat kale salads. Ha!

Thankfully, I learned just how far from the truth that sentiment is, and to be honest, my blog as a whole is a testament to that. I’m here to show you that eating healthy does not mean that your meals have to be boring. And it also doesn’t mean that you need to need to sacrifice your favorite foods.

You can eat burgers and be healthy – and I’m talking real burgers, here. Not a gluten-free and vegan burger (which I love too, don’t get me wrong, but that’s besides the point) but a real, beef burger on a glutinous bun. With bacon! And cheese! And all of the good toppings. Make this recipe with me and you’ll see just how easy and delicious eating healthy can be.

What You Need to Make This Caramelized Onion Bacon Burger

• Beef Patties: Like I said earlier, this burger calls for real beef patties. Any beef patties will work well in this recipe, so pick your favorite and go to town! I always recommend purchasing the highest quality ground beef or patties that you can afford! Quality is important!
• Brioche Buns: I love a brioche bun. Brioche is a rich, fluffy bread that is loaded with butter, and is absolutely delicious. In my opinion, it’s infinitely better than a traditional burger bun, and goes perfect in this recipe!
• Cheddar Cheese: Real cheddar cheese, freshly cut from the block, is the way to go in this recipe.
• Bacon: Just like we’re using real beef here, we’re also using real bacon. And trust me, it’s worth it.
• Lettuce:You can use any lettuce of your choice here, but for me, I personally like using either iceberg or butter lettuce! 
• Tomatoes: Tomatoes add some acid and a fresh, crisp taste to this rich and savory burger.
• Butter or Olive Oil: You can use either butter or olive oil in this recipe – whichever you prefer! I personally like butter, but it’s up to you. 🙂
• Red Onion: Red onion is perfect to use to make our caramelized onions.

How to Make This Caramelized Onion Bacon Burger

1. Preheat your oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with tin foil.
2. Line your baking strips evenly across the sheet. If you have a baking sheet rack, you can it to elevate the bacon, but if not, no worries!
3. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until perfectly crispy. Once cooked, set aside on a plate to cool.
4. Next, make the caramelized onions. Slice the onion super thin and heat your butter or olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
5. Once the pan is hot, add the onions in. They will sizzle a bit, and that’s okay! Continue to stir them until they soften.
6. Once they start to soften, turn the heat to low. If they start to look a bit dry, you can add in water 1 tablespoon at-a-time until they begin to soften again.
7. It will take the onions a while to fully cook (about 40 minutes), but the wait is worth it, I promise!
8. While the onions are cooking, generously grease a grill pan or cast-iron skillet with oil. Once hot, place your burger patties onto the grill.
9. Flip your burgers after the first side no longer sticks to the grill. Then, cook until they reach the desired temperature of “doneness,” approximately 165 F.
10. Once the patties are done, prepare your toppings. Toast your buns on the grill or in a toaster if desired, and chop your lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese.
11. Finally, assemble your burgers in the following order: Brioche bun on the bottom, then lettuce, tomato, burger patty, bacon slices, cheddar cheese, more lettuce, caramelized onions, and finally, the top bun.
12. Eat, and enjoy!

What to Serve With This Caramelized Onion Bacon Burger

Looking for side suggestions? Well, look no further, because I’ve got you! These sides are perfect to pair with this burger, to make it a more well-rounded meal!

• Buffalo Corn Ribs
• The Best Garlic Smashed Potatoes
• Strawberry Arugula Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing
• Vegan Kale Caesar Salad
• Delicata Squash Fries
• Crispy Lemon Potato Wedges
• Bacon Wrapped Broccolini 

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment/rating below. And, since I practically live on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your creations, so I can see them and repost on my IG stories! Enjoy! xx