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A summer classic gets a fresh twist! Piled high with aged cheddar, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, tomato, marinated onions, and sweet and spicy tomato jam, these perfect bacon burgers are just what you’ll want at all of your summer BBQs.
Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer, which means grilling season is upon us! Once Memorial Day rolls around, I’m ready to enjoy a juicy burger outside in the beautiful sunshine.
And boy do I have a good one for you today!
Perfect Bacon Burgers with Tomato Jam
Guys, this burger is fantastic. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I’m just keepin’ it real. These perfect bacon burgers have a few surprises to take them up a notch, but they are still close enough the classic we all know and love.
Whenever I’m planning a BBQ (or anything for the matter), The Fresh Market is my go-to for all things delicious. From seasonally fresh produce to exceptional meat and seafood, signature baked goods and carefully curated organics, all the foods you love are waiting for you at The Fresh Market! Whether you’re picking up ingredients for a homemade masterpiece or looking for a delicious meal solution without the prep work, they’ve got everything you need to celebrate the season.
So let’s jump in and break down these perfect bacon burgers!
Fresh Ground Beef & Crispy Bacon
You can’t have a really good burger without really good ground meat. My husband and I are kind of meat snobs. He worked for a butcher for 5 years during high school and college, so we’ve been accustomed to great quality fresh ground beef.
The Fresh Market is like taking a trip to a butcher as they have everything from USDA Prime beef to fresh ground meats like chuck, chicken, and turkey. They even offer a ton of ready-to-cook items like marinated chicken/steak/shrimp skewers and gourmet burgers.
For these perfect bacon burgers, we use fresh ground chuck which has just the right amount of fat for a juicy burger.
Perfect bacon burgers require really yummy bacon. The Fresh Market’s market-style bacon is SO tasty. It’s always been a favorite of mine as it cooks up perfectly and is just great quality bacon.
Tomato Jam
My favorite topping to this burger is the homemade tomato jam. Made with fresh tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, ginger, and cumin. It’s such a unique combination of flavors, but comes together in the most amazing way. Moooove over ketchup, there’s a new sheriff in town.
Marinated Onions
There’s something magical about a marinated onion. Sliced red onions combine with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and fresh thyme. Set ’em aside and forget them for about 30 minutes to an hour and be ready to be amazing. If you’re not into raw onions on burgers, you will absolutely love these! Even if you love a raw onion on your burger (????), you’re going to love these.
The Cheese
What’s a burger without cheese? A sad, sad burger. That’s what.
I love using a really good aged cheddar – just grab a block and slice off a few pieces to top your burger. You’ll be so happy you did.
Lettuce & Heirloom Tomatoes
I love a good, fresh crunch on my burger. Leafy green lettuce and a thinly sliced heirloom tomato fit the bill here. Can’t go wrong with those classic toppers.
The Bun
I’m actually a bunless burger gal. I know, a lot of people would say the bun is just as important as everything else. But, when you have to eat gluten-free, sometimes a great bun isn’t an option. Plus, I find that you taste all the ingredients more without all the extra bread.
However, my husband can’t eat a burger without a bun. He’s one of those people that scoff at the thought of a bunless burger. So, he chose the sesame buns in the bakery section of The Fresh Market. They are a staple for him and his burger loving self.
We like to layer are burgers first with lettuce and tomato, then the burger, then top with the bacon, marinated onions, and jam. But, you can layer however you like. I just find that the lettuce catches a lot of the juice and helps keep things from getting soggy. There’s really no rules here, though!
Whew! We covered a lot of components for these perfect bacon burgers. Let’s talk about sides. You can serve just about anything alongside your burger. The Fresh Market has tons of amazing options… from grilled veggie kits to prepared salads, which is all super convenient when you’re serving a crowd.
I was in the mood for some crispy potato wedges so I just grabbed some yukon gold potatoes (my fav), cut into wedges, boiled for 5 minutes, and then browned ’em up in a cast iron skillet. Crispy fries without deep frying!
My garden is producing beautiful spring greens right now, so I picked some of that and tossed it with balsamic, extra-virgin olive oil, and an olive-feta salad from the olive bar at The Fresh Market. Such an easy and delicious side!
I couldn’t resist grabbing this beautiful potted lily while I was shopping! Once the blooming season is over, I’ll let the foliage die off and then plant the bulbs outside. Next year I’ll have beautiful lilies in my garden!
Whatever your BBQ needs are The Fresh Market has got you covered! You can entertain in style with all they have to offer. You can set up a great burger bar and let your guests build their own burger as you grill ’em up.
Get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather with these delicious perfect bacon burgers – you’ll be happy you did. ?
Use the store locator to find The Fresh Market closest to you and be sure to check out their grilling page for tips and inspiration!
- 1 ½ lbs. Roma Tomatoes, cored and roughly chopped
- ½ Cup Light Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¼ - ½ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Small Cinnamon Stick
- ½ Teaspoon Cumin
- ¼ Teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1 Small Red Onion, sliced
- 1 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Fresh Thyme
- Salt & Pepper
- 2 lbs. Ground Chuck
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- 6 Slices Crispy Cooked Bacon
- Sliced Aged Cheddar
- Lettuce Leaves, for serving
- Sliced Heirloom Tomato
- Your Favorite Buns, for serving
- Combine the tomatoes, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, cinnamon stick, cumin, and ground ginger in a pot and place over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and then lower to a simmer. Cook the tomato mixture for about an hour, or until it’s of jam consistency. Be sure to stir frequently to prevent the jam from burning. Once the jam is done, let it cool completely and then transfer to a jar for storage. You can keep the jam in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Place the onions in a shallow bowl and add the balsamic vinegar and then cover with extra virgin olive oil. Top with fresh thyme leaves and season with a healthy pinch of salt and pepper. Let the onions stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before using.
- Preheat your outdoor grill (you can also use a grill pan or cast iron skillet if you don’t have a grill!)
- Form the ground chuck into 6 burgers. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Once your grill is hot, grill the burgers for 4-5 minutes per side depending on your grill. Add the cheddar during the last minute of cooking. (Mine is infrared so they cook really fast, but you may need more time!) Let the burgers rest for 10 minutes before assembling.
- Toast your bun if you wish and then top with lettuce, tomato, the burger, crispy bacon, and marinated onions. Spread the tomato jam on the top of the bun and then press it on top of the burger. Enjoy!
Made this twice now. It’s so good!!! Looking forward to more posts.