Gourmet Bacon-Mushroom Cheeseburger

Mild elephant garlic adds a sweet flavor to these juicy, gourmet burgers, topped with hickory-smoked bacon, cheese, and shiitake mushrooms.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 685 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 8 slices American cheese
• 1 large white onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 large red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1 medium green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 2 cloves elephant garlic, chopped
• 4 ounces white Cheddar cheese
• 1 ounce Asiago cheese
• 2 pounds lean ground beef (90%)
• 16 slices hickory-smoked bacon
• 1 (8 ounce) package shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• 8 Kaiser rolls, split
• 0.5 cup panko bread crumbs

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine onion, bell peppers, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until finely chopped but not quite pureed.

Step 2

Transfer onion mixture to a saute pan over medium heat; cook until reduced to a moist paste, about 20 minutes. When done, set aside to cool.

Step 3

Grate Cheddar and Asiago cheeses into a bowl using the finest teeth of a box grater.

Step 4

Place ground beef in a large mixing bowl. Add onion mixture and salt; mix thoroughly by hand until evenly combined. Add grated cheese mixture, a bit at a time, and mix until thoroughly combined. Add panko and mix until evenly distributed. Form into 8 balls and press into patties, using a hamburger maker if you have one. Wrap patties in waxed paper and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.

Step 5

Remove burgers from the refrigerator. Preheat an outdoor grill for 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and lightly oil the grate.

Step 6

While the grill is preheating, cook bacon in a large skillet and over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels.

Step 7

Drain all but 1 tablespoon bacon grease from the skillet and add mushrooms. Saute over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Step 8

Cook burgers on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center, about 6 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). During the last few minutes of cooling, add 2 slices bacon and 1 slice American cheese to each burger.

Step 9

Remove burgers from the grill. Place on Kaiser rolls and add mushrooms.