Red-Neck Turtle Burgers

This turtle burger recipe creates giant beef burger turtles wrapped with bacon to simulate shells, and hot dogs for their heads, legs, and tails.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 20 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 553 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons minced fresh chives
• 4 slices sharp Cheddar cheese
• 12 slices bacon, cut in half crosswise
• 2 pounds ground beef round
• 12 regular-sized hot dogs, halved crosswise
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon dry mustard
• 0.25 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 0.5 cup chopped sweet onion (such as Maui)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Mix ground beef, chives, salt, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard together in a large bowl; divide into 4 thick oval-shaped burgers. Top each burger with a slice of cheese and about 2 tablespoons onion.

Step 3

Create turtle-shaped burgers by poking 2 holes in the long ends of each burger. Insert cut ends of hot dog into each hole to make heads and tails, letting hot dogs poke out about 1 1/2 inches on each side. Press to secure. Poke 2 more holes into each burger on both sides of hot dog heads and tails; insert 4 more hot dog halves in holes to make arms and legs. Cut 2 small slits, about 3/4 inch long, into ends of legs to make toes.

Step 4

Place 6 bacon halves around each burger between heads, legs, and tails, enclosing cheese and onion inside, to simulate turtle shells. Secure with toothpicks.

Step 5

Place a baking rack into a large roasting pan; lay burgers onto the rack and cover lightly with foil.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until burgers are no longer pink in the middle and hot dog ends are browned, 20 to 30 minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a burger should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).