Bacon Jam Smash Burgers
This rich and smoky bacon jam is the perfect blend of crispy bacon, caramelized onions, brown sugar, and a touch of maple syrup, all slow-simmered to perfection. With its irresistible balance of sweet, salty, and umami flavors, this bacon jam is a game-changer for burgers, grilled cheese, charcuterie boards, and even breakfast favorites like eggs and toast. Whether you’re looking for a gourmet spread or a unique homemade gift, this bacon jam is guaranteed to impress!
Ingredients
Burgers
- 1 lb 80/20 Ground Beef
- American cheese slices
- Good Quality Hamburger buns
Bacon Jam
- 8-10 strips bacon
- 1 onion (diced)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic or garlic paste
- ½ tablespoon thyme
- ½ tablespoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
Bacon Jam
- Chop bacon into small pieces
- Dice an onion
- Add bacon to a cool skillet and cook on medium high heat until fully cooked
- Remove bacon from grease
- Add your diced onion into the bacon grease and cool on medium until fully softened (around 10 minutes)
- Add in your garlic, brown sugar, vinegar, maple syrup, red pepper flakes, thyme, salt, and pepper and mix
- Add in bacon and mix
- Cook on medium to medium low until the mixture has thickened (typically around 5 minutes)
Smash Burgers
- Form ground beef into 4oz balls
- Pre-heat a skillet to medium high heat
- Add 1-2 tablespoon oil to skillet
- Add 1 4oz patty to warm skillet and immediately press patty down as flat as possible
- Let cook on one side for a couple of minutes and flip patty
- Let cook 1-2 minutes and add 2 slices of American cheese. Cover 1 minute until cheese fully melted and remove from heat
Burger Assembly
- Add mayo or butter to both sides of bun
- Add buns to a skillet on medium heat and let toast for 1-2 minutes and remove from heat
- Add 2 smash burgers to your buns
- Top with bacon jam