Tasty Cook-Off: Burgers

bacon

🥗Healthier: turkey bacon

💰Cheaper: pork belly

Turkey bacon reduces fat content while maintaining flavor.

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: American cheese

Reduced-fat cheese lowers calories without sacrificing meltiness.

burger buns

🥗Healthier: whole wheat buns

💰Cheaper: white bread

Whole wheat buns provide more fiber.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork is often less expensive.

Cook bacon in a skillet until extra crispy, then remove from the pan.

Slice onions thinly to help them caramelize better.

Cook the onions in the bacon fat, adding brown sugar and balsamic vinegar. Stir until sugar is dissolved, then reduce heat to low and keep warm until the burger is ready.

Butter the burger buns and toast them under the broiler for 1.5 minutes until slightly toasted.

Form ground beef into patties about the size of a baseball, flatten slightly, and create a thumb indentation in the center for even cooking.

Season the surfaces of the patties with salt and black pepper.

Heat a cast iron skillet until hot, add a little olive oil, and place the patties in the skillet. Smash them down with a spatula.

Cook the patties for about 2-3 minutes on one side, watching for browning on the sides.

Flip the burgers, add Gruyere cheese, and cook for about 3 minutes more before finishing in the oven.

Prepare pickled red onions by bringing apple cider vinegar, sugar, and salt to a boil, then removing from heat and adding onions. Let sit for an hour at room temperature.

Make aioli by whisking together egg yolk, Dijon mustard, and garlic, then slowly add olive oil until emulsified. Add lemon juice and salt to taste.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens