These are the BEST bacon burgers ever! These juicy hamburgers are loaded with bacon and the perfect seasoning blends and only take 25 minutes to make. They’re so good they put popular hamburger joints to shame.

Complete the meal with crispy potato wedges, watermelon feta basil salad or feta corn salad, and refreshing watermelon juice for the perfect summer meal. 

A bacon burger on a hamburger bun, with layers of lettuce and purple onion.

Why This Recipe Works

Maximum Bacon Distribution

I wasn’t on board with wrapping a hamburger patty in bacon because I wanted the ground beef hamburger patties to be cooked through and have nice color on either side. This bacon burger recipe is the perfect fix because we semi-cook the chopped bacon and add that to the meat mixture (with other very delicious things) and everything cooks evenly. You have the bacon distributed throughout your hamburger patty, fully immersing the delicious bacon flavor throughout.

Flavor Packs a Punch

There is NO shortage of flavor in these bacon burgers — plus, add your favorite burger toppings and it’s love at first bite. We add tons of flavor by adding the bacon, but we also add some grill seasoning and Worcestershire sauce to really tenderize and provide HUGE flavor.

Ingredients Needed

Ingredients used to make the best Bacon Burgers, on a white background.

8 Slices of Bacon: You can use thick slices of bacon if you’d like. The key is to chop the bacon into small pieces.

Ground Beef: Ground chuck is 80/20 and usually a good ratio for patties and that’s what I use. I know that seems like a lot of fat, but most of it will render out as you cook it. This specific ratio produces a very moist and juicy patty. Beef chuck is around the 80/20 ballpark so if you see that, get it. 

Grill Seasoning: I love McCormick mesquite so that’s what I used. However, if you have a grill seasoning that you love, use that!

Worcestershire Sauce: This adds the most amazing flavor to this meat! Worcestershire sauce enhances the beefy flavor in the meat and marries beautifully with the salty bacon.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making Bacon Burger Patties

  1. Cook the bacon and onion in a skillet over medium heat. Don’t cook the bacon to the crispy stage or else as the bacon cooks with the burger it will get too dry.
A black skillet with diced onion and diced bacon in it.
Slightly cooked bacon and diced onion in a cast iron skillet.
  1. Transfer the bacon and onion to a large bowl and add the ground beef, grill seasoning, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce to the bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper — for good measure.
Ground beef with diced bacon and seasonings in a bowl.
Mixed ground beef with seasoning in a glass bowl.
  1. Form the meat mixture into 6 patties and place the patties on a parchment lined baking sheet.
6 raw bacon burgers on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  1. Place the patties in the fridge or freezer for 30 minutes. This helps them hold together better while cooking.

Cooking the Burgers

  1. Remove the patties from the fridge.
  2. To grill: Place the cold patties on a grill heated to medium-high heat, about 375°F and cook for 5 minutes on each side or until fully cooked. Ground beef should reach an internal temperature of 160°F before consuming.
  3. To cook in a cast iron skillet: Place a small drizzle of olive oil in the skillet and cook the cold patties over medium to medium/low heat for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked. Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature.
A skillet with beautifully browned bacon burgers.

Recipe Tips

Don’t overcook the bacon with the onion. You don’t want the bacon to reach the crispy stage because the bacon will finish cooking with the patty. 

You don’t HAVE to add additional salt and pepper to the ground pattie mixture. With the combination of bacon, and depending on the grill seasoning used, your patties may have enough saltiness to them as is. 

Chilling the hamburger patties will help hold them together when they’re cooked.

No need to bring the patties to room temperature before grilling or cooking them. Cooking the patties cold helps hold the patties together and keeps them nice and juicy. 

Use an instant read thermometer to ensure your patties have been cooked to the proper temperature and to ensure they aren’t overcooked, which results in dry patties. 

Take your burger to the next level by toasting the hamburger buns on the grill!

Burger Toppings:

  • Lettuce
  • Tomato
  • Mayo
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Dill pickles/Relish
  • Barbecue Sauce
  • Cheese
  • Raw or Grilled Onion Rings
A bacon burger on a hamburger bun.

Storing

Store leftover bacon burger patties in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

Reheating

In the microwave: place the patty on a microwave-safe plate and heat until warmed. 

In the oven: Place the patties on a wire rack nestled into a baking sheet. Place in a 400°F preheated oven and cook for 3 minutes, flip and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Heating time will depend on the overall thickness of each bacon burger.

FAQs

Can you put raw bacon in a burger?

Yes. You’ll just have to make sure it cooks through. This is why we partially cook the bacon so that we don’t overcook the burger trying to make sure the bacon is fully cooked. The bacon will continue cooking inside the patty as the patty cooks.

How do you make bacon burgers from scratch?

It’s super easy! This recipe only takes 25 minutes. We dice the bacon and add it into the ground beef patty mixture — with some delicious seasonings — to create the perfectly juicy and most delicious bacon burger you’ve ever had!

What’s the secret for juicy hamburgers?

The fat ratio is key in getting a juicy hamburger. I recommend 80/20 or 90/10, somewhere around there. 

What do you season homemade hamburgers with?

We use a bit of grill seasoning and Worcestershire sauce, plus garlic, onions and chopped bacon for these best tasting bacon burgers! 

The best bacon burger on a hamburger bun, topped with lettuce and red onion.

More Delicious Summer Meals

Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Click here to leave a rating and review, or scroll below the recipe card and do so there.

A bacon burger on a cutting board with green lettuce and purple onion on the burger.
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5 from 2 votes

Bacon Burgers

These are easily the best bacon burgers you'll ever have! These juicy hamburgers are loaded with bacon and the perfect seasoning blends. So good you'll be asking for seconds!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 patties

Ingredients
 

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 8 slices bacon - finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons yellow onion - finely minced
  • 1 1/2 lbs ground beef 80/20
  • 1 tablespoon grill seasoning - I used McCormick mesquite
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
  • salt and pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a skillet over medium heat add the oil, then add the bacon and minced onion. Cook until onion is translucent, and bacon is slightly cooked- it won’t be fully cooked or crispy (about 5-7 minutes cook time). Transfer to a medium bowl. 
  • Add the ground beef, grill seasoning, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper to the bowl and mix until combined. *
  • Form into 6 patties. Place patties on a baking sheet or pan lined with parchment paper. Place patties in the fridge or freezer for 30 minutes. (Helps hold patties together).
  • Remove from fridge and grill patties for 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. **  Top with cheese if desired. 
  • Serve on a bun with lettuce, purple onion, tomato, mayo, and ketchup (if desired)! 

Notes

You don’t HAVE to add additional salt and pepper to the ground pattie mixture. With the combination of bacon, and depending on the grill seasoning used, your patties may have enough saltiness to them as is. 
You can cook the patties on a skillet too. This is what I did for convenience. Just use the skillet you cooked the bacon and onions in; you may want to place a teaspoon of olive oil in the skillet to prevent sticking, but if there’s still some bacon grease you should be fine. 
Don’t overcook the bacon with the onion. You don’t want the bacon to reach the crispy stage because the bacon will finish cooking with the patty. 
Chilling the hamburger patties will help hold them together when they’re cooked.
No need to bring the patties to room temperature before grilling or cooking them. Cooking the patties cold helps hold the patties together and keeps them nice and juicy. 
Use an instant read thermometer to ensure your patties have been cooked to the proper temperature and to ensure they aren’t overcooked, which results in dry patties. 
Take your burger to the next level by toasting the hamburger buns on the grill! 
Bacon Burger Toppings: Lettuce, tomato, mayo, ketchup, mustard, dill pickles/relish, barbecue sauce, cheese, raw or grilled onion rings.
Storing: Store leftover bacon burger patties in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. 
To reheat in the microwave: place the patty on a microwave-safe plate and heat until warmed. 
To reheat in the oven: Place the patties on a wire rack nestled into a baking sheet. Place in a 400°F preheated oven and cook for 3 minutes, flip and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Heating time will depend on the overall thickness of each bacon burger.

Nutrition

Calories: 387kcal (19%)Carbohydrates: 4g (1%)Protein: 25g (50%)Fat: 29g (45%)Saturated Fat: 11g (55%)Cholesterol: 96mg (32%)Sodium: 382mg (16%)Potassium: 498mg (14%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 1g (1%)Vitamin A: 40IU (1%)Vitamin C: 1.9mg (2%)Calcium: 36mg (4%)Iron: 3.3mg (18%)
author: Whitney Wright
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
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