Mouthwatering Cheesy BBQ Burgers are sure to satisfy your burger cravings! Flavorful & moist, they’re great on the grill or over a campfire!
The recipe for Campfire Cheesy BBQ Burgers will surprise you! Sure, it has the makings of a delicious, classic cheeseburger (like, you know, beef and cheese!), but it’s also combined with a brilliant blend of sausage, onion, garlic, and – wait for it – carrots! Top all this with tangy barbecue sauce for the ultimate in sweet, juicy, smack-your-lips flavor!
The Key to Making the Best Burger
Burgers are always a crowd-pleaser and they are easy to make! But it’s not enough to throw some ground beef patties on the grill. To make the BEST hamburgers, you must ensure they turn out juicy and tasty!
The key to the Campfire Cheesy BBQ Burger is to purée onion, garlic, and carrot, then gently fold this mix into the ground beef/sausage before forming patties. This veggie mix does two things: It adds a sweet and rich umami undercurrent to your burgers and it helps them retain moisture while grilling. The result is nothing short of WOW!
Other Recipes to Serve with the Campfire Cheesy BBQ Burger
A burger as unique and wonderful as this BBQ Cheeseburger deserves side dishes worthy of it! Asparagus Fries are a favorite of mine, but you could also consider the following:
- Air Fryer Green Beans for a crunchy vegetable accompaniment, or…
- The perfect Crispy Onion Rings nobody can resist!
Ingredients
Burger Base: ground beef and breakfast sausage
Veggie Mix: carrots, onion & garlic, onion & garlic powder, salt & pepper
Toppings: bun, cheese, barbecue sauce, mayo, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, pickles
How to Make Campfire Cheesy BBQ Burgers
STEP ONE: Puree onion, carrots, and garlic in the food processor. Next, mix ground beef and sausage in a large bowl. Add the bowl’s veggie mix, bbq sauce, shredded cheese, and seasoning. Mix until evenly combined.
STEP TWO: Form the hamburger mixture into 12 patties about 1 inch larger than the buns. Then use a knuckle to make an indention in the center of each patty. This prevents them from “curling up” at the edges.
STEP THREE: Grill to perfection! Flip once for about 5 minutes on the first side, and grill an additional 4-5 minutes on the second side.
STEP FOUR: Assemble your burgers! Place 1 or 2 burger patties on the bottom bun. Top with lettuce, tomato slices, and pickles. Then spread some ketchup and mayo on the cut side of the top bun before putting it on the burger. Now you get to enjoy this juicy jumbo burger!
Tips for Success
- Chill the meat mixture before making patties. This keeps the fat in the meat and off your hands, resulting in moist burgers that keep their shape and don’t fall apart.
- Ensure the grill is good and hot before cooking – 400 degrees F is optimal. The burgers will sear nicely and seal in all the flavorful juices. If preparing in a skillet, the same idea applies.
- Lightly toast the hamburger buns in a warm oven or quickly on the grill. The finishing touch to a perfect burger!
- You can lean into the BBQ flavors of the patties and top your burger with cooked bacon slices, onion rings, and a little extra bbq sauce on the bun too.
What kind of meat is best for making hamburgers?
The ideal ground beef for great burgers is somewhere between 80/20 and 85/15. Lean ground beef is great for spaghetti, tacos, and chili, but not burgers. Lean ground beef lacks the flavor and moisture needed for delicious burgers. Because the Campfire Cheesy BBQ Burger also uses a sausage in the meat mix, 85/15 would be right for this recipe.
How long does it take to grill the perfect burger?
The answer is: it depends! Thick burgers can take 5-6 minutes per side, while thinner patties may only require 2-3 minutes per side. Slightly more for a well-done burger and slightly less for medium cooked. The grill size and heat can also be a factor. Generally, burgers will cook thoroughly in 7-10 minutes. To keep your burgers from falling apart, only flip them once, then use a meat thermometer to check that the burgers reach a safe internal temperature of 160F.
Other Great BBQ-Flavored Recipes:
- Baked BBQ Chicken Nuggets
- Honey BBQ Pork Chops
- Barbecue Chicken Poppers
- BBQ Ranch Chicken Tacos
- Grilled Ribs
- BBQ Cauliflower Bites
- Aunt Patti’s BBQ Baked Beans
- Cheesy BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
*This post was originally posted on 09/05/2012.
Ingredients
- 1 cup carrots peeled, ends removed, and cut into quarters
- ½ yellow onion peeled and root removed
- 1 clove garlic peeled
- 3 pounds ground beef
- ½ pound breakfast sausage
- ¼ cup bbq sauce (your favorite brand)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Toppings
- 12 burger buns
- Lettuce leaves
- Tomato slices
- Pickles
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
Instructions
- Add the carrots, onion, and garlic to a food processor. Pulse until everything is finely chopped.
- Add the ground beef and breakfast sausage to a large mixing bowl. Add the carrot mixture to the beef along with the bbq sauce, shredded cheese, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Mix until evenly combined. Then divide the beef mixture into 12 equal portions. (You can eyeball it. They should be around 1/3 pound each.) Then use your hands to form hamburger patties. With your knuckle, indent the center of the patties (this helps to keep them flat when cooking).
- Preheat your grill (or grill pan on the stove) to medium-high heat. You can also use a cast iron skillet over a campfire. Once hot, cook the burgers for 4-6 minutes per side for medium doneness.
- To assemble: Place one or two burger patties on the bottom bun. Top with lettuce, tomato, and/or pickles. Spread some ketchup and mayo on the cut side of the top bun before placing it on the burger. Serve warm.
Notes
- Nutritional information is for 1 patty on a bun with 1 lettuce leaf, 2 tomato slices, 4 pickles, and 1 tbsp each ketchup and mayo.
- You can lean into the BBQ flavors of the patties and top your burger with cooked bacon slices, onion rings, and a little extra bbq sauce on the bun too.
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