Prep Toppings: Prep the bacon, onion jam and fried onion strings; set aside.
Prep Grill: Clean the grill grates and and wipe them down with oil. Once your grill is clean and greased, preheat to High Heat (450-500℉).
Make Patties: In a bowl, add 1 pound ground beef, 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon ground black pepper. Mix to combine. Create 4 equal-sized balls (you should end up with 4 patties that are approximately 4oz each and approximately ¾ inches thick). Use your thumb to create an indent in the very center of each patty (this will help ensure the burgers cook evenly without expanding too much in the middle). Sprinkle patties with a little more salt and pepper.
Cook on Direct Heat 6-7 Minutes Total: Place patties on direct heat (directly over flame) for 3-4 minutes. Flip and continue to cook on direct heat or until an internal meat thermometer reads between 135-145℉ (approx. another 3-4 mins). This will result in a medium-rare center. For Medium: cook 3 minutes on the first side and 5 minutes on the second side. For Medium-Well cook 3 minutes on the first side and seven minutes on the second side. For Well-Done cook for 4 minutes soon the first side and six minutes on the second side. (Pro Tip: Do not press down on the burgers with a spatula. This will release juices that we want to keep in the burger). Move the burgers to indirect heat and place a slice of cheese on top. Close the grill and let the cheese melt for 1-2 minutes.
Let Rest: Remove from grill and let rest for at least 5 minutes. This will help ensure your burgers are nice and juicy!
Build Burgers: place lettuce on top of the bottom bun followed by a cheeseburger, ketchup, bacon slices, burger pickles, onion jam and fried onion strings. Place the top of the burger bun on top and dig in!
Notes
Burger Seasoning: if you want something more than the classic salt and pepper seasoning - try our Homemade Burger Seasoning instead!
Fried Onion Strings: if you don't want to make these from scratch you can simply omit or buy a store-bought version.
Dairy-Free: to make this recipe dairy-free simply opt for a dairy-free cheese slice.
Gluten-Free: to make this recipe gluten-free simply use your favorite gluten-free hamburger bun.