The BEST Burger Friday Yet!

Well folks, I think I’ve found my favorite burger. EVER. I was having trouble finding a new Friday recipe that called my name, and decided I’d just create one instead. So I sat down and wrote what I would want most on a burger… and this doosy of a recipe was born. Let me tell you, I could not STOP smiling after just one bite! You simply MUST try this!

First, you’ll need to whip up these tasty fried onion strings by PW… trust me. It’s such an easy recipe and the results are so worth the effort! Here’s what you need…

Fried Onion Strings                                       Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman)
Large Yellow Onion
2 cups Buttermilk
2 cups Flour
Palmful of Cayenne Pepper
Palmful of Seasoned Salt
Palmful of Black Pepper
Canola Oil for frying

Start by slicing up your onion very thinly. Then put ‘em in a bowl and pour in the buttermilk. If you don’t have any buttermilk laying around, mix 1 cup milk with 1 tbsp vinegar & stir! Let the onions soak for at least an hour. Meanwhile… Put the flour, cayenne pepper, seasoned salt, & pepper in a pie pan and mix. Then pour about a quart of oil in your frying pan and get it up to 375 degrees. It’s ready when a pinch of flour sizzles when you drop it in. Using tongs, take the onions from the buttermilk to the flour mixture and then into the hot oil. Then put them on a paper towel lined plate. Do this a few at a time until they’re all golden brown, it’ll take just a MINUTE or so! They cook quickly! Now, try to set ‘em aside without snacking on too many!

Next, get all the ingredients for the burger ready…

The Cowboy Burger                                                             by Yours Truly
EVOO
S&P
1 Tbsp of BBQ 3000 (or your favorite dry rub)
1 Tbsp Seasoned Salt
Kansas City BBQ Sauce (THIS is the best… anyone wanna mail me some?)
1lb Ground Sirloin (This’ll make 3 burgers… so double for a family)
Sliced Sharp Cheddar Cheese
½ lb Applewood Smoked Bacon
White Hamburger Buns (Texas Toast would be great too, but I couldn’t find any out here)
Pioneer Woman’s fried onion strings

Start by either firing up your grill, or getting a cast iron grill pan nice and hot! Form the ground sirloin into 3 patties, making ‘em a little thinner in the middle so they cook evenly. Season them liberally with the BBQ seasoning and seasoned salt. Then drizzle ‘em with EVOO.

Let the patties rest for a bit while you cook the bacon. Bri does amazing things with bacon, so I let him cook it up… nice and crispy! YUM!

Now put the patties on the hot grill. Cook ‘em for about 4 minutes on each side, so they’re still a little pink in the middle. Put a slice or two of the cheddar on each in the last minute or so.

While you get the burgers cooking, go ahead put the buns under the broiler for a few minutes so they’re nice and toasty!

To assemble, put some BBQ sauce on the bottom bun, then pile up some of those onion strings, and a cheesy burger. Top it with some bacon and more BBQ Sauce!

Now, THAT’s a burger! You’re welcome.