Bacon Jam Burger
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This Bacon Jam Burger is the kind of burger that makes burger night feel a little extra. Juicy grilled beef patties get topped with homemade BBQ bacon jam that is sweet, smoky, savory, and just messy enough to feel worth it.
The bacon jam cooks down with onions, BBQ seasoning, honey, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar until it turns thick and spreadable. Spoon it over a hot burger, add cheese if you want, tuck it into a toasted bun, and you have a burger that feels like something you’d order at a really good burger spot.
Burgers Are Always On The Menu
Burgers are literally one of my favorite foods, so it does not take much convincing for me to turn dinner into burger night. But this Bacon Jam Burger is the kind of burger that feels a little extra in the best way.
You get the juicy burger, the smoky bacon jam, the soft bun, and the whole messy situation that makes you stop pretending this is going to be a neat dinner. It’s not fancy. It’s not delicate. But it is absolutely the kind of burger I want when I’m craving something big, savory, and so good.
Why You’ll Love a Bacon Jam Burger
- This Bacon Jam Burger is sweet, smoky, salty, and savory.
- The homemade bacon jam can be made ahead.
- It turns a simple grilled burger into something special.
- The recipe uses easy ingredients.
- You can add cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce, or jalapeños.
- It’s perfect for cookouts, weekends, or burger night.
Ingredients Needed To Make a Bacon Jam Burger
For The Burgers
Ground beef
Kosher salt
Black pepper
BBQ seasoning
For The BBQ Bacon Jam
Bacon
Onion
Kosher salt
BBQ seasoning
Honey
Brown sugar
Apple cider vinegar
For Serving
Burger buns
Cheese
Lettuce
Pickles
Jalapeños
Red onion
How To Make a Bacon Jam Burger
Build the Burger
- Mix the three seasonings together.
- Form 2 burger patties and sprinkle the season on both sides of the burger.
- Heat the grill up to 500 degrees.
- Cook the burger to your liking. The recommended time is 3-4 minutes per side for medium to medium-rare.
- Remove and let sit for 5 minutes, then assemble your burger.
Bacon Jam
- Add the bacon and onions to a stock pot over medium/low heat.
- Cook until the onions are caramelized and the bacon is completely cooked.
- Remove the bacon and onions, drain the fat and add them back to the pot.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the pot.
- Cook for 20 minutes or until thickened.
- Remove from heat and place in a container.
Tips For The Best Bacon Jam Burger
- Cook the bacon jam until it is thick and spoonable.
- Drain excess bacon grease so the jam is not oily.
- Toast the buns so they hold up better under the jam.
- Let the burgers rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Add cheese while the burgers are still hot so it melts.
- Make the bacon jam ahead to save time.
Storage
- Store leftover bacon jam in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat the bacon jam gently in a skillet or microwave before serving. If it thickens too much, add a small splash of water.
- Store cooked burger patties separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Assemble burgers fresh for the best texture.
Bacon Jam Burger
Equipment
- Grill or grill pan
- Stock pot
- Wooden spoon
- Knife
- Plate for resting burgers
Ingredients
Burger
- 1 lb ground Beef
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp bbq seasoning
BBQ Bacon Jam
- 1 lb bacon (thinly sliced)
- 1 large onion (diced)
- pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp BBQ Seasoning
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
For Serving
- 2 burger buns
- Cheese, optional
- Lettuce, optional
- Pickles, optional
- Jalapeños, optional
- Red onion, optional
Instructions
How To Make The Burgers
- In a small bowl, mix the kosher salt, black pepper, and BBQ seasoning.
- Form the ground beef into 2 burger patties.
- Season both sides of each patty with the seasoning mixture.
- Heat the grill to 500°F.
- Grill the burgers for 3–4 minutes per side for medium to medium-rare, or until they reach your preferred doneness.
- Remove the burgers from the grill and let them rest for 5 minutes.
How To Make The BBQ Jam
- Add the sliced bacon and diced onion to a stock pot over medium-low heat.
- Cook, stirring often, until the onion is caramelized and the bacon is fully cooked.
- Remove the bacon and onions from the pot and drain the excess fat.
- Add the bacon and onions back to the pot.
- Stir in the pinch of salt, BBQ seasoning, honey, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
- Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring often, until thick and spreadable.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a container.
Assemble
- Toast the buns if desired.
- Place each burger patty on a bun.
- Spoon BBQ bacon jam over the burgers.
- Add cheese or any toppings you like.
Notes
- Cook the bacon jam until it is thick and spreadable.
- Drain excess bacon fat before adding the remaining jam ingredients.
- Toasted buns hold up better under the bacon jam.
- Let the burgers rest for 5 minutes before assembling.
- Bacon jam can be made ahead and refrigerated until ready to use.
- Reheat bacon jam gently before serving if it has been chilled.
- Use a meat thermometer if you want precise burger doneness.
Nutrition
Commonly Asked Questions
Yes. Bacon jam can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat it gently before spooning it over the burgers.
Cheddar, gouda, pepper jack, Swiss, or American cheese all work well. Cheddar gives a classic burger flavor, while gouda is especially good with the smoky bacon jam.
Yes. Cook the burger patties in a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat until they reach your preferred doneness.
Fries, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, pasta salad, chips, cheesy scalloped potatoes, or a simple green salad all work well with Bacon Jam Burgers.
