Description
Juicy bacon smashburgers topped with a spicy Calabrian chili aioli.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 blend
- 8 strips bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- 4 hamburger buns, split and toasted
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- Lettuce leaves
- Tomato slices
- Red onion slices
- For the Calabrian Chili Aioli:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons chopped Calabrian chilies in oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Calabrian Chili Aioli: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, chopped Calabrian chilies, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and set aside.
- Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions. Form loosely packed balls.
- Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
- Place a beef ball in the hot skillet and immediately smash it down with a sturdy spatula or burger press until it’s about 1/2 inch thick.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes until a crust forms. Flip the burger, add a slice of cheddar cheese, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and the burger is cooked through.
- Repeat with the remaining beef balls.
- Assemble the burgers: Spread a generous amount of Calabrian Chili Aioli on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Top with lettuce, tomato, red onion, a smashburger with melted cheese, crumbled bacon, and the top half of the bun.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can mix a pinch of salt and pepper into the ground beef before forming the balls.
- Adjust the amount of Calabrian chilies in the aioli based on your spice preference.
- Toasting the buns adds a nice texture to the burger.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling/Pan-frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger