Recipe Swap: Gouda Bacon Cheeseburgers

I was given Nichole's blog, The Cookaholic Wife, for the latest round of the Blogger's Choice recipe swap. I star many of her posts in Google Reader so I knew I'd have a tough time picking something to make. I couldn't decide between these cannoli cupcakes, or the bacon jalapeno popper grilled cheese, or the tomato stack salad with corn and avocado (which I'll be making as soon as tomatoes are in season). I knew I needed to go back to my usual method for these swaps - picking an ingredient like ground beef and seeing what's on the blog.

Despite Nichole's claim to not make a lot of burgers I found a few that sounded incredible and ultimately let SP choose. He picked the Gouda Bacon Cheeseburgers.

I cooked the onions in the morning since they take the longest amount of time. The original recipe called for 3 tablespoons of steak sauce but I only used one - my onions cooked way down and more than 1 tablespoon seemed like too much and I didn't want the flavor to be overpowering.

This is one huge, messy, delicious burger. This was my first time buying smoked Gouda and I loved the flavor. Baby Girl and I split a piece before topping the burgers. I could really taste the smokiness of the cheese and the sweetness of the onions.

Gouda Bacon Cheeseburgers
As seen on The Cookaholic Wife, adapted from Cassie Craves, inspired by Rachael Ray

1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon steak sauce
4 slices bacon, cooked
4 slices smoked gouda cheese
4 hamburger buns, toasted
Lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, for serving

Combine the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper and form into 4 patties. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Melt the butter and olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onions and brown sugar and cook until lightly caramelized, about 20-25 minutes. Once the onions have caramelized, stir in the steak sauce until coated. Remove from the heat.

Preheat a grill or grill pan and, once hot, place the burgers on the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, depending on their thickness. Place a slice of cheese on top of each burger and allow to melt.

Spread mayonnaise on both sides of each toasted roll. Place the burger on the bottom of the roll, top with lettuce and tomato, a slice of bacon cut in half and a generous topping of the smothered onions.

Click on the links below to see other recipes from the swap.