All-American Grilled Burgers
On June 18, 2024
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These All American Grilled Burgers are the ultimate grilled summer hamburgers. After all, it doesn’t get more American than hot dogs, burgers, bacon, cheese, and a homemade honey BBQ sauce all on a toasty bun. Get pumped for a festive summer full of BBQ.
All-American Grilled Burgers
Just in time for Independence Day, I’ve created a one-of-a-kind, truly American burger. I grill these bad boys up on my Weber Genesis II, and believe me when I say they’re jam-packed with tons of meat and big flavor. I start with perfectly grilled 1/3 pound beef patties cooked to juicy perfection. Next, I add my Signature Sweet Rub to sliced bacon and grill it up until it’s lightly caramelized and wonderfully crunchy. Then, I top them with some grilled all-beef hotdogs for the ultimate All-American Grilled Burger.
And just when you think these burgers can’t get any more amazing, I give them a drizzle of my homemade Honey BBQ Sauce. This sweet and sticky sauce brings a welcome punch of flavor to all that savory grilled meat. Stack ’em up with your favorite toppings, grab some napkins, and get ready to dig in.
Honey BBQ Burger Sauce
The secret weapon for these iconic burgers comes in the form of my Honey BBQ Sauce. This sauce gives a tangy, sticky, sweet kiss to your burgers, making them unforgettable. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
How Long to Grill Burgers
Tender, juicy burgers won’t take long to grill at all. I estimate grilling them for around 5-7 minutes per side. You want to give them enough time to develop that nice, flame-kissed exterior and lock in that beefy flavor inside. Temperature is key as grilling times vary depending on the size of your patties, grill surfaces, and more. For those reasons, be sure to always have a reliable food thermometer on hand (like my Thermapen ONE) and refer to the temperature guide below for your desired level of doneness.
- Rare – 125 degrees F
- Med Rare – 135 degrees F
- Medium – 145 degrees F
- Med Well – 155 degrees F
- Well Done – 165 degrees F
Keep in mind that while the above temperatures are traditional doneness levels, the FDA recommends cooking ground beef to 160 degrees F.
How to Make Grilled Burgers
These aren’t just burgers, they’re America on a bun. And you’re just a few simple steps away from biting into them:
- Preheat grill. Set your grill to medium-high heat for two-zone cooking.
- Prepare meats. First, form your ground beef into roughly ⅓ pound patties, and season with some of my Signature Beef Rub. Next, slice your bacon in half with a sharp knife and sprinkle with my Sweet Rub (or you can make your own following this recipe). Finally, slice your hotdogs in half lengthwise, but don’t cut all the way through.
- Make Honey BBQ Sauce. Combine all ingredients for your sauce in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Grill meats. While your sauce is simmering, place your burgers and hotdogs on the direct heat side of your grill, and your bacon over the indirect heat side. Give your burgers 5-7 minutes per side, flipping as little as possible. Give your bacon around the same time over the indirect heat, flipping occasionally for an even cook. Cook your hotdogs alongside your patties over direct heat, giving them 3-5 minutes per side.
- Remove sauce and toast buns. Place your buns face side down on the direct heat of your grill and toast. Remove your sauce from the heat, spoon some onto your patties, then top with cheese. Close the lid for 1-2 minutes, giving time for your buns to toast and cheese to melt.
- Assemble burgers. Pull everything, and place your cheesy patties on your toasted buns. Next, add 4 slices of your halved bacon, then top with a sliced hotdog. Drizzle with even more of your sauce, add your toppings, and devour these delicious burgers.
Tips for the Best Grilled Burgers
Grilling the best burger is an easy, straightforward process, but I have some tricks up my sleeve to ensure you get the best burgers every time.
- Season your meat. I like to use good, flavorful seasonings on my meat prior to grilling. For my burgers, my Signature Beef Seasoning is my go-to every time. This seasoning perfectly compliments the beefy flavor. If you don’t have any fancy seasoning on hand, good old salt and pepper goes a long way.
- Select good ground beef. For good, juicy burgers, I recommend selecting meat with a 85/15 or 80/20 meat to fat ratio. Purchase ground round or chuck beef.
- Don’t overwork the beef. Do not overwork the meat when forming your patties. Form them into a loose ball and flatten, then stick them on the grill.
- Flip sparingly. Once your patties are on the grill, don’t mess with them too much. Try to only flip them once. And NEVER press them flat with a spatula while cooking.
More Recipes for Grilled Burgers
If grilled burgers are your summer BBQ go-to, then I’ve got plenty more options for you to sink your teeth into next. This post highlighting some of my burger creations, but here are a few of my most popular burger recipes to help find your next favorite:
All-American Grilled Burger Recipe
I created this recipe with you in mind, backyard griller. The team and I at Hey Grill Hey are in the business of helping you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero. You can find more of my smoking and grilling recipes in the Hey Grill Hey app.
If you want even more BBQ inspiration, then be sure to follow my social media channels on YouTube, Instagram, and my Facebook Page.
All-American Grilled Burger
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Signature Beef Rub
- 1 package hot dogs
- 6 slices Colby-Jack cheese
- 12 slices bacon
- 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Signature Sweet Rub
- 1 package hamburger buns
Honey BBQ Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat grill. Set your grill to medium-high heat for two-zone cooking.
- Prepare meats. First, form your ground beef into roughly ⅓ pound patties, and season with some of my Signature Beef Rub. Next, slice your bacon in half with a sharp knife and sprinkle with my Sweet Rub (or you can make your own following this recipe). Finally, slice your hotdogs in half lengthwise, but don’t cut all the way through.2 pounds ground beef, 2 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Signature Beef Rub, 12 slices bacon, 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Signature Sweet Rub, 1 package hot dogs
- Make Honey BBQ Sauce. Combine all ingredients for your sauce in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.1 cup ketchup, ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 Tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Grill meats. While your sauce is simmering, place your burgers and hotdogs on the direct heat side of your grill, and your bacon over the indirect heat side. Give your burgers 5-7 minutes per side, flipping as little as possible. Give your bacon around the same time over the indirect heat, flipping occasionally for an even cook. Cook your hotdogs alongside your patties over direct heat, giving them 3-5 minutes per side.
- Remove sauce and toast buns. Place your buns face side down on the direct heat of your grill and toast. Remove your sauce from the heat, spoon some onto your patties, then top with cheese. Close the lid for 1-2 minutes, giving time for your buns to toast and cheese to melt.6 slices Colby-Jack cheese, 1 package hamburger buns
- Assemble burgers. Pull everything, and place your cheesy patties on your toasted buns. Next, add 4 slices of your halved bacon, then top with a sliced hotdog. Drizzle with even more of your sauce, add your toppings, and devour these delicious burgers.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
**We originally published this post in July 2019, but we recently updated it with more information and helpful tips. However, the recipe remains the same.
