Ultimate Southern Burgers

Grilled burgers are nearly synonymous with any outdoor barbecue, but these ultimate Southern burgers stand out above all the rest. Melty American cheese, crispy brown sugar-coated bacon, and tangy crunchy pickles give these burgers a uniquely Southern flair.

Learn how to make the ultimate Southern burger. Serve with a side of creamy coleslaw or your favorite Southern potato salad.

What Are the Key Ingredients of a Southern Burger?

To make this burger go from basic to ultimate, here's what you'll need. Measurements are the remaining ingredient list are further below:

• Bacon: For extra smoky, meaty, classically Southern flavor.
• Light brown sugar: For sweetening and caramelizing on the bacon and balancing the spice.
• Chili powder and black pepper: These lend some spice and heat to the bacon and the sauce.
• Mayonnaise: Provides a tangy, creamy base for the burger sauce.
• Ketchup and Worcestershire sauce: Lend sweetness and a punch of umami. If you don’t have Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce or coconut aminos can be used in a pinch.
• Pickle chips and pickle brine: A kick of tangy vinegar contrasts the sweetness and smokiness of the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.
• Kosher salt: For seasoning the meat just before cooking.
• Ground beef: Get a good quality ground chuck. We recommend beef with a higher fat content, but not so high that there are occasional grill flare-ups from excess fat dripping into the grill. An 85/15 beef is best for grilling to ensure juicy and flavorful burgers.
• American cheese: Melts perfectly on burger patties. However, any sort of thinly sliced cheese of choice would be delicious.
• Hamburger buns: A hamburger isn’t a hamburger without a hamburger bun, but you can swap with any sandwich bun, such as a gluten-free bun or a brioche bun.
• Romaine lettuce, beefsteak tomatoes, and onion: Build on top of the burger and provide some fresh crunch.
  

How To Season Burger Patties

It's not necessary to overseason a hamburger patty. In fact, simple is best.

This hamburger recipe calls for chilling your patties first and seasoning the meat with salt and pepper just before grilling. This helps season the meat and retain moisture within the burger patty without overcooking.

How To Grill Burgers

This recipe requires a few more steps than simply tossing some seasoned patties onto a hot grill. The full recipe is below, but we’ve outlined the most important steps to grill the ultimate Southern burger:

• Step 1. Prepare the bacon and the sauce: Sprinkle bacon slices with brown sugar, some of the chili powder, and black pepper, and bake in the preheated oven until sugar is melted and toasty. Combine mayo, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and pickle brine with some of the salt, pepper, and remaining chili powder to create a delicious condiment sauce that can be stored in an airtight container up to two days.
• Step 2. Make and grill burgers: Divide beef into eight equal size portions, and shape into patties. Cover and place in the refrigerator while you preheat the gas grill to medium-high. Remove patties from refrigerator, and grill them on oiled grates until cooked through, adding cheese slices for about one minute to melt. Remove the burger from the grill, and let burgers rest for 5 minutes.
• Step 3. Assemble burgers. While burgers are resting, spread sauce mixture onto both cut sides of the hamburger bun. Add the burger patties and arrange pickles, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Top with bacon pieces, and cover with bun tops. Serve.

How Long To Grill a Burger

How long it takes to grill a burger depends on how well done you want the meat. Hamburgers, like steaks, can be cooked to your preferred doneness. On average, burgers will need to cook from 8 to 15 minutes total, flipping the patties half way through for even cooking.

The best way to know when a hamburger is at the temperature you want is to use a probe thermometer and check the thickest part of the patty.

• Rare (red): 125°F-130°F
• Medium Rare (pink): 130°F-135°F
• Medium (light pink): 135°F-140°F
• Medium-Well: 140°F-150°F
• Well-Done: 155°F or above

Our Tips for Grilling the Best Burgers

While basic burgers are, well, basic, getting the ultimate burger requires a few extra steps. Here's what the Southern Living Test Kitchen says you should know for your best burgers:

1. Patty perfection: Chill the patties in the refrigerator before grilling help to achieve a well-browned exterior without overcooking the interior. To achieve perfect medium rare burgers, place the in the refrigerator, covered, at least 30 minutes before grilling. 
2. Press it: Before placing on the grill, press each burger patty with your thumb to create a very small indentation—this helps prevent the burgers from puffing up as they cook, and it helps them cook more evenly.
3. Grease up: Be sure to brush the grill grates with oil before grilling to reduce the chance of sticking—it'll also help you get those nice, classic grill marks.
4. Resist the urge: Let the burger cook undisturbed at least a few minutes before flipping once to develop a nice browning—don't be tempted to flip too often.
5. Check the temp: Use a thermometer to ensure burgers are cooked to your desired level of doneness. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the burger should read about 130°F for medium rare and about 135°F for rare.
6. Give it a rest: After grilling, allow the burgers to rest for a few minutes, just like you would a steak or a quality cut of meat. This allows the juices to fully distribute, set, and meld, resulting in an overall more flavorful and juicy burger throughout.
   

Editorial contributions by Catherine Jessee.