Can Bacon and Ground Beef Be Browned Together

When making beef burgers, adding ground bacon to the meat mixture is a game-changer. It makes the patties incredibly juicy and flavorful!

How to do it? Simply mix ground bacon into the ground beef. You can go for a 50/50 ratio, but I prefer to add 4 oz of bacon for each 1 lb. of ground beef.

Two bacon burgers topped with fried eggs.

I started making these burgers after I transitioned to a low-carb diet. Suddenly, with no bun, the burger became the star of the show, and I wanted it to be as flavorful and as juicy as possible.

My go-to burger recipe is these broiled burgers. They are excellent. But if you want to make the ultimate burger, all you need to do is mix some ground bacon 🥓 into the meat. It makes for an incredibly flavorful and juicy burger.

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Ingredients
Instructions
Frequently asked questions
Variations and substitutions
Serving suggestions
Storing leftovers
Related recipes
Recipe card

Ingredients

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make these tasty burgers. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

Bacon: whatever is your favorite brand, go ahead and use that. You'll need 4 oz, which is half a standard 8-oz package.

Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef (85/15). I find that leaner than that is too dry, even with the addition of bacon.

Seasonings: I almost always use kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried parsley, and red pepper flakes.

It's fine to use fresh garlic instead of powder. It's also fine (and fun!) to experiment with different spices. See the discussion below about variations on the basic recipe.

Instructions

How to make bacon burgers? Simply mix ground raw bacon into the ground beef. You can go for a 50/50 ratio if you wish, mixing 8 oz ground beef with 8 oz ground bacon.

But I like to keep things a bit less fatty and salty (though still delicious!) by mixing 4 oz of bacon into 1 lb. of ground beef.

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:

You start by cutting the bacon into pieces and freezing it briefly, to make it easier to chop.

Next, you process the bacon pieces in your food processor until it's finely ground. Now, mix together the ground bacon, the ground beef, and the seasonings.

Form the mixture into patties and cook them over medium heat until they're cooked through, 4-5 minutes per side.

A photo collage showing the steps for making bacon burgers.

Frequently asked questions

Should I add breadcrumbs or an egg?

There's no need for any type of filler (such as breadcrumbs) or binder (egg) in these tasty burgers. Simply mix the ground beef and the bacon, add the seasonings, shape into patties, and pan-fry.

How to top bacon burgers?

Toppings can include smoked cheddar cheese (my personal favorite), a fried egg, bacon, or avocado. Or all of the above!

Can you put raw bacon in a burger?

Yes. But if you do, you should cook the patties until they're cooked through. If you prefer your burgers medium-rare, you should probably cook the bacon and crumble it before mixing it into the ground beef.

The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 °F, which should ensure that the bacon is fully cooked too.

Variations and substitutions

I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. When I do vary this recipe, it's usually to include different spices. Some of the spices that I've enjoyed include dry mustard, chili powder, dried thyme, and cumin.

Serving suggestions

These delicious burgers make a filling, tasty low-carb meal - no bun needed. See the photos? That's how I usually serve them. Unless you want a bun, of course, such as cloud bread or 90-second bread.

As for side dishes, they're great with fries. I often serve them with jicama fries or with zucchini fries.

Storing leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Reheat them gently, in the microwave, on 50% power.

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Recipe card

Juicy Bacon Burgers

Adding ground bacon to your burger mix makes the burgers incredibly juicy and flavorful. For each 1 lb. ground beef, add 4 oz of ground bacon.

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 burgers

Calories: 290 kcal

▢ 4 oz bacon (½ package)
▢ 1 lb. lean ground beef (85/15)
▢ 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
▢ ¼ teaspoon black pepper
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
▢ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
▢ 1 teaspoon dried parsely
▢ ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Cut the bacon into pieces and freeze the pieces for 20 minutes to make it easier to process.
Process the bacon in a mini food processor on the "chop" setting until finely ground. Mix it into the beef with the remaining ingredients.
Form the mixture into four ¾-inch-thick patties. Use your thumb to make a shallow dimple in the middle of each burger. This helps them retain their shape.
Heat a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium heat, about 3 minutes. Add the burgers. If the skillet is well-seasoned, there's no need to add oil. Otherwise, add a tablespoon of oil to the pan before adding the burgers.
Cook the burgers until cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side over medium heat.*
Serve immediately with your favorite hamburger toppings.**

* If you'd like to ensure that the bacon inside the patties is fully cooked, you can par-cook it in the microwave.

In this method, there's no need to chop and freeze it. Place the four strips on two paper towels on a microwave-safe plate; cover with two more paper towels; microwave for three minutes, allow to slightly cool, then chop and mix into the ground beef.

** Nutrition info is for the burgers only and does not include toppings.

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