Recipes courtesy of “Beef What’s For Dinner”

It’s grilling season and nothing says summer like a great burger on the grill. But you don’t have to do the same old, same old. Here are three burger recipes that really kick it up a notch.

Maple Bacon Beer Burger  Print This Post

Ground Beef patties are grilled and topped with bacon and cheddar.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound Ground Beef (96% lean)
• 1/4 cup beer
• 1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 4 whole wheat hamburger buns, split
• 4 slices reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
• 4 extra-thick slices Maplewood-smoked bacon, cut in half, cooked crisp

COOKING:

1. Combine Ground Beef, beer, and Worcestershire in medium bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.  Shape into four 1/2-inch thick patties.
2. Place patties in center of grid over medium, ash-covered coals; arrange pineapple slices around patties. Grill, uncovered, 8 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 7 to 9 minutes) until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160°F, turning occasionally.  About 2 minutes before burgers are done, place buns, cut-side down, on grid.  Grill until lightly toasted.  During last minute of grilling, top each burger with cheese.
   Cook’s Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.
3. Place burgers on bottom of buns; top with bacon slices.  Close sandwiches.
   Cook’s Tip: Reduced-sodium or regular bacon may be substituted for Maplewood smoked bacon.

 WESTERN BURGERS  Print This Post

Ground Beef burgers with avocado, jalapeno peppers, cilantro and onion.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner)
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded, chopped
• 2 teaspoons chopped onion
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 romaine or iceberg lettuce leaves
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1 onion, thinly sliced

COOKING:

1. Combine Ground Beef, jalapeño pepper, onion, cilantro, salt and black pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Lightly shape into four 1/2-inch thick patties.
2. Place patties on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 8 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill,  covered, 7 to 9 minutes) until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160°F, turning occasionally.
   Cook’s Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.
3. Place each burger on lettuce leaf.  Evenly top with tomato, avocado and onion slices.  Wrap lettuce leaves around burgers.

BARBECUE CHIPOTLE BURGERS   Print This Post

Whip up your own beer-based barbecue sauce, then slather it on a perfectly prepared Ground Beef patty. Serve it all up in a “bun” of thick-sliced Texas Toast.