Are you tired of the same old grilled burgers?
Why not try baking them in the oven instead?
And for an extra twist, wrap them in bacon!
Not only will this method ensure an even cooking process, but it will also infuse your burgers with a delicious smoky flavor.
Plus, it’s a great option for those who don’t have access to an outdoor grill.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps of cooking bacon wrapped burgers in the oven, and provide some tasty recipe variations to try out.
So grab your apron and let’s get cooking!
How To Cook Bacon Wrapped Burgers In The Oven?
To start, preheat your oven to 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the oven is heating up, mix together your ground beef with any desired seasonings and form them into patties.
Next, wrap each patty with 2 slices of raw bacon, tucking the ends under the burgers.
Place the bacon-wrapped patties on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper or a broiler pan.
Once the oven is preheated, insert the tray into the oven on a middle rack.
The cook time will depend on the thickness of your beef patty, but generally, baking a bacon wrapped patty will take around 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you want a medium-rare finish, pull the burgers from the oven once they reach an internal temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. For a medium finish, pull them out at 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use an internal read thermometer to determine doneness and make sure to let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Ingredients Needed
To cook bacon wrapped burgers in the oven, you will need the following ingredients:
– Ground beef
– Bacon slices
– Parchment paper or a broiler pan
– Seasonings of your choice (salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, etc.)
– Internal read thermometer
Optional ingredients:
– Cheddar cheese
– Parmesan cheese
– Onion
– Egg
– Ketchup
– Worcestershire sauce
– Creole seasoning
– Jalapeño
– Sour cream
– Mayonnaise
– Parsley
Preparing The Burgers
To prepare the burgers, start by mixing together your ground beef with any desired seasonings. It’s important not to overwork the meat, as this can result in tough burgers. Form the beef into evenly sized patties, making sure they are not too thick or too thin.
Next, wrap each patty with 2 slices of raw bacon, tucking the ends under the burgers to keep them secure. This will not only add flavor but also help keep the burgers moist during cooking.
Place the bacon-wrapped patties on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper or a broiler pan. This will ensure that the burgers cook evenly and don’t stick to the tray or pan.
Once your oven is preheated to 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit, insert the tray into the oven on a middle rack. It’s important to rotate the sheet tray 180 degrees halfway through cooking for an even cooking process.
The cook time will depend on the thickness of your beef patty, but generally, baking a bacon wrapped patty will take around 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Use an internal read thermometer to determine doneness and make sure to let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Wrapping The Burgers In Bacon
Wrapping your burgers in bacon is a great way to add flavor and texture to your dish. There are a few different methods you can use, but the most common is to create a lattice pattern with the bacon strips.
To do this, lay out four strips of bacon vertically on a cutting board. Lift the first and third strips and lay a bacon strip horizontally across. Lay the strips down, and then lift the second and fourth vertical strips and repeat with the horizontal strips. Repeat this process for each burger.
Once you have your bacon weaves ready, place each patty on top of one of the weaves. Wrap the bacon around the patty, making sure that all four slices of bacon touch each other once the patty is fully wrapped. You can secure the bacon to the patty with toothpicks if needed.
Another option is to stuff your burger patties with cheese before wrapping them in bacon. To do this, divide your beef into equal portions and form them into patties. Cut a small slit in the center of each patty and stuff it with your desired cheese. Then wrap each patty with bacon and secure with toothpicks.
No matter which method you choose, make sure that you place the bacon-wrapped burgers on a sheet tray or broiler pan before baking or grilling. This will help prevent any excess grease from dripping onto your oven or grill.
Cooking The Burgers In The Oven
Cooking bacon-wrapped burgers in the oven is a great way to achieve an even cooking process. This method is ideal since the patty is covered in bacon, which can sometimes make it difficult to cook evenly on a stovetop or grill.
To begin, preheat your oven to 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is heating up, mix together your ground beef with any desired seasonings and form them into patties. The seasonings can be anything you like, such as salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, or cumin.
Next, wrap each patty with 2 slices of raw bacon, tucking the ends under the burgers. This will help keep the bacon in place while cooking and prevent it from falling off.
Place the bacon-wrapped patties on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper or a broiler pan. If you have a cast iron grill grate that can be inserted into your oven, you could use that too.
Once the oven is preheated, insert the tray into the oven on a middle rack. The cook time will depend on the thickness of your beef patty, but generally, baking a bacon wrapped patty will take around 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
While this isn’t completely necessary, you can flip the patties at the halfway point (around 10 minutes into cooking) to ensure even cooking. If your oven has hot spots like mine, I recommend that you rotate the sheet tray 180 degrees to ensure an even cook.
Use an internal read thermometer to determine doneness. If you want a medium-rare finish, pull the burgers from the oven once they reach an internal temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. For a medium finish, pull them out at 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s important to let the burgers rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute and ensure maximum flavor. Once rested, serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Checking For Doneness
Determining the doneness of a bacon-wrapped burger can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have a meat thermometer handy. However, there are a few techniques you can use to ensure your burgers are cooked to perfection.
One method is the “poke test,” which involves using your fingers to gauge the level of firmness in the meat. This method works best for meat cooked over dry heat, such as a bacon-wrapped burger in the oven. To perform the poke test, gently press the center of the patty with your index finger. If it feels soft and squishy, it’s still rare. If it feels slightly firmer, it’s medium-rare. For well-done burgers, the center should feel very firm.
Another method is the touch test, which involves using the flesh between your thumb and bottom of your palm to estimate the “squishiness” that mimics meat at its various cooking stages. This test is generally best used with steak and other beef cuts, but can also be used for bacon-wrapped burgers in the oven. When checking the doneness of meat on the heat, use a utensil like tongs or a wooden spoon to lightly press the surface of the meat to check level of resistance, rather than pressing your hand directly to hot food.
If you want to be more precise, you can also use an internal read thermometer to determine doneness. For medium-rare burgers, pull them from the oven once they reach an internal temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. For a medium finish, pull them out at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
No matter which method you choose, it’s important to let your bacon-wrapped burgers rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat and ensures that your burgers are juicy and flavorful.
Recipe Variations To Try
Looking to switch up your bacon wrapped burger game? Try out these recipe variations for a unique twist on a classic dish:
1. Cheese-Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Burgers: Take your bacon wrapped burgers to the next level by stuffing them with your favorite cheese. Simply form your beef patties around a cube of cheese, wrap with bacon, and bake as usual.
2. BBQ Bacon Wrapped Burgers: Brush your bacon wrapped burgers with your favorite BBQ sauce before baking for a sweet and savory flavor.
3. Jalapeno Bacon Wrapped Burgers: Add some heat to your burgers by mixing in diced jalapenos to your beef mixture before forming patties and wrapping with bacon.
4. Mushroom and Swiss Bacon Wrapped Burgers: Sautee sliced mushrooms in butter and garlic before adding them to the top of your bacon wrapped burgers during the last few minutes of baking. Top with a slice of Swiss cheese for a delicious flavor combination.
5. Blue Cheese and Bacon Wrapped Burgers: Mix crumbled blue cheese into your beef mixture before forming patties and wrapping with bacon. Bake as usual and enjoy the tangy flavor of blue cheese paired with crispy bacon.
Try out these variations or get creative with your own unique ingredients to make the perfect bacon wrapped burger for you!
