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Home » Recipes » Grilling » Spicy Cowboy Burger with Bacon

May 23, 2019

Spicy Cowboy Burger with Bacon

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As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A Cowboy Burger may cause you to unhinge your jaw – This mammoth burger is full of spicy smokey flavors and piled high with bacon and onion rings for an incredible burger you won’t soon forget!

Incredible Cowboy Burger piled high with bacon and crispy onion rings on a sesame seed bun on a slate and wood cutting board

These spicy burgers are seasoned with Cowboy Steak Rub, then slathered with tangy BBQ sauce and grilled to perfection. After that, they’re topped with cheese, bacon and onion rings!
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This post is part of a kick-butt burger grill giveaway hosted by GirlCarnivore but the burger awesomeness is all my own. #sponsored #Girlcarnivore #BurgerMonth #cabotupyourburger

A big burger needs big bold flavors.  That’s why this giant Cowboy Burger starts with some spicy shredded cheese mixed right into the ground beef before grilling.  Then we add our Cowboy Steak Rub with a mixture of seasonings and spices light cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, ground coffee and garlic bring the heat and smokiness.Loading on the bacon and onion rings puts this baby over the top, don’t you think?

Shopping List

Here’s what you will need for this recipe:

  • Cowboy Steak Rub
  • ground beef
  • spicy shredded cheese such as Cabot Fiery Jack
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • BBQ sauce (I love using this BBQ Sauce recipe, but store bought will do also)
  • cheddar cheese
  • bacon
  • onion rings

For a list of some of my favorite items to use when cooking, and why I chose them, please visit my Kitchen Resource page.

Incredible Cowboy Burger piled high with bacon and crispy onion rings on a sesame seed bun on a slate and wood cutting board. Slices of tomatoes and onion rings can be seen to the left.

Why do burger patties shrink when cooking?

It’s not just ground beef, all meat shrinks in size and weight during cooking.  How much your meat shrinks depends on a number of factors including fat and moisture content, the temperature at which the meat is cooked, and how long it is cooked. Cooking hamburgers at moderate temperatures not only helps to reduce shrinkage but also retains juices and flavor better.

A cowboy burger patty close up showing the cheese mixed in and seasoning sprinkled on top sits on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Other patties can be seen in the background along with a jar or cowboy steak rub.

How to grill Cowboy Burgers:

  • Start by frying the bacon until crispy, then set aside on paper towels.
  • Preheat the grill to medium-high.
  • Add 1 cup Cabot Shredded Fiery Jack or Pepper Jack cheese to the ground beef.
  • Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions and form into patties – I used a burger press to get uniform patties.
  • Sprinkle the Cowboy Steak Rub on both sides of the burgers, about 1/4 teaspoon per side.
  • After that, sprinkle the burgers with 1 tablespoon Worcestershire on each side.
  • Place the burgers on the grill and brush with the BBQ sauce. Cook for 4 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, start cooking your onion rings. I love my air fryer for this.
  • Flip the burger and brush the other side with BBQ sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes for medium.
  • Add the slices of cheese on top of the burgers. Close the lid and let them the cheese melt, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove from the grill onto buns.
  • Top with onion rings, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and additional BBQ sauce.

Incredible Cowboy Burger piled high with bacon and crispy onion ringsand sliced in half on a sesame seed bun on a slate and wood cutting board with a knife.

How long do I cook burgers?

The USDA recommends cooking hamburgers to a safe minimum internal temperature of 160 °F (71.1 °C). Use a food thermometer to check that they have reached a safe internal temperature.  I personally use the Weber iGrill Mini because it’s super easy to use.
Here are approximate times for cooking burgers:
  • Rare: 6 minutes
  • Medium rare: 7 minutes
  • Medium: 8 minutes
  • Medium-well: 9 minutes
  • Well-done: 11 minutes

What to serve with Cowboy Burgers:

These delicious sides can be prepped or fully made ahead of time and will be a great compliment to the burgers:

  1. Popular Cowboy Caviar or our Corn and Avacado Salsa are both super easy and can be scooped up with chips or served as a side dish.
  2. You can also make up a big bowl of Grilled Corn Salad the day before.
  3. Our Rainbow Veggie Kabobs are simple to put together and are as delicious as they are beautiful.
  4. Greek Quinoa Grilled Zucchini Boats are full of flavor and easy to make in about 30 minutes.

Amazing Cowboy Burger

With spicy shredded cheese incorporated into the ground beef and our Cowboy Steak Rub for added kick, they burgers are perfect for those that like the heat! If you love this yummy burger, please give it 5 stars!

Incredible Cowboy Burger piled high with bacon and crispy onion rings on a sesame seed bun on a slate and wood cutting board. Slices of tomatoes and onion rings can be seen to the left.

Cowboy Burger

These zesty burgers are seasoned with spicy shredded cheese and our signature Cowboy Steak Rub, then slathered with tangy BBQ sauce and grilled to perfection, topped with more cheese and piled high with bacon and onion rings.
5 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cowboy burger
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 burgers
Calories: 664kcal
Author: Ang Paris

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef I use 85% or 90% lean
  • 1/2 cup Cabot Firey Jack Cheese Shreds
  • 2 tablespoons Cowboy Steak Rub
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce
  • 4 slices cheddar cheese
  • 4 burger buns
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Toppings

  • lettuce
  • tomatoes, sliced
  • 8 strips cooked bacon
  • frozen onion rings

Instructions

  • Start by frying the bacon until crispy, then set aside on paper towels.

  • Preheat the grill to medium-high.
  • Add 1/2 cup Cabot Shredded Fiery Jack or Pepper Jack cheese to the ground beef. Do not over mix.

  • Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions and form into patties.
  • Then, sprinkle the Cowboy Steak Rub on both sides of the burgers, about 1/4 teaspoon per side.


  • After that, sprinkle the burgers with 1 tablespoon Worcestershire on each side.
  • Place the burgers on the grill and brush with the BBQ sauce. Cook for 4 minutes.
  • Flip the burger and brush the other side with BBQ sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes for medium.
  • Meanwhile, start cooking your onion rings. I love my air fryer for this.
  • Add the slices of cheese on top of the burgers. Close the lid and let them the cheese melt, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove from the grill onto buns. Top with shredded firey jack cheese, onion rings, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and additional BBQ sauce.

Notes

Cowboy Steak Rub Recipe

Get the full recipe for Cowboy Steak Rub here.

Cooking Tip:

Cooking hamburgers at moderate temperatures not only helps to reduce shrinkage but also retains juices and flavor better.

How long should I cook my burgers?

  • Rare: 6 minutes
  • Medium rare: 7 minutes
  • Medium: 8 minutes
  • Medium-well: 9 minutes
  • Well-done: 11 minutes
 

Nutrition

Calories: 664kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 1190mg | Potassium: 620mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 1.9mg | Calcium: 318mg | Iron: 4.7mg
Please Note: I am not a registered dietician. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.
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Filed Under: Backyard BBQ, Game Day, Grilling, Main Dish Recipes, Recipes Tagged With: #burgermonth, bacon, BBQ sauce, burger, Cabot, cheddar, onion rings

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ann from Sumptuous Spoonfuls says

    May 23, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    5 stars
    Mmmm yes please! I love the extra kick you gave the burger by mixing spicy cheese right into the burger mix! Awesome idea.

    Reply
    • Ang Paris says

      May 23, 2019 at 8:58 pm

      Oh gosh, it’s SO good with the cheese!
      Thanks for stopping by Ann 🙂

      Reply
  2. Sarah says

    May 23, 2019 at 8:26 pm

    5 stars
    I need to make this ASAP. Seriously looks so amazing.

    Reply
    • Ang Paris says

      May 23, 2019 at 8:57 pm

      Thanks Sarah 🙂 It’s pretty darn tasty!

      Reply
  3. Wendi Haught says

    May 24, 2019 at 9:06 am

    5 stars
    Love the cheese in the burger mix!! And the side dish recommendations you’ve included look fantastic — will want to try them all, too!

    Reply
    • Ang Paris says

      May 27, 2019 at 10:12 am

      Hey Wendy! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
      This is definitely an amazing burger. I hope you get a chance to try it soon!

      Reply
  4. Jenni says

    May 25, 2019 at 1:14 am

    5 stars
    What a fantastic burger! And that steak rub sounds like magic in a jar. Pinning that guy, too!

    Reply
    • Ang Paris says

      May 27, 2019 at 9:57 am

      Oh you’ll love that rub, it’s incredible! Super versatile too 🙂
      Thanks so much for stopping by Jenni!

      Reply
  5. Laura says

    May 25, 2019 at 8:23 pm

    5 stars
    This looks crazy good! I’m all about the onion rings, too! Love them in my burger!

    Reply
    • Ang Paris says

      May 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

      Right?! They just add such a great flavor and texture to a burger 🙂
      Thanks so much for visiting Laura.

      Reply
  6. Shelby says

    June 1, 2019 at 8:47 am

    5 stars
    This looks so delicious! I love a burger like this. Crispy Onion Rings and BBQ Sauce are awesome on a burger!

    Reply
  7. Gwynn says

    June 1, 2019 at 5:36 pm

    5 stars
    Bacon makes everything better so count me in!

    Reply
    • Ang Paris says

      June 4, 2019 at 9:46 am

      So true! Thanks for stopping by Gwynn!

      Reply
  8. Christie Campbell says

    June 1, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    5 stars
    Those onion rings, that sauce, these burgers! They all look amazing together.

    Reply

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Welcome! I'm Ang - the Juggling Act Mama! I love sharing quick and easy recipes, creative DIY projects, and fun family travel with you. Like many of you, I am a multi-tasking mama juggling priorities which are why here I offer solutions to tame your hectic lifestyle. Read More…

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