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These pineapple bacon burgers saved me from another boring dinner when I was tired of making the same old burgers but didn't want to deal with firing up the grill. Wrapping everything in bacon and baking it in the oven means you get all those amazing flavors without standing outside flipping patties or worrying about timing. The sweet pineapple with smoky bacon and BBQ-seasoned beef creates this incredible combination that makes everyone think you got takeout from some fancy burger place.
My teenage son, who usually just tolerates whatever I make, actually said these were "really good" and asked if I could make them again. Coming from a kid who lives on fast food, that was basically a standing ovation. Even my picky daughter ate the whole thing without complaining once.
What You Need
- Lean ground beef: I use 93/7 because it doesn't get too greasy
- Fresh pineapple rings: Way better than canned and not that hard to cut
- Regular bacon: Not thick cut because it won't crisp up properly in the time it takes
- Good BBQ sauce: Whatever brand you actually like eating
- Brioche buns: Worth getting the good ones from the bakery section
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Getting It Done
- Setting everything up
- Heat your oven to 400°F and line a big baking sheet with foil and a wire rack. The rack lets air get under the burgers so they don't get soggy on the bottom.
- Making the burger mix
- Mix your ground beef with 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce, salt, and pepper, but don't go crazy mixing it or the burgers will be tough. Just get everything combined and form into 4 patties.
- The bacon wrapping part
- This is the fun part - lay two bacon strips in an X shape, put a burger patty in the middle, add a pineapple ring on top, then wrap the bacon up and over everything. Stick a toothpick through the middle to hold it all together.
- Baking them
- Bake for 15 minutes, then take them out and brush more BBQ sauce on the bacon. Put them back in for another 10-15 minutes until they hit 160°F inside. Let them sit for 5 minutes before eating or all the juices will run out.
I messed up the first batch by serving them right away instead of letting them rest, and they were kind of dry because all the good stuff ran out. Now I always wait those 5 minutes and they're perfect every time.
How to Serve Them
These are great just on buns with maybe some lettuce, but you can add whatever burger toppings you normally like. Fries or onion rings work perfectly on the side. The sweet and salty combo goes really well with cold beer if that's your thing.
Making Them Different
Try different BBQ sauces for different flavors - spicy ones are really good if you like heat. Sometimes I add cheese during the last few minutes of baking. You can also grill the pineapple first if you want it a little caramelized.
Leftovers and Storage
They're definitely best fresh, but leftovers keep in the fridge for a couple days. Reheat them in the oven, not the microwave, or the bacon gets weird and chewy.
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These burgers have become one of those recipes that makes regular dinner feel special without being a huge pain to make. There's something really satisfying about that combination of sweet pineapple and salty bacon that just works perfectly together. They're definitely more interesting than regular burgers but not so weird that picky eaters won't try them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I make these burgers without bacon wrapping?
- Yes! You can cook the bacon separately and add it as a regular topping. Just bake the seasoned patties with pineapple on top for about 20-25 minutes.
- → How do I know when the burgers are done?
- Use an instant-read thermometer - 160°F for well-done (recommended for ground beef), 150-155°F for medium-well, or 140-145°F for medium.
- → Can I use canned pineapple instead of fresh?
- Absolutely! Use pineapple rings packed in juice (not syrup) and pat them completely dry before using to prevent excess moisture.
- → Why do I need to let the burgers rest after cooking?
- Resting allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring your burger stays moist and juicy when you bite into it.
- → Can I prep these ahead of time?
- You can assemble the burgers up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate them. Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time if they're cold from the fridge.