Coffee-Rubbed Barbecue Cheeseburgers

Is there anything more satisfying than a massively messy burger that drips down your fingers and makes its way to your elbows?

Ugh. I love a good burger bath. Heart emoji.

Although there are dozens of ways to lighten up this savory handheld (swap in lettuce for the bun, choose a leaner cut of beef, and so on), I think that defeats the purpose and, in all honesty, takes some of the fun out of it. Don’t worry, Bacon Cheddar Burgers, you’re safe with me.

If you don’t agree that burgers are fun, you’re in the wrong place, my friend.

Oh wait – and we’re also not friends.

Look, this isn’t meant to be something you have on a daily basis. It’s like a form of specialty entertainment that should be enjoyed in moderation. Like a rap concert. Or sitting in a pile of puppies.

I believe that if you’ve made the choice to consume this hearty sandwich, just freakin’ go for it!

Go for the succulent, fatty ground meat, a pillowy bun, gooey layers of cheese, and most important of all: a sauce that gets all over your face.

Doesn’t that sound like more fun than using lettuce instead of bread?

I typically make everything from scratch, but I have no shame in admitting that I’m a sucker for ketchup. Not the natural kind. Not the low-sugar stuff.

I’m talking about the sweet, sticky, old-school condiment you have to whack on the butt to get out of the bottle.

Although I adore this old-fashioned red spread when it’s paired with classic cheeseburgers, occasionally I like to roll up my sleeves and give everything a tasty tweak.

Good-quality ground beef only needs salt and pepper to live its best life. But if you’re looking to fine-tune your patties with some flair, this coffee rub is a simple way to make them shine.

Using a dark, smoky coffee like a French roast is a straight-up genius move. Its complex roasted charcoal notes make a brilliant match with lightly charred beef. The richness of the brown sugar balances the coffee, and plays off the sticky, sweet Texas-style sauce.

Wait, the North Carolina girl made a Texas barbecue sauce?

Oh yes, I did, y’all.

When it comes to pulled pork, I’m unquestionably loyal to my eastern Carolina vinegar-pepper sauce. If I’m going to slather barbecue sauce all over a cheeseburger, though, that’s a different story.

And this story starts with gusto. And garlic.

My spicy homemade Texas barbecue sauce is built from the garlic up, and it pairs beautifully with these coffee-rubbed patties, buttery smoked Gouda, and sweet charred onions. A hint of chipotle gives everything a kick in the butt.

Kind of like how I get the ketchup out of the bottle.

See how I came full condiment circle?

Summertime or not, my grill begs for bold, sizzling burgers whose future is a disruptive amount of toppings.

Who am I to refuse?

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Cooking By the Numbers…

Step 1 – Make the Coffee Rub

Using a dark, smoky coffee (I like to use a French roast), grind the fresh coffee beans into coarse grounds.

In a small bowl, stir together the coffee grounds, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and the dried oregano.

Step 2 – Season the Ground Beef and Form into Patties

Preheat a grill or grill pan to high.

For the juiciest, most flavorful patties, choose freshly ground chuck with a 70% lean and 30% fat ratio.

Place the ground beef into a large bowl and season it with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir to combine, then form the beef into 4 equally-sized that are about 1/3-inch thick. Set these aside on a plate or platter.

Step 3 – Rub the Coffee Mixture into the Patties

Sprinkle each patty with about 1 teaspoon of the rub, and press it in with your fingers. Repeat with the other side.

Step 4 – Indent the Patties

Using your thumb, indent a well into the center of each patty to keep them from puffing up in the middle while they are cooking.

Push about halfway through the patties.

Step 5 – Slice and Season the Onions

Trim the ends off both sides of the onion. Without peeling it, slice the onion into thick rings. Keeping the outside skin on will help to keep the slices intact.

On both sides, evenly drizzle the onion rounds with the olive oil and season them with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. If the onion slices don’t seem to be holding together well, you can slide a skewer through them lengthwise to keep them from falling between the grates of the grill.

Step 6 – Grill the Onions

Place the onion slices onto the grill and cook, flipping halfway through, until they are charred, about 20 minutes.

Step 7 – Grill the Burgers and Melt the Cheese

Place the burgers onto the grill and cook to your desired doneness.

This will take about 3 minutes on the first side and 2 minutes on the second side for medium-rare.

Place a slice of gouda onto each of the burgers and allow the cheese to melt, about 30 seconds.

Step 8 – Toast the Buns and Assemble

Toast the tops and bottoms of the burger buns on the grill until very lightly golden, about 30 seconds.

To assemble the burgers, spread each toasted bottom bun with some Texas barbecue sauce and then top it with a large lettuce leaf, such as romaine or Bibb lettuce. Add a burger patty, grilled onions, and one more spoonful of sauce, and the top bun. Serve immediately.

And for the lover of that perfect lip-puckering taste of pickled veggies, add some homemade garlic dill pickles!

And what about the sides? Go for the classic combo of a juicy burger and fries! Make a batch or two of our oven-baked french fries, and you’ve created a match made in heaven (aka your kitchen).