Bourbon BBQ Crunch Burger

Ingredients

• 2 pounds 85/15 ground beef chuck
• 2 Tablespoons bourbon
• 6 hamburger buns
• 1 bag Bourbon BBQ Kettle Brand Chips
• 6 slices white cheddar cheese
• assorted burger toppings lettuce, red onion, tomato

Burger Seasoning

• 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 Tablespoon coarse black pepper
• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder

Bourbon BBQ Sauce

• 1 cup water
• 1 20 oz can crushed pineapple in heavy syrup
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• ½ cup ketchup
• ¼ cup molasses
• ¼ cup bourbon
• ¼ cup onion minced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 lemons zest and juice
• 1 Tablespoon Homemade Sweet BBQ Rub link in recipe notes
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Direction

1. Make the BBQ sauce. Combine all ingredients for the Bourbon BBQ Sauce in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly, then blend until smooth. Set aside.
2. Prep the grill and beef. Preheat your grill to high heat (around 450 degrees). In a large bowl, place your ground beef and pour in the bourbon. Mix very gently. Overmixing can make your burgers tough. Form into 6 individual patties. Season on both sides with the burger seasoning.
3. Grill the burgers. Place the burgers on the grill grates and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, or until burgers are within 10 degrees of desired doneness. Then top with a slice of white cheddar, close the lid on your grill and cook for 1-2 more minutes to let the cheese melt. The FDA recommends ground beef is cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
4. Assemble. Time to build your burgers! If you want the best burger, toss your buns on the grill for 1-2 minutes to toast them. Assemble your burgers with lettuce on the bottom, followed by any onions and tomatoes. Top with the cheesy patty, a few spoonfuls of your Bourbon BBQ Sauce, and a nice handful of the Bourbon BBQ Kettle Brand chips. Finish with the top bun and maybe a toothpick to hold it all together. Serve with napkins for juicy fingers.