It’s not a cookout without burgers. The blue cheese and whiskey glaze elevates this staple. You and your guests will love it!

Ingredients

BURGERS:

  • 2 lbs angus ground beef or ground brisket works really well too
  • 3/4 tsp dried minced onion
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 Tbsp Crumbled blue cheese
  • 4 pretzel buns toasted
  • Handful of arugula lettuce
  • Slices of Dubliner cheese (or white cheddar Gruyere or sharp cheddar)

WHISKEY GLAZE:

  • 1/4 cup Jameson whiskey or any good quality whiskey
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard or 1/2 tsp mustard powder
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • dash of hot sauce
  • black pepper to taste

GUINNESS CARAMELIZED ONIONS:

  • 2 yellow onions peeled and sliced thinly
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp butter
  • 1 cup Guinness beer
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

MAKE THE ONIONS:
  1. Heat butter in a large skillet over MED heat. Add sliced onions and stir to coat in melted butter. Sprinkle in salt, pepper, and thyme and stir to combine. Saute, stirring occasionally, for about 7-10 minutes, until onions are soft and golden brown at the edges.
  2. Pour in half the Guinness, cover, and cook until liquid is about 3/4 of the way evaporated. Repeat with remaining Guinness. This time, cook until liquid is nearly all evaporated. Remove onions from pan and set aside.

MAKE THE GLAZE:

  1. To a small saucepan, add whiskey and bring to a low boil. Continue to boil for about 2 minutes, then add remaining glaze ingredients and whisk to combine.
  2. Reduce heat to LOW and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until glaze is slightly thickened.
  3. Remove from heat and set aside.
MAKE THE BURGERS:
  1. To a large mixing bowl, add ground beef, salt, pepper, and dried minced onion. Use your hands to mix it all together. Separate the meat mixture into 4 equal portions.
  2. Shape meat into flattened balls, place about 1 Tbsp blue cheese crumbles in the center of the ball and push into the ball. Mold the meat around the cheese and form into a patty.
  3. Heat a large cast iron skillet or grill pan over MED heat. Drizzle a bit of olive oil in the pan. Cook burgers about 6 minutes per side, or until desired doneness. The last minute of cooking, brush burgers with prepared whiskey glaze and place a slice of cheese on the burgers, then cover pan loosely with foil.
  4. Remove burgers to a plate and cover with foil for 3 minutes.

ASSEMBLE:

  1. Line bottom bun with arugula lettuce, then top with burger.
  2. Place a generous helping of caramelized onions on top of the burger.
  3. Drizzle with additional glaze.
  4. Top with top bun and enjoy!