Laura Daniels Winning Burger Recipe

Townsquare Media/Laura Daniels

If this looks deliciously fattening and calorie-laden, that's because it is.

And it's worth every single "cheat day" you've ever had.

Here it is, the recipe for my "Buffalo Bacon Bash Burger", winner of the Celebrity Burger Competition from 2016 Taste of Buffalo Culinary Stage! I must admit, it's "borrowed" from another chef, though I put a few tweaks of my own on it.

Bacon Topping:

12 slices bacon, diced
1 large onion, diced
1 tbls white wine vinegar
2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped and chopped
salt/pepper to taste

"Secret" Sauce:

1 cup mayo
3/4 cup ketchup
1 tbls sherry vinegar
2.5 - 3 tsp Sriracha
1 1/2 clove garlic, chopped
salt/pepper to taste

Burgers:

2 1/4 lb ground beef chuck (go 80/20 or go home)
2 tbls butter
salt/pepper to taste
dijon mustard
american cheese
rolls
sliced kosher dill pickles

1. Make the bacon topping: cook bacon until crisp, drain on paper towels. Reserve about 3 tablespoons of bacon drippings in pan. Add onion, lower heat to med-low, cover and cook 10 minutes. Dice bacon finely. Remove the cover and cook an additional 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Return bacon to the pan and add white wine vinegar and thyme. Salt and pepper to taste. Set aside, off heat.

2. Make the sauce: Take all the ingredients and mix well, using food processor if desired.

3. Make the burgers: By hand, mix ground beef, salt, pepper, and butter (careful not to overmix) and form patties (this recipe makes 6...adjust accordingly). Place on preheated grill or pan (med-high) and cook for 5 minutes. Flip and brush with mustard. Grill 5 more minutes for medium rare. Top each patty with cheese in last minute of cooking.

Lightly toast the buns. Spread a generous amount of sauce on the bottom bun, top with burger, a GIANT amount of bacon topping, pickles, and top buns.

the winning burger

If you did it right, it should run down your arm within the first bite. Have plenty of napkins ready!