Maple Beef Bacon Jam (for Smashburgers)
Maple Beef Bacon Jam (for Smashburgers)
Ingredients
For the Maple Beef Bacon Jam
- 10 ounces beef bacon, diced
- 1 white onion, diced
- 5 fluid ounces black coffee
- 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/4 cup beef stock, as needed
For the Burger Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, peppery if possible
- 1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
For Assembly (per burger)
- 2 hamburger buns, toasted
- 4 slices pickles
- 2 burger patties
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Burger Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and barbecue sauce. Stir well to combine. Taste the sauce and add salt and black pepper to your preference. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Cook the Beef Bacon: Place the diced beef bacon in a heavy-bottomed pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the bacon for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is mostly crispy and cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, remove the cooked bacon from the pan and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
⏱️ 15 min
- 3
Sauté the Onion and Deglaze: Carefully pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease from the pan. Add the diced white onion to the pan and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until softened and translucent. Pour in the black coffee, maple syrup, and packed brown sugar. Stir thoroughly to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat.
⏱️ 8 min
- 4
Simmer the Bacon Jam: Return the cooked beef bacon to the pan with the simmering liquid. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer gently for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced significantly and the jam has thickened to a rich, jammy consistency. If the mixture becomes too dry or thick before the desired consistency is reached, add beef stock, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
⏱️ 45 min
- 5
Prepare the Smashburgers: While the bacon jam simmers, prepare your smashburgers according to your preferred method. This typically involves forming ground beef into loose balls, placing them on a hot griddle or cast-iron skillet, and smashing them flat with a burger press or spatula.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
Assemble the Burger: Lightly toast your hamburger buns. Spread a generous amount of the prepared burger sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Layer with pickles, then place two cooked burger patties on top. Spoon a generous amount of the warm Maple Beef Bacon Jam over the burger patties. Spread more burger sauce on the top half of the bun and place it on top of the bacon jam. Serve immediately and enjoy!
⏱️ 7 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Maple Beef Bacon Jam (for Smashburgers)
For the Maple Beef Bacon Jam
- 10 ounces beef bacon, diced
- 1 white onion, diced
- 5 fluid ounces black coffee
- 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/4 cup beef stock, as needed
For the Burger Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, peppery if possible
- 1/8 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
For Assembly (per burger)
- 2 hamburger buns, toasted
- 4 slices pickles
- 2 burger patties
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Burger Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and barbecue sauce. Stir well to combine. Taste the sauce and add salt and black pepper to your preference. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Cook the Beef Bacon: Place the diced beef bacon in a heavy-bottomed pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the bacon for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is mostly crispy and cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, remove the cooked bacon from the pan and set it aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
⏱️ 15 min - 3
Sauté the Onion and Deglaze: Carefully pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease from the pan. Add the diced white onion to the pan and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until softened and translucent. Pour in the black coffee, maple syrup, and packed brown sugar. Stir thoroughly to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat.
⏱️ 8 min - 4
Simmer the Bacon Jam: Return the cooked beef bacon to the pan with the simmering liquid. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer gently for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced significantly and the jam has thickened to a rich, jammy consistency. If the mixture becomes too dry or thick before the desired consistency is reached, add beef stock, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
⏱️ 45 min - 5
Prepare the Smashburgers: While the bacon jam simmers, prepare your smashburgers according to your preferred method. This typically involves forming ground beef into loose balls, placing them on a hot griddle or cast-iron skillet, and smashing them flat with a burger press or spatula.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
Assemble the Burger: Lightly toast your hamburger buns. Spread a generous amount of the prepared burger sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Layer with pickles, then place two cooked burger patties on top. Spoon a generous amount of the warm Maple Beef Bacon Jam over the burger patties. Spread more burger sauce on the top half of the bun and place it on top of the bacon jam. Serve immediately and enjoy!
⏱️ 7 min