Copycat Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger Recipe

<ul class="ingredients-main-list"><li class="ingredients-single-item">500g ground beef (80% lean/20% fat)</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">8 slices bacon</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">4 slices American cheese</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">2 sesame seed burger buns</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">1 tbsp vegetable oil</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste</li><li class="ingredients-single-item">Optional toppings: lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, pickles, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard</li></ul>

<ul class="equipment-main-list"><li class="equipment-single-item">Cast iron skillet or heavy griddle</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Metal spatula (preferably flat and wide)</li><li class="equipment-single-item">Meat thermometer</li></ul>

<ol class="no-list-style"><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 1</h4>Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions of approximately 125g each, shaping them loosely into balls. Don't overwork the meat as this can make your burgers tough. Place them on a plate and refrigerate while preparing other ingredients. Cold meat will hold its shape better when cooking.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 2</h4>Cook the bacon in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally. Five Guys uses well-done bacon for that perfect crunch. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then set aside. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 3</h4>Split your burger buns and lightly toast them in the skillet with a touch of the bacon fat until golden brown, about 30-45 seconds. Set aside on serving plates.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 4</h4>Heat your skillet to high heat until it's smoking hot. This is crucial for achieving that perfect exterior crust on the patties. Add the vegetable oil to the remaining bacon fat.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 5</h4>Place two beef balls in the skillet, leaving plenty of space between them. Using the flat spatula, firmly smash each ball into a thin patty (about 15cm diameter). Press down hard for 10 seconds to create contact with the hot surface. Season generously with salt and pepper. The smashing technique creates a large surface area for browning, resulting in more flavor development through the Maillard reaction.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 6</h4>Cook patties for about 1 minute until the edges are brown and crispy, then carefully flip them over. Immediately place a slice of American cheese on each patty, and continue cooking for another 45-60 seconds until cheese is melty. Five Guys burgers are cooked to well-done (71°C/160°F internal temperature), but they remain juicy due to the high fat content and quick cooking method.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 7</h4>Transfer one cheesy patty onto the bottom half of a toasted bun, then top with a second cheesy patty. Add 4 slices of crispy bacon on top of the cheese. Repeat with the remaining ingredients for the second burger.</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 8</h4>Add your choice of toppings in the traditional Five Guys style: mayo on the bottom bun under the patties, and other toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard on top of the bacon. Five Guys is known for customization, so make it exactly how you like it!</li><li class="MethodStepper"><h4 class="step-title">Step 9</h4>Complete your burgers by placing the top bun and wrapping each in aluminum foil for about 30 seconds. This traps the steam and allows the flavors to meld together, mimicking the way Five Guys serves their burgers. Unwrap and serve immediately for the authentic experience!</li></ol>