2010-2026 - Seattle food-truck cooks popularizing bacon jam on burgers

Bacon Jam Burgers

Name: Bacon Jam Burgers
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 burgers
Ingredients: 8 ounces bacon, chopped; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey; 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 80/20 preferred; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 4 slices sharp cheddar or blue cheese; 4 burger buns, toasted; Arugula or lettuce, for serving

A griddled burger topped with homemade bacon jam, sharp cheese, arugula, and a toasted bun, inspired by the modern food-truck burger boom.

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Difficulty

Medium

Prep time

20 minutes

Cook time

40 minutes

Total time

1 hour

Servings

4 burgers

Region

American food trucks and burger bars

Era introduced

2010-2026

Introduced by

Seattle food-truck cooks popularizing bacon jam on burgers

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The Story

Bacon jam burgers belong to the chef-driven food-truck moment of the late 2000s and 2010s, when familiar American comfort foods were rebuilt with restaurant-level toppings. Seattle's Skillet helped make bacon jam famous from an Airstream food truck, and the idea spread quickly: smoky bacon cooked down with onion, sugar, and vinegar until it becomes a spoonable burger condiment. This version keeps the burger simple so the jam can do the work.

Ingredients

8 ounces bacon, chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 80/20 preferred
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 slices sharp cheddar or blue cheese
4 burger buns, toasted
Arugula or lettuce, for serving

Equipment

Large pot
Skillet
Griddle
Cutting board
Chef's knife
Measuring cups and spoons

Directions

Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp; remove half for texture and leave about 1 tablespoon fat in the pan.
Add onion and cook until soft and golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
Stir in brown sugar, vinegar, maple syrup, and Worcestershire.
Return reserved bacon to the pan and simmer until thick and jammy, 8 to 12 minutes.
Shape beef into 4 patties and season with salt and pepper.
Cook patties on a hot griddle or skillet 3 to 4 minutes per side, or to preferred doneness.
Top with cheese and let melt.
Build burgers on toasted buns with arugula and a spoonful of warm bacon jam.

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Bacon Jam Burgers

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Ingredients

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