Grilled Western Burger with Onion Rings and Pickled Jalapenos

by Justin Segelstrom

Ingredients

Onion Rings:

  • ½ small white onion, sliced into thick rings (about 3 rings per burger, approximately ½ large onion)
  • 4 cups avocado oil (or grapeseed oil)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided (reserve ½ cup for coating and use 1 ½ cups for the batter)
  • 2 tablespoons of your favorite BBQ rub
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 12-ounce can beer (pilsner or lager recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

Western Burger:

  • 4 pieces crispy bacon
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 1 tablespoon of your favorite BBQ rub
  • 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
  • 4 burger buns
  • 1 large tomato, sliced
  • ½ cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
  • 6 pieces butter or bibb lettuce (optional)
  • Pickled jalapenos, for topping

Instructions

For Onion Rings:

  1. Heat oil in a medium-sized Dutch oven or large pan to 375°F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups flour, BBQ rub, cornstarch, and beer to create a thick pancake-like batter.
  3. Place ½ cup flour in a separate small bowl for coating the raw onion rings.
  4. Coat 3 onion rings at a time in the dry flour, then use tongs to dip each ring into the batter, ensuring they are well-coated.
  5. Fry the coated onion rings in the hot oil for 2 minutes per side until they are golden brown.
  6. Remove the onion rings and place them on a paper towel-lined cookie sheet to drain excess oil. Season with a touch of sea salt.
  7. Repeat the frying process until you have 8 to 12 onion rings.

For Western Burger:

  1. Preheat your grill for two-zone grilling to a target ambient temperature of 400°F.
  2. When the grill reaches 200°F, place the bacon on the indirect side and cook until crispy, flipping occasionally.
  3. Grill the burger patties over direct heat for 4 minutes with the lid closed to achieve a nice sear. Flip and grill for another 4 minutes with the lid closed.
  4. Move the burgers to the indirect heat side, top with cheddar cheese, and close the lid. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 160-165°F.
  5. Warm the burger buns on the grill.
  6. Assemble the burgers: spread BBQ sauce on the bottom bun, add lettuce (if using) and a slice of tomato, then place the burger patty on top. Layer with crispy bacon, onion rings, and pickled jalapenos. Add more BBQ sauce and top with the other half of the bun.