Course: Main Dish    Cuisine: American   Prep Time: 15-30 min   Cook Time: 45-60 min   Servings: 4

Ingredients

1.5-2 lbs 80/20 ground beef (enough to make 4, 1/3lb patties)

1-2 tablespoons Big Poppa Smokers Double Secret Steak Rub (to season patties)

1.5 stick of salted butter (around 3/4 cup)

1 teaspoon Tabasco Original Red

4 brioche buns (or bun of your choosing)

4 slices American cheese

1-2 tablespoons mayonnaise

4-6 leaves Romaine lettuce, torn into smaller pieces

1-2 tomatoes, sliced

ADD-ONS FOR BURGER ASSEMBLY FOUND IN OTHER RECIPES: 

6-8 slices Chipotle Tabasco Bacon

4 slices Tabasco Pickles (sandwich style, cut in halves)

Tabasco Grilled Onions

Directions

Preheat grill to 350F

Form burger meat into 1/3lb patties, into a concave shape, 4 total

Season one side of the patties with Big Poppa Smokers Double Secret Steak Rub

Let the seasoning “melt” into the patties for about 20min – use this time to melt butter, prep your toppings/anything else you’d like to have on your burger

Melt butter in microwave safe cup, add Tabasco to melted butter, stir

Toast Brioche buns (tops and bottoms) on the grill, watch carefully as buns can burn quickly

Baste both sides of buns generously with Tabasco butter

Set buns aside/cover to keep warm

Set burger patties on the grill – watch patties to see if any are cooking faster than others/adjust heat accordingly (higher or lower)

After 5 minutes, flip patties, and check internal temperature to see how far off you are from 145-150F

About 5 min later, flip again and add slices of American cheese to quickly melt onto patty before you hit your desired IT of 145-150F

Check internal temp, and pull off the grill at 145-150F, set aside

Assemble the burger bottom to top: Bottom bun, mayo on bottom bun, lettuce, tomato, Tabasco pickles, then place patty cheese side DOWN (or, upside down)

Baste burger patty with Tabasco butter, continue assembly on top of patty with Tabasco bacon, Tabasco grilled onions, then top bun

Serve