Makes: 4 Burgers

Ingredients

For the Burgers

• 1 1/2 lb ground beef, 80/20 blend
• 1 teaspoon The Spice Way Granulated Garlic
• 1 teaspoon The Spice Way Granulated Onion
• 1 teaspoon The Spice Way Smoked Paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon The Spice Way Ground Cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon The Spice Way Chili Powder
• 1/2 teaspoon The Spice Way Black Pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Bourbon BBQ Sauce

• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 2 tablespoons bourbon
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon The Spice Way Cayenne Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon The Spice Way Ground Mustard

For Serving

• 4 slices smoked cheddar cheese
• 8 strips cooked bacon
• 1 large onion, caramelized
• Lettuce leaves, optional
• Tomato slices or Tomato Powder
• 4 pretzel buns, split and toasted

Preparation

1. Make the sauce: in a small saucepan, combine the barbecue sauce, bourbon, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, cayenne, and ground mustard. Simmer 5 to 8 minutes, until slightly thickened.
2. In a bowl, gently mix the ground beef with the granulated garlic, granulated onion, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, and salt. Form into 4 patties.
3. Cook the patties on a grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat until browned and the center reaches 160°F. During the last minute, brush with bourbon BBQ sauce and top with smoked cheddar.
4. Build the burgers on toasted pretzel buns with lettuce, tomato, the cheddar-topped patties, caramelized onions, bacon, and extra bourbon BBQ sauce.