Copycat Carl's Jr. Bacon Western Cheeseburger

Name: Copycat Carl's Jr. Bacon Western Cheeseburger
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1/4 c. whole milk; 1 large egg; 1 tsp. sweet or smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp. garlic powder; 1/2 tsp. onion powder; Kosher salt; Freshly ground black pepper; 1/2 c. all-purpose flour; 2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. cornstarch; 3/4 c. bread crumbs, such as panko; Canola oil, for frying; 1 large yellow onion; 8 slices bacon; 1 lb. ground beef, divided into 4 patties; 4 slices American cheese; 4 sesame seed buns; BBQ sauce, for topping

By Justin SullivanPublished: Apr 7, 2022

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copycat western bacon cheeseburger with onion rings

PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

There are a ton of famous fast food burgers, from the square, always fresh Wendy’s patties to the glorious stack that is the Big Mac. But the Western Bacon Cheeseburger holds a special place in our hearts, and not just because it’s really fun to say.

It’s hard not to love a bacon cheeseburger, but when you add tangy BBQ sauce and crispy onion rings to the mix, then you are on your way to burger heaven. You can accomplish this burger with frozen onion rings, but making your own fresh–and keeping them fresh–until burger assembly seals the deal. Want to go even further? Make your own BBQ sauce!

If you tried recreating this fast food classic, let us know how it came out in the comments below!

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Yields:: 4
Prep Time:: 10 mins
Total Time:: 10 mins

Ingredients

1/4 c.
whole milk
1
large egg
1 tsp.
sweet or smoked paprika
1/2 tsp.
garlic powder
1/2 tsp.
onion powder
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 c.
all-purpose flour
2 tbsp.
plus 2 tsp. cornstarch
3/4 c.
bread crumbs, such as panko
Canola oil, for frying
1
large yellow onion
8
slices bacon
1 lb.
ground beef, divided into 4 patties
4
slices American cheese
4
sesame seed buns
BBQ sauce, for topping

Directions

1. Step 1In one shallow bowl, whisk together milk, egg, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, 1 teaspoon of salt and a few cracks of black pepper until thoroughly combined. In another shallow bowl, whisk together flour and cornstarch. In a final bowl, add bread crumbs.
2. Step 2Fill a heavy bottomed pot with about 3” of oil and place over medium heat. Bring oil up to 375º. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 225° to keep everything warm.
3. Step 3Slice the onion into 8, ¼” thick rings (you may need 2 onions), give them a quick rinse in cold water, then immediately add the onion slices to the flour mixture. Toss to coat, dredge in the egg, and finally coat with bread crumbs.
4. Step 4Working in batches, fry the onion rings until golden brown and crispy, flipping halfway through, about 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with a wire rack and transfer to the oven to keep warm.
5. Step 5Place bacon strips in a large heavy bottomed skillet, then turn the heat to medium-high. Cook until bacon is crisp but not burnt, flipping halfway through, about 4 minutes. Transfer to the baking sheet (that’s in the oven) and transfer sheet back to the oven.
6. Step 6Wipe out the skillet and return it to medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons oil and heat until shimmering. Season the patties heavily with salt and pepper on both sides and transfer to the skillet.
7. Step 7Cook the burgers until cooked to your desired doneness and a crust has formed on each side, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. After the first flip, top the burgers with cheese.
8. Step 8While the burgers cook, prepare the buns by adding BBQ sauce to both the inside top and bottom buns. Top the bottom buns with 2 onion rings.
9. Step 9When the burgers are cooked and the cheese has melted, add them to the buns and finish with 2 strips of bacon., and serve.