Maple Bourbon Burger

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375. Place bacon on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment. Brush top of each slice of bacon with half of the 1/3 cup of Maple Bourbon Ultimate Cooking Sauce. Bake until bacon is caramelized and cooked, approximately 15 minutes. Flip over halfway through baking and brush the remaining half of the sauce on the other side of the bacon.
2. Add olive oil to a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Once pan is hot, add onions and thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and starting to caramelize, about 20 minutes. Remove the sprig of thyme and add salt and pepper to taste. Add the 1/3 cup of Maple Bourbon Ultimate Cooking Sauce to the cooked onions and stir to combine.
3. Add sirloin, Maple Bourbon Ultimate Cooking Sauce, sea salt, black pepper, and shallot to a large bowl. Combine with clean hands until the ingredients are incorporated. Divide into four even patties. Heat a skillet or grill and add the burgers. Cook until they reach the desired doneness.
4. Just before serving, add the grainy mustard and Maple Bourbon Ultimate Cooking Sauce to a small bowl and stir until combined. Spread one quarter of the sauce on the top and bottom of each bun. Place a burger patty on the bottom bun, then top with a slice of Gruyere, two pieces of the caramelized bacon, one and one quarter of the onions. Place the top bun on the onions and serve. Chips or fries are perfect companions for this flavorful burger.