Pimento Cheese and BBQ Bacon Burgers

The title pretty much says it all - a delicious and indulgent combo!  This spin on the classic cheeseburger was so mouthwateringly good that I forgot to take a picture before I started eating it.  In fact, my mouth is watering right now as I type!  This recipe takes a little more time than your ordinary cheeseburger but it really elevates the cheeseburger to something extraordinary, so I think it's worth the extra time and effort.  I hope you enjoy this burger recipe as much as my family did.

Pimento Cheese and BBQ Bacon Burgers
adapted from Saveur
serves 3

for the pimento cheese:
3 oz extra sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 oz white cheddar cheese, grated
2 tablespoons chopped pimentos, drained
3 tablespoons reduced fat mayonnaise (recommended brand: Hellman's)
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper

for the burgers:
1 lb ground beef or bison
1/2 small white onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons smoky BBQ sauce
6 slices bacon
Hamburger buns
Lettuce
Tomato slices
Mayo

For the pimento cheese, combine all ingredients and mix well.  Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve.

For the burgers, in a medium bowl, mix ground meat, onion and BBQ sauce.  Separate meat into three even-sized pieces and form into patties.

Meanwhile, cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat.  Remove cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.  Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon fat.

Heat an indoor grill pan to medium-high heat and carefully drizzle reserved bacon fat over grill pan.  Season burger patties with salt and pepper.  Grill patties, flipping once, until desired doneness, about 10 minutes for medium-rare.  Top burgers with a liberal scoop of pimento cheese and cover pan with a lid to help cheese melt.  Carefully transfer burgers to buns and top with lettuce, tomato and a little extra mayonnaise.