As schools reopen across the country, the final weeks of summer offer plenty of reasons to keep gathering outside. Coffee-Rubbed Cheeseburgers with Texas Barbecue Sauce fit right into end-of-season cookouts, backyard dinners, and relaxed weekends with family or friends. Burgers keep outdoor meals casual, while this version adds deeper flavor without making preparation complicated. Fire up the grill, spend time around the patio, and make the most of warm evenings before fall routines settle in.
A coffee-based rub gives the beef a savory crust as the patties cook over medium-high heat. Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness, while black pepper, coriander, oregano, and sea salt round out the seasoning. The original recipe combines ground chuck and sirloin, then tops each burger with bacon and smoked cheese. Texas barbecue sauce finishes everything with smoky sweetness that complements the seasoned meat.
Cooking burgers outdoors also keeps everyone close to the action without turning dinner into a production. Patties cook quickly, toppings require little assembly, and guests can settle around the table while each batch comes off the grates. That easy pace makes this recipe equally suited to a late-summer barbecue, casual Saturday meal, or Sunday gathering as football season approaches. It follows Alfresco Backyard Living's recipe philosophy by keeping outdoor cooking approachable and focused on enjoying time together.
As summer winds down, there is no reason to pack away the tools that make backyard meals so enjoyable. A dependable outdoor cooking setup can carry weeknight dinners, weekend get-togethers, and seasonal celebrations well beyond August.
Explore our vast selection of grills, outdoor kitchen components, ovens, fire pits, heaters, and backyard essentials at Alfresco Backyard Living, or visit our large retail showroom in St. James, New York. Our team provides knowledgeable, personalized service to help you find the right products for your outdoor living space.
Serves 8
Coffee-Rubbed Cheeseburgers with Texas Barbecue Sauce Ingredients
Coffee Rub
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground coffee
- 2 teaspoons (packed) golden brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
Burgers
- 8 slices applewood-smoked bacon
- 1 pound ground chuck (preferably grass-fed)
- 1 pound ground sirloin (preferably grass-fed)
- 8 slices smoked provolone, smoked caciocavallo, or smoked Gouda cheese (about 8 ounces)
- 8 potato-bread hamburger buns
- 8 slices red onion
- 8 slices of tomato
- Texas Barbecue Sauce
Coffee-Rubbed Cheeseburgers with Texas Barbecue Sauce Directions
For Coffee Rub
- Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
For Burgers
- Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Break in half. Gently mix chuck and sirloin in a large bowl. Form meat into eight patties, each 31/2 to 4 inches in diameter and 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick. Using your thumb, make a slight indentation in the center of each burger. DO AHEAD: Burgers and bacon can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover separately and chill.
- Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Sprinkle one teaspoon of coffee rub on the top side of each burger. Place burgers, rub side down, on grill rack. Grill until slightly charred, about 4 minutes; turn. Place two halves of a bacon slice on top of each burger. Cook for 3 minutes. Top each with one cheese slice. Cover and cook until cheese melts, about 1 minute longer.
- Place burgers on the bottom halves of the buns. Top with onion slices and tomato slices. Spoon a dollop of Texas Barbecue Sauce over. Cover with bun tops and serve, passing additional sauce alongside.
Test-Kitchen Tip
- Making a slight indentation in the center of the patty before cooking ensures a nice, flat burger.
Taken from americanmadegrills.com