BBQ Season Starts with Burger Stuffed Onion Rings!

I love ordering onion rings when we go out, but it’s sometimes hit-and-miss due to the breading. When I saw a recipe for basically meat and BACON as “breading?”  Say Whaaa??? I had to try it out! Making them up is a little time-consuming, so be sure to pour your favorite beverage to keep you company while you make them, or grab a helper! I’d suggest not using an onion ring that is too small for the inner onion, as getting the bacon through the hole is a bit frustrating. We used our electric smoker and put in one handful of mesquite chips, which seemed to be plenty to get a nice smokey flavor. They tasted pretty decadent and paired well with my brussels sprout slaw https://aminsurance.com/brussels-sprout-slaw-recipe/. I encourage you to take a chance on this recipe and let BBQ season begin early this year!

Burger Stuffed Onion Rings

Beef Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 jalapeño chopped  – small dice
• ½ t. Johnny’s seasoning
• 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
• Onion Ingredients
• 3-4 white or sweet onions
• 1-2 lbs. bacon slices
• 1 c. BBQ sauce
• 2 green onions, sliced for garnish

Sauce

• 1 c. mayonnaise
• 2 T. horseradish
• 1 T. Dijon mustard
• 1 T. ketchup
• ½ T. soy sauce
• 2 t. sugar
• 1 ½ T. dill pickle juice
• 1 t. lemon juice
• 1 t. Cayenne pepper
• ½ t. garlic powder
• Add  salt if needed

Instructions

Peel the onions and slice them into 1” thick rings. Grab 6-8 of the largest rings and a bit smaller rings for the inside rings.

Mix burger ingredients in a bowl.  Take an outside ring and a handful of the beef mixture and place it in the center. Shape the ground beef to the inside of the onion, then place the smaller inside ring into the ground beef. Next, wrap the bacon around the outside and set on a tray.

Preheat the smoker for indirect cooking at 275 degrees. If you want smoke flavor, add a handful of wood chips for a light smoke. Add rings to the smoker and cook 45-60 minutes or until they are at 165F internal temperature. During the last 10 minutes, glaze with BBQ sauce. Remove from heat, top with green onions, and serve with the sauce.

The sauce can be made while the rings are cooking. Just add everything to a bowl and mix well.