These aren’t some highfalutin fancy bistro burgers that cost $19.95. There aren’t exotic meats involved. No cheese from Alpine goats is required. The buns aren’t baked in 2000 year old ovens attended to by monks. These are simple, delicious burgers. Pretty much like the ones you’d get at the fast food restaurant. Nope. These copycat Wendy’s Baconator burgers aren’t meant to be fancy. But oh are they good. And easy, too!
Square Patties
Yeah, to be like the restaurant version you’ll need to make square patties for your copycat Wendy’s Baconator burgers. It’s not that hard to do. And you know what? If you don’t make them square no one is going to tell on you. I was lucky and found a square Tuperware sandwich container that was perfect for making the patties. I lined it with wax paper. Then I added the meat and, using my fingers, formed it into a square. Well pretty much a square. Mine didn’t come up perfect. But they were kinda square and kinda fun.
A burger press
The thin square patties on these burgers like to ‘swell up’. You know what I mean. They get a little hill in the middle as they cook. Now, if you were cooking thick patties you could use your finger to put a little dimple in the middle of them before cooking to help prevent it. But these patties are thin. So the best way to combat ‘the rise’ is to use a burger press. Just place it on top of the meat as it cooks. It’s that simple.
For easy cleanup I like to wrap my press in a small piece of aluminum foil. When I’m doing cooking I just remove it and toss it into the trash.
Also try a copycat of McDonald’s Big Xtra burger at home!
Copycat Wendy’s Baconator
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or up to 2 pounds if making doubles!
- 12 slices bacon thin is best
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 hamburger buns
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 12 slices American cheese
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup
Instructions
- Divide the ground beef into 4 ounce sections and form into squares. You want the patties to be thin and a little larger than your buns.
- Cover and refrigerate the patties while you cook the bacon.
- Cook the bacon until crisp. I prefer to do this in the oven at 425 F but you can also fry the bacon or cook it on an outdoor griddle. Microwaved pre-cooked bacon can also be substituted.
- Fire up your grill or a griddle for medium-high heat cooking.
- Season the patties well with salt and cook until done. If you have a hamburger press, put it on top of the burgers while they cook to help keep them flat.
- While the patties are cooking, brush the insides of the buns with the butter and place on the grill to lightly toast. You can also place them under the oven broiler but keep an eye on them!
- Remove the buns and add the cooked patties to the bun bottoms. Top with cheese.
- Add the bacon.
- Slather the top buns with mayonnaise and add ketchup.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional values are approximate.
