Campfire Burgers

Wow, talk about a burger that just rocketed to the top of our favorite-to-make list. These campfire burgers are just packed with flavor, inside and out. The patties are not boring, combining ground beef with cheese, bacon, Worcestershire sauce and just a hint of smokiness. And then there’s the caramelized onions. Caramelized onions are a wonderful thing but adding balsamic vinegar to them makes them spectacular. And finally, a lightly smoky creamy sauce to top it all off. These burgers are messy, which keeps with my motto: messier is better.

Campfire Burgers

Make Extra Onions. And Sauce.

I recommend making more of the onions than the recipe for these campfire burgers calls for. As in doubling it. On the off-chance that you have leftover onions they are also fantastic on grilled hot dogs. I also recommend making more of the sauce. It’s great to have on hand for, well, hot dogs again, but also po boy sandwiches or even as a dipping sauce for chicken nuggets.

I like to use a burger press when I make burgers. It, in combination with some patty papers, enables me to crank out a whole bunch of equally-sized burger patties in no time at all with little cleanup.

Also try my chili crunch burgers.

Campfire Burgers
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5 from 1 vote

Campfire Burgers

These campfire burgers are just packed with flavor, inside and out. The patties are not boring, combining ground beef with cheese, bacon, Worcestershire and just a hint of smokiness.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword burgers
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4 burgers
Calories 643kcal

Ingredients

For the Caramelized Onions

For the Campfire Sauce

For the burgers

Instructions

For the Caramelized Onions

  • Heat the oil in large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the onions and sprinkle with salt.
  • Toss to coat and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often, until the onions are brown and caramelized.
  • Add the balsamic vinegar, stir, and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.

For the Campfire Sauce

  • Whisk all ingredients until smooth.

For the burgers

  • Fire up your grill for direct and indirect cooking.
  • Place meat into a large bowl.
  • Add all of the remaining ingredients except for the buns and mix well.
  • Form into 4 equally-sized patties.
  • Grill as desired.
  • Assemble the burgers by adding cooked patties to the bun bottoms. Add onions and plenty of the Campfire sauce.
  • Serve with plenty of napkins!

Nutrition

Calories: 643kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1071mg | Potassium: 559mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 143IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Slow-Cooked Lima Beans

I have been devouring Chef Vivian Howard’s book, Deep Run Roots. Every recipe in the book sounds so great that I just cannot slow down. These slow-cooked Lima beans are an excellent example not only of the great flavors Chef Howard conjures, but also the simplicity of the recipes. Lightly smoky tender beans. That’s it. Nothing fancy, but mighty good, specially on a cold day.

Slow-Cooked Lima Beans

Cook Them Longer. Or Don’t.

Depending on how you like your beans, you may want to cook your slow-cooked Lima beans a little longer or a little less. I like mine pretty tender, bordering on falling apart. Some folk like a little more ‘bite’ to theirs so they don’t cook them quite as much.

For extra smokiness (and a bit more seasoning meat) I used a smoked pork shank instead of the usual hock. I prefer shanks because I think they add more flavor than does a ham hock.

Oh, did I mention that these beans are perfect over a big piece of cornbread? Just like my creamy butter beans are.

Slow-Cooked Lima Beans
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5 from 1 vote

Slow-Cooked Lima Beans

 Lightly smoky tender beans. That’s it. Nothing fancy, but mighty good, specially on a cold day.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword beans, crockpot, slow cooker
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 288kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300 F.
  • Place all ingredients into a large Dutch oven and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
  • Transfer to the oven and cook 2 1/2 – 3 hours or until the beans are tender. Check the water level every 30 minutes and add water if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 1102mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 7IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smoky Chipotle Dry Wings

The smoky heat of chipotle peppers is absolutely fantastic on chicken wings. Instead of tossing my wings in a sauce I served them up ‘dry’, just coated in a delicious spicy rub where chipotle was the star, but there’s also hints of onion and garlic. Smoky chipotle dry wings will change your mind about always eating ‘wet’ wings.

Smoky Chipotle Dry Wings

I served these smoky chipotle dry wings with just a bit of Ranch dressing, but these wings are just perfect by themselves without a dipping sauce.

I recommend making extra of the seasoning. Store it in an air-tight container in your pantry. It’ll keep for a bit. That way you’re always ready to make some delicious flavor-packed wings!

Also try my Buffalo ranch and Joe Montana dry rubbed wings.

Visit my other site, For The Wing, for all things chicken-wing!

Smoky Chipotle Dry Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Smoky Chipotle Wings

The smoky heat of chipotle peppers is absolutely fantastic on chicken wings. Instead of tossing my wings in a sauce I served them up ‘dry’, just coated in a delicious spicy rub where chipotle was the star, but there’s also hints of onion and garlic. Smoky chipotle dry wings will change your mind about always eating ‘wet’ wings.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword smoky, spicy, wings
Prep Time 3 hours
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 292kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

For the wings

Instructions

For the wings

Nutrition

Calories: 292kcal | Protein: 22g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 191mg | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Smoky Chipotle Rubs

I love my smoker. My Weber Smokey Mountain gets a workout all through the year, making everything from jerky to pulled pork. Sometimes I want a great smoky flavor (and some heat) from my gas grill or my Big Easy. That’s where these smoky chipotle rubs come in.

The smoked paprika in both versions of rubs add that great smoky flavor. The chipotle powder brings the heat and a bit more smoky flavor. To mellow it out a bit there’s a bit of brown sugar. The big difference between the two versions? I use the first when I want an earthier, more southwestern flavor. I use the second when I want a bit more texture, a little heat, and the added flavors of garlic and onion.

Smoky Chipotle Rub

Great On Everything

These smoky chipotle rubs are great on poultry, pork, and beef. Sprinkle them on your burgers. My favorite way to use them? On chicken wings.

I keep my rubs and spice mixes in a dark, cool pantry, in air-tight containers. To remember what is what and when I made it, I write the name and the date I made them on blue painter’s tape and affix it to the container. The tape comes off easily when I’m done with the mix so I can re-use the container for other things.

Chipotle rub #1 is fantastic on my (wet) smoky chipotle chicken wings.

Smoky Chipotle Rub
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3.50 from 2 votes

Smoky Chipotle Rub #1

The smoked paprika in my smoky chipotle rubs add that great smoky flavor. The chipotle powder brings the heat and a bit more smoky flavor. To mellow it out a bit there’s a bit of brown sugar. 
Course Spice Mix
Cuisine American
Keyword rub, smoky, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 cup
Calories 272kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into an air-tight container. Seal and shake to combine.

Nutrition

Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7027mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 3544IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 7mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Chipotle rub #2 is fantastic on my smoky chipotle dry wings.

Smoky Chipotle Rub
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Smoky Chipotle Rub #2

The smoked paprika in both versions of smoky chipotle rubs add that great smoky flavor. The chipotle powder brings the heat and a bit more smoky flavor. To mellow it out a bit there’s a bit of brown sugar. 
Course Spice Mix
Cuisine American
Keyword rub, smoky, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1
Calories 56kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into an air-tight container. Seal and shake to combine.

Nutrition

Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4674mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2278IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.