Tailgating Coca-Cola BBQ Burgers
A flavorful blend of beef and pork makes up these smash burgers which are topped with Cola melted onions and a sweet and sticky spicy Coca-Cola BBQ sauce. Put these burgers on the menu for your tailgating gatherings-- everyone will be a fan!
Equipment
- Cutting board and sharp knife
- Small saucepan
- Frying pan
- Wooden spoon
- Bowl
- Traeger grill
- Cast iron insert or griddle
- Flat spatula
- Parchment paper
- Plastic food-grade gloves
Ingredients
- 6 bakery hamburger buns
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tbsp steak seasoning
- 12 slices medium cheddar cheese
Cola Melted Onions
- 1 cup Coca-Cola Classic
- 1 large sweet onion
- 1 tbsp butter
Spicy Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce
- 2 cups Coca-Cola Classic
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- 2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
- 2 tsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp light brown sugar
- 2 tsp hot sauce
- 2 tbsp chopped sweet onion
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Assemble your ingredients.
- If making the burgers and toppings at the same time, preheat your Traeger grill with a cast iron griddle inside. (Sauce and onions can be made ahead of time)
- Thinly slice the sweet onion into ¼ inch discs and set aside. Using the scraps of the onion you didn’t slice, finely dice about 2 tbsp of sweet onion to use for the sauce.
- In a saucepan, saute 1 tbsp of butter with the 2 tbsp of chopped onion until translucent and beginning to soften.
- To the onion, stir in the brown sugar, mustard, worchestershire sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce and ketchup. Mix to combine and bring to a boil.
- Pour in the Coca-Cola and bring the sauce back to a boil.
- Allow to cook for about 15 minutes until reduced and sticky.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- In a large shallow pan, melt the remaining butter and add the onion discs. Separate the pieces as necessary to spread onions evenly on the bottom of the pan.
- Cook the onions over medium/high heat until beginning to brown, stirring occasionally.
- After about 15 minutes of cooking, pour in the Coca-Cola and bring to a boil.
- Let the onions keep cooking in the Coke until tender and the soda has reduced by at least half.
- Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
- While cooking the onions, make the burger blend.
- In a bowl, combine the ground pork and ground beef and season liberally with the steak seasoning.
- Using your hands (gloves recommended), combine the meat until uniform in texture.
- Divide meat mixture into 8 balls– about the size of your fist.
- When the grill and cast iron griddle is very hot, make the burgers.
- Spray a light coating of cooking oil on the hot grate.
- Working in batches place an even number of meat balls on the griddle, leaving ample space between balls.
- Using a flat spatula and a piece of parchment paper, smash the meat balls a thinly as possible. Use a gloved hand to press on the spatula.
- Cook the burgers on the first side for about 2 minutes, then flip over.
- Top each burger with a slice of cheese and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes.
- Toast the buns alongside the burgers.
- Pull the burgers and the buns from the grill.
- Assemble your tailgating burgers by placing two burger patties on a bun, topped with a handful of melted Cola onions. Then pour Spicy Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce on top and finish with the top bun.
- Enjoy with chips, pickles and a cold Coca-Cola.