Grilled Bacon Cheeseburgers with Coca Cola Onions
Take your classic burger up a notch with these Grilled Bacon Cheeseburgers with Coca Cola Onions. Immense flavor in the burgers, with the addition of the caramelized onions, these will be the hit of your next cookout!
A TWIST ON A CLASSIC BURGER
Summer isn’t over yet! It’s still hot outside which means I am still grilling! Today I am taking a classic burger recipe and taking it up a few notches! Let me tell you, once you try these Grilled Bacon Cheeseburgers with Coca Cola Onions, you may not go back. The flavor in the burgers is amazing! Then you add the Coca Cola caramelized onions – have mercy! If you’re looking for that perfect twist to your burgers, you need to make this Grilled Bacon Cheeseburger with Coca Cola Onions recipe.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
We like to use a higher quality ground beef so at least use an 80/20 mixture or higher. If you can find Angus meat or even a pork/ground beef mixture at your grocery store then go with that! You want enough fat in the meat to give it flavor.
This helps them from shrinking when they are cooking. The center of burgers can get really fat when the burger shrinks while cooking. This helps keep the burger even-shaped during that shrinking process.
I would not use diet in this recipe, you will want the sugar from the regular Coca Cola to get the caramelization and flavor that we are looking for in the onions.
I prefer thick cut applewood smoked bacon but you can use any of your favorite bacon.
You can store all ingredients separately in the refrigerator where they will last for up to 3 days. The burgers can also be frozen. Place in a freezer container and they will keep for up to 3 months. To defrost, remove to the refrigerator overnight until thawed.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- sweet onions
- olive oil
- kosher salt and pepper
- Coca-Cola
- ground beef
- bbq sauce
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- cheddar cheese
- brioche buns
- tomato slices
- green leaf lettuce
- bacon

HOW TO MAKE GRILLED BACON CHEESEBURGERS WITH COCA COLA ONIONS:
Cut the onions into ¼ inch rounds discarding the root and skin. Separate the rings and set aside. Place a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the olive oil, onions, salt, and pepper, stir to coat the onions in the oil and seasonings. Cook, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes until the onions are translucent and starting to soften.

Add the Coca-Cola to the skillet and stir to combine.

Continue to cook until caramelized, browned, soft, and almost all of the liquid is cooked out, 15-20 minutes. Take off the heat and set aside.

While you are cooking the onions, make the burgers. Add the ground beef, bbq sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.

Mix until combined. I feel using my hands makes it easier to mix.

Divide the meat into 6 even portions and make them into patties, make an indention in the middle of the burgers so they don’t plump in the center while grilling, place on a sheet tray until ready to grill.

Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the burgers, cook for about 5-8 minutes on the first side.

Flip them over and continue to cook until your desired temperature is reached. Do not overcook, at 165°F they are well done. Take off the heat and add a slice of cheese to each burger to melt.

Place the bottom of a brioche bun on your serving plate. Top with the lettuce and a slice of tomato. Add a burger patty followed by a piece of bacon broken in half so it will fit. Top with the Coca-Cola onions and add the top bun.

Serve immediately.

WANT MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES?

Grilled Bacon Cheeseburgers with Coca Cola Onions
Ingredients
For the Coca-Cola Onions:
- 4 medium sweet onions
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup Coca-Cola
For the burgers:
- 2 pounds 80/20 ground beef
- ¼ cup bbq sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
For assembly:
- 6 slices cheddar cheese
- 6 brioche buns
- 6 to mato slices
- green leaf lettuce
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon cooked crispy
Instructions
- Cut the onions into ¼ inch rounds discarding the root and skin. Separate the rings and set aside.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the olive oil, onions, salt, and pepper, stir to coat the onions in the oil and seasonings. Cook, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes until the onions are translucent and starting to soften.
- Add the Coca-Cola to the skillet and stir to combine.
- Continue to cook until caramelized, browned, soft, and almost all of the liquid is cooked out, 15-20 minutes. Take off the heat and set aside.
- While you are cooking the onions, make the burgers. Add the ground beef, bbq sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Mix until combined. I feel using my hands makes it easier to mix.
- Divide the meat into 6 even portions and make them into patties, make an indention in the middle of the burgers so they don’t plump in the center while grilling, place on a sheet tray until ready to grill.
- Preheat the grill over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the burgers, cook for about 5-8 minutes on the first side.
- Flip them over and continue to cook until your desired temperature is reached. Do not overcook, at 165°F they are well done. Take off the heat and add a slice of cheese to each burger to melt.
- Place the bottom of a brioche bun on your serving plate. Top with the lettuce and a slice of tomato. Add a burger patty followed by a piece of bacon broken in half so it will fit. Top with the Coca-Cola onions and add the top bun.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- These can be frozen, see above on how to do this.
- Use a higher quality beef, at least 80/20.
- Use your favorite bacon.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Made this exactly as directed tonight, and it was delicious! The only exception: I didn’t grill the burgers (it was raining), but instead, fried them in the same cast iron pan after I cooked the onions. Came out perfectly!
Thank you as always for sharing. 🙂
Woo hoo! Honestly, I bet the burgers tasted even better after cooking in the leftover from the onions!