June 06, 2024 3 min read
This blog post from Traeger Grills provides a comprehensive guide to making delicious smoked burgers. The recipe emphasizes using a pellet grill for optimal flavor and includes detailed steps and ingredient recommendations.
Prepare the Patties:
Preheat the Grill:
Smoke the Patties:
Serve:
When it comes to backyard barbecues, few things are more satisfying than a juicy, flavorful burger. For those looking to elevate their grilling game, smoked burgers offer a delicious twist on the classic. Using a pellet grill, such as a Traeger, ensures that your burgers are not only cooked to perfection but infused with a rich, smoky flavor that will leave your guests raving.
Smoking burgers allows for a slower cooking process that enhances the natural flavors of the beef. The smoke infuses the meat with a depth of flavor that is hard to achieve with traditional grilling methods. Using wood pellets, such as mesquite, adds a unique taste that complements the richness of the ground beef.
1. Choosing the Right Beef: Start with high-quality ground beef. An 80/20 blend of meat to fat is ideal for juicy burgers that don’t dry out during the smoking process.
2. Seasoning: Simple yet flavorful seasoning is key. Mix your ground beef with Worcestershire sauce and a beef rub. Traeger’s Beef Rub is a great option, offering a balanced mix of spices that enhance the beef's natural flavors without overpowering them.
3. Forming the Patties: Handle the meat gently to avoid compacting it too much, which can lead to tough burgers. Form the mixture into even patties, making a small indentation in the center of each to help them cook evenly.
4. Preparing the Grill: Preheat your pellet grill to 180℉. If your grill has a Super Smoke feature, use it to maximize the smoky flavor. Allow the grill to heat up for about 15 minutes with the lid closed.
5. Smoking the Burgers: Place the patties directly on the grill grates and smoke for about 2 hours. The low and slow cooking method will render the fat and infuse the meat with smoke, resulting in incredibly juicy burgers.
6. Serving: Serve the smoked burgers on toasted buns with your favorite toppings. Classic options include lettuce, tomato, pickles, and cheese, but feel free to get creative with avocado, bacon, or even a fried egg.
Smoking burgers on a pellet grill like a Traeger transforms a simple meal into a gourmet experience. With a few key ingredients and a bit of patience, you can create mouth-watering burgers that are sure to become a highlight of your BBQs. So next time you fire up the grill, skip the gas and charcoal and reach for the wood pellets—you won’t be disappointed.
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