Peanut Butter Bacon Burger

1. Mix together ground beef, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl until evenly blended. Form into six (4-inch-wide) patties and place on a large plate. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until slightly firm, about 30 minutes.

2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.

3. Place bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon on a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.

4. Cook patties on the preheated grill until hot and slightly pink in the center, about 4 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) for medium doneness. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese over patties about 1 minute before they are done.

5. Mix together peanut butter and maple syrup in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat peanut butter mixture in the microwave until slightly runny, about 25 seconds. Stir until smooth.

6. Spread peanut butter mixture over hamburger buns. Place patties, lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon on the bottoms, then cover with top buns.

Tips

I use Adams peanut butter in this recipe and add maple syrup for sweetness. If using another brand, like Jiffy, use less maple syrup and perform a taste test.