Hickory Burgers with Run 'N Gun BBQ Sauce

Use your BBQ Dust to make a classic burger recipe.

Hickory Burgers with Run ‘N Gun BBQ Sauce, recipe and photo by me, Anna Vocino

I have no shortage of burger recipes. Here are a few that you should make:

• Loaded Burgers

• Salmon Burgers

• Fancy Turkey Burgers

• Lamb Burgers

I find burgers to be such an easy, delicious weeknight meal year round. But the fact that we can grill them up any time during the summer? Sign me up !

My lovely father always orders a Hickory Burger from any restaurant that serves them. I feel like it was only a matter of time before I did my spin on this classic recipe. I mean, when you witness one man put away that many hickory burgers over the years, you know he’s onto something good.

One key component with a Hickory Burger is BBQ sauce. Now, the nature of BBQ sauce is that it uses sweetness in combination with tangy and spicy flavor profiles. Since going low carb, you probably won’t want to mess around with most store bought BBQ sauces with added sugars, so I advise you make your own.

My first cookbook Eat Happy has my fave BBQ sauce recipe. It uses blueberries and dates for the sweetness, which you are welcome to dial back if you like.

This new Run ‘N Gun BBQ sauce recipe is a quicker and more savory sauce, as it uses my beloved Eat Happy Kitchen BBQ Dust spice blend at the base of it and no fruit in sight for sweetness.

SIDE NOTE: BBQ DUST TWIN PACK FLASH SALE: get 10% off BBQ Dust Twin Packs only on 6/22-6/24/2023 using the discount code BBQ10 at check out.

If you have no interest in buying the BBQ Dust, you don’t have to. Just use smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. The ingredients are on the side of the can.

Let’s launch into the summer grilling season, and enjoy some damn burgers!

As always, here’s the downloadable, printable version of this recipe. I’ve included instructions for an air fryer and stove top as well.

XOXO

Anna

HICKORY BURGERS WITH RUN ’N GUN BBQ SAUCE

HICKORY BURGERS (AIR FRYER, STOVE, OR GRILL)

(Yields 3-4 burgers)

• 1 pound ground beef (I use 75/25, but use the highest fat content you can find at the store)

• 2 tablespoons EHK BBQ Dust

• 1 large red or white onion, sliced into 1/2” wide slabs

• 1 teaspoon olive oil

• 1/2 cup Colby Jack, grated

• 3-4 slices of ham or Canadian bacon, seared

• Run N Gun BBQ Sauce (see recipe below)

• Lettuce, optional for lettuce wrapping to serve

Hand mix ground beef with BBQ Dust well and form into burger patties.

Air Fryer Instructions:

Preheat air fryer at 400 degrees for 4 minutes. Place burger patties in air fryer basket and cook for 8 minutes at 400 degrees for medium well, or until you reach your desired doneness.

Stove Top Instructions:

Heat a cast iron pan to medium high heat and cook burgers 3-4 minutes per side until you reach your desired doneness.

Grill Instructions:

Heat grill to 450-500 degrees. Cook burgers 3-4 minutes per side until you reach your desired doneness.

Heat olive oil in a cast iron or nonstick pan to medium high heat and sear onion slabs on each side, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from heat and sear ham or Canadian bacon on each side about 1-2 minutes per side.

Serve burgers atop lettuce slices, if desired. Top with grilled onion slab, grated Colby Jack, ham slice, and Run N Gun BBQ Sauce.

RUN ‘N GUN BBQ SAUCE

(Yields 3/4 cup)

• 1/4 cup tomato paste

• 2 tablespoons water

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1/2 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar

• 2 teaspoons EHK BBQ Dust

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne, optional for additional heat

Whisk all ingredients together to garnish your Hickory Burger.