“The Wedge” Prime Rib Burger

We turned the traditional steakhouse wedge salad on its head and made a new tradition all our own! This recipe uses our Four Sixes® Ranch Brand Prime Rib Ground Beef for gourmet burgers topped with crispy bacon, creamy blue cheese, and fresh grape tomatoes all nestled in a buttery potato roll.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. Four Sixes® Ground Prime Rib Beef
• 10 grape tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons balsamic dressing
• ½ small head of iceberg lettuce
• 3 slices thick-cut hickory bacon
• 1 oz. blue cheese dressing (about 2 tablespoons)
• 1 oz. blue cheese crumbles
• 2 potato rolls
• Butter
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

Prep:

1. Cut the grape tomatoes into quarters. Mix the quartered tomatoes with the balsamic dressing. Set aside. This can be done 30 minutes prior to making the burgers.
2. In a small bowl, mix the blue cheese crumbles with the blue cheese dressing. Set aside. 
3. Wash the iceberg lettuce and then slice it into ½” thick “Wagon Wheels” to fit on the bun, (this will yield 4 portions, only 2 are needed).
4. Divide the ground beef into two equal portions. Shape each half into a ball, then ‘smash’ it on a flat surface to form a burger shape. 
5. Generously season both sides of each burger with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Cook:

1. Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
2. Once the oven is hot, place the bacon on a baking tray and cook for 22 minutes or until desired doneness.  Cool for 3-4 minutes then break into ½” pieces. Set aside.
3. Pre-heat an outdoor grill with hot and medium heated sides for searing and cooking respectively.
4. Place the burger on the hot side of the grill and sear for 2 minutes. 
5. Without flipping the burger, move it to the medium-heated side of the grill and cook for another 2 minutes. 
6. Flip the burger and repeat the sear and finishing steps. A meat thermometer can be inserted into the center of the burger to check doneness.  
7. Let burger rest 2-3 minutes off the heat before serving.  
8. While the burger is resting, lightly toast the potato rolls and butter the top of each roll.

Serve:

1. Top the bottom of each toasted bun with an iceberg wagon wheel. 
2. Next, drizzle each iceberg wagon wheel with a small amount of the prepared blue cheese dressing (about ½ tablespoon).
3. Top the dressing with a burger, half of the diced marinated tomatoes, half of the crumbled bacon and more blue cheese dressing (about 1 ½ tablespoons).
4. Top it all with the buttered top of the bun. 
5. Optional serving suggestion: Matchstick Sweet Potato Fries. Frozen thin-cut sweet potato fries taste great with this burger and can be heated in the oven at 375ºF with the bacon.