Maple Bacon Waffle Burger (Printer-friendly)

Golden waffle buns sandwich juicy beef patties, maple-candied bacon, and sharp cheddar with a creamy maple aioli for the ultimate sweet-salty experience.

# What You Need:

→ Waffles

01 - 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
03 - 2 tsp baking powder
04 - ½ tsp baking soda
05 - ¼ tsp salt
06 - 1 ¼ cups whole milk
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Maple Bacon

10 - 8 slices thick-cut bacon
11 - 3 tbsp pure maple syrup

→ Burger Patties

12 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
13 - 1 tsp salt
14 - ½ tsp black pepper

→ Toppings

15 - 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
16 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
17 - 1 cup baby arugula or lettuce
18 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter (for toasting waffles)

→ Maple Aioli

19 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
20 - 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
21 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
22 - Pinch of salt

# How to Make It:

01 - Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until just combined—do not overmix.
02 - Preheat waffle iron and lightly grease. Cook waffles according to manufacturer's instructions until golden and crisp. You'll need 8 waffles total (4 burgers, top and bottom). Set aside and keep warm.
03 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange bacon on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 12–15 minutes, then brush both sides with maple syrup. Return to oven for 3–4 minutes until caramelized and crispy. Cool slightly, then halve slices.
04 - Shape ground beef into 4 equal patties. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
05 - Heat skillet or grill over medium-high heat. Cook burgers 3–4 minutes per side for medium doneness, placing a cheddar slice on each patty during the final minute to melt.
06 - Whisk together mayonnaise, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until smooth and well combined.
07 - Butter one side of each waffle and toast lightly in a skillet until golden brown and crispy.
08 - Spread maple aioli on one waffle. Layer with arugula, burger patty, maple bacon, and red onion slices. Top with a second waffle. Repeat for remaining servings.
09 - Serve immediately while warm for optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between crispy waffle exterior and juicy, tender beef creates texture in every single bite
  • That maple glaze on bacon turns ordinary breakfast ingredients into something that feels gourmet and special
02 -
  • Warm your waffles in the oven after cooking if you are doing batch cooking, cold waffle on a hot burger is a sad experience
  • Let finished patties rest on a plate for at least two minutes before assembling, this redistribution of juices matters
03 -
  • Place a piece of parchment paper between your burger and the bottom waffle if you plan to meal prep these, it helps maintain texture
  • Avoid stacking these too high in storage, the weight will crush your beautiful crispy waffle texture

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