Blue Cheese and Pancetta Christmas Burger
Celebrate the holidays with a Christmas burger stacked with smoky beef, crispy pancetta, tangy blue cheese, and cranberry sauce.
Blue Cheese and Pancetta Christmas Burger
This recipe comes to us from Tony Ramirez (aka TFTI BBQ), culinary influencer, backyard pitmaster, and friend of Montana Knife Company.
4
20 minutes
15 minutes
1370
American
Dinner
I stumbled across this Christmas burger recipe online, and the ingredient combination stopped me in my tracks. Blue cheese on a burger? During the holidays?
I had to try it.
What started as curiosity turned into one of my favorite Christmas burger ideas I’ve ever tested. The tangy blue cheese dressing cuts through the rich beef, while the crispy pancetta adds a salty crunch, and the cranberry sauce brings a subtle sweetness that pulls it all together. It’s the kind of Christmas burger that makes you wonder why you haven’t been doing this for years.
I use pre-formed half-pound patties for this recipe. They come ready to slap on the grill, which means less prep and more time enjoying the holidays with family.
Ingredients
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- 4 half-pound beef patties
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 4 brioche buns, toasted
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- 8 thin slices pancetta, crisped
- 1/2 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry or jellied, your call)
- 1 cup microgreens
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- 1 Tbsp. mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. sour cream
- 1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
- Juice of half a lemon
- Pinch of salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- Pinch of granulated garlic
Directions
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- Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, and blue cheese crumbles in a small bowl. Squeeze in the lemon juice and add a pinch of salt, pepper, and granulated garlic.
- Mash and stir until the mixture reaches your preferred consistency. Some folks like it chunky, others smooth. Set aside in the refrigerator as you prep the rest.
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- Lay pancetta slices in a cold skillet, then turn the heat to medium. Cook for three to four minutes per side until crispy and golden.
- Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. The key here is starting with a cold pan so the fat renders slowly.
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- Preheat your grill to high heat, around 450°F to 500°F. Season patties generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Place patties on the grill and cook for four to five minutes per side for medium doneness. The internal temperature should reach 160°F for food safety. During the last minute, toast your brioche buns cut-side down on the grill.
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- Spread a generous layer of blue cheese dressing on the bottom bun. Place the grilled patty on top.
- Layer two slices of crispy pancetta over the beef. Add a spoonful of cranberry sauce.
- Top with a handful of microgreens. Crown with the top bun.
