Coffee-Rubbed Cheeseburgers with Texas Barbecue Sauce

Juicy gourmet burgers with a rich coffee-spice rub, topped with crispy applewood-smoked bacon, melted smoked cheese, and homemade Texas Barbecue Sauce. These restaurant-quality burgers combine premium grass-fed beef with an aromatic coffee rub for an elevated backyard barbecue experience.

8 servings

39 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•1 tablespoon freshly ground coffee
•2 teaspoons golden brown sugar
•2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
•½ teaspoon ground coriander
•½ teaspoon dried oregano
•½ teaspoon fine sea salt
•8 slices applewood-smoked bacon
•1 pound ground chuck
•1 pound ground sirloin
•8 slices smoked cheese
•8 buns potato-bread hamburger buns
•8 slices red onion
•8 slices tomato
•1 cup Texas Barbecue Sauce

Cooking Instructions

1.
Mix all ingredients in small bowl. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
5 min
2.
Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Break in half. Gently mix chuck and sirloin in large bowl. Form meat into 8 patties, each 3 1/2 to 4 inches in diameter and 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick. Using thumb, make slight indentation in center of each burger. DO AHEAD: Burgers and bacon can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover separately and chill.
25 min
3.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Sprinkle 1 teaspoon coffee rub on top side of each burger. Place burgers, rub side down, on grill rack. Grill until slightly charred, about 4 minutes; turn.
4 min
4.
Place 2 bacon slice halves atop each burger. Cook 3 minutes.
3 min
5.
Top each with 1 cheese slice. Cover and cook until cheese melts, about 1 minute longer. Place burgers atop bottom halves of buns. Top with onion slices and tomato slices. Spoon dollop of Texas Barbecue Sauce over. Cover with bun tops and serve, passing additional sauce alongside.
2 min
6.
Beer is a natural pairing for a burger. Keep the southern theme going by pouring a Texas brew. We like the caramel sweetness and mild hoppy flavor of Shiner Bock ($8 per six-pack).

Coffee-Rubbed Cheeseburgers with Texas Barbecue Sauce

8 servings

39 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•1 tablespoon freshly ground coffee

•2 teaspoons golden brown sugar

•2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

•½ teaspoon ground coriander

•½ teaspoon dried oregano

•½ teaspoon fine sea salt

•8 slices applewood-smoked bacon

•1 pound ground chuck

•1 pound ground sirloin

•8 slices smoked cheese

•8 buns potato-bread hamburger buns

•8 slices red onion

•8 slices tomato

•1 cup Texas Barbecue Sauce

Cooking Instructions

Mix all ingredients in small bowl. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 week ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

5 min

Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Break in half. Gently mix chuck and sirloin in large bowl. Form meat into 8 patties, each 3 1/2 to 4 inches in diameter and 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick. Using thumb, make slight indentation in center of each burger. DO AHEAD: Burgers and bacon can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover separately and chill.

25 min

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Sprinkle 1 teaspoon coffee rub on top side of each burger. Place burgers, rub side down, on grill rack. Grill until slightly charred, about 4 minutes; turn.

4 min

Place 2 bacon slice halves atop each burger. Cook 3 minutes.

3 min

Top each with 1 cheese slice. Cover and cook until cheese melts, about 1 minute longer. Place burgers atop bottom halves of buns. Top with onion slices and tomato slices. Spoon dollop of Texas Barbecue Sauce over. Cover with bun tops and serve, passing additional sauce alongside.

2 min

Beer is a natural pairing for a burger. Keep the southern theme going by pouring a Texas brew. We like the caramel sweetness and mild hoppy flavor of Shiner Bock ($8 per six-pack).