Caramelized Beer-Onion and Bacon Burgers

Ingredients

• 3 oz processed cheese food 
• 12 oz ale beer pilsner style
• 8 slices bacon cooked
• 4  crusty rolls split
• 1.5 lb ground beef 80% lean (at least )
• 0.3 teaspoon pepper 
• 8 leaves red-leaf lettuce red
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 1.5 lb onion sweet thinly sliced
• 4 slices tomatoes 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan

Directions

1. In 10-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon bacon drippings over medium-high heat.
2. Add onions; cook about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened.
3. Reserve 1/2 cup of the beer. Stir remaining beer into onions.
4. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden and liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Cool.
5. Meanwhile, roughly chop 4 slices of the cooked bacon; set aside. Roughly chop half of the onion mixture; stir into chopped bacon.
6. In medium bowl, stir chopped onion and bacon mixture into beef.
7. Add salt and pepper. Shape beef mixture into 4 large patties, thinner at center and thicker at edges for even cooking.
8. In 10-inch skillet, heat remaining bacon drippings over medium-high heat.
9. Add patties; cook 8 minutes for medium-rare, 10 minutes for medium, 12 minutes for medium-well, turning once. After turning, add reserved 1/2 cup beer to burgers, then top burgers with cheese. Cover skillet to melt cheese.
10. Place burgers on bun bottoms; top with lettuce leaves, tomato slices, and remaining caramelized onions.
11. Cut remaining 4 slices bacon in half; crisscross 2 pieces on top of onions on each burger, and cover with tops of buns.