Beef and Bacon Burgers

I've never been one to like bacon ON my burgers.  But when I saw this recipe in Cast Iron Cooking magazine, I was intrigued.  By grinding bacon in a food processor and then partially cooking it with minced onions BEFORE you mix it with the beef, you have an incredibly flavored burger!

3/4 lb. thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon
1/2 cup minced onion
1 pound lean ground beef
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 T. dried parsley
1 t. ground black pepper
1/4 t. kosher salt
4 slices sharp Cheddar cheese
4 buns (pretzel buns also work well), halved and toasted
Garnishes:  lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, mustard, ketchup

Freeze bacon until firm, about 1 hour.  Cut bacon into large pieces. In the work bowl of a food processor, place bacon; process until ground.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet, over medium-high heat. Add bacon and onion, cook until bacon is partially cooked, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon mixture using a slotted spoon, and let drain on paper towels. Let cool for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, stir together bacon mixture, beef, Worcestershire, parsley, pepper, and salt.  Divide beef mixture into 4 portions, and shape each portion in a 5-inch patty.  In the same skillet, cook patties over medium heat for 3 minutes per side.  Place skillet in oven.

Bake for 4 minutes.  Add cheese; bake until cheese is melted, about 1 minute more.  Serve patties on buns with lettuce, tomato, pickles, kept, mustard, and mayo if desired.