Hamburgers with Homemade Burger Sauce

Ingredients

For the Hamburgers:

• 1.5 lbs. ground beef (80% lean)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 4 hamburger buns
• Cheese slices (optional)
• Lettuce, tomatoes, onions (for toppings)
• Wood pellets

For the Burger Sauce:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat the Pellet Smoker:
   • Preheat your pellet smoker to 225°F (107°C)using wood pellets for a mild smoky flavor.
2. Form the Burger Patties:
   • Divide the ground beef into four equal portions. Shape each portion into a patty, ensuring they are slightly larger than the size of the hamburger buns. Season each patty with salt and black pepper./li>
3. Smoke the Hamburgers:
   • Place the seasoned burger patties directly on the preheated smoker grates. Smoke at 225°F for approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches your desired level of doneness (160°F for medium).
4. Make the Homemade Burger Sauce:
   • In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, sweet pickle relish, white wine vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Adjust the seasoning to your taste. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to use.
5. Toast the Buns:
   • In the last 10-15 minutes of smoking, split the hamburger buns and place them on the smoker grates to toast. This adds a delightful crunch to the buns.
6. Add Cheese (Optional):
   • If you want melted cheese on your burgers, place a slice of cheese on each patty during the last 5 minutes of smoking and allow it to melt.
7. Assemble the Hamburgers:
   • Remove the smoked burger patties and toasted buns from the pellet smoker. Assemble the burgers by placing the patties on the buns. Add cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, or any other desired toppings.
8. Drizzle with Burger Sauce:
   • Generously drizzle the homemade burger sauce over the assembled hamburgers. Reserve extra sauce for dipping.
9. Serve Hot:
   • Serve the smoked hamburgers immediately while they are hot and the cheese is melted. Enjoy the unique smoky flavor and the creamy goodness of the homemade burger sauce.
10. Pair with Sides:
    • Serve the smoked hamburgers with your favorite side dishes, such as coleslaw, potato salad, or crispy fries.

These Smoked Hamburgers with Homemade Burger Sauce are a delicious twist on the classic backyard favorite. The slow smoking process imparts a subtle smokiness to the beef patties, and the homemade burger sauce adds a zesty and creamy kick. Enjoy these smoked burgers with family and friends at your next barbecue gathering.