Grilling season is upon, and dedicated grill-masters in Rock Hill have begun cranking up the propane and charcoal. As you plan the perfect backyard cookout to kick off the best summer ever (and boy, do we need it!), check out this recipe for Coca-Cola Burgers.
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup Coca-Cola, divided
- ½ cup crushed saltines
- 6 tbsp French salad dressing, divided
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
- 1½ lbs ground beef (80/20)
- vegetable oil
Equipment
- grill
- paper towels
- bowls
- metal tongs
- metal spatula
- grill brush
- basting brush
Prep the Grill
One of the keys to successful grilling is proper grill preparation. Set all the burners to high, close the lid, and allow the grill to heat up for about 15 minutes.
Fold several paper towels to make a small pad. Soak the towels in vegetable oil. When the grill is heated, turn all the burners to low. Clean the grill surface, then use metal tongs to wipe the grill surface with vegetable oil. The grill will smoke quite a bit.
Turn the burners to medium-high.
Prep the Burgers
While the grill is heating, prep the burgers. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, ¼ cup Coca-Cola, crushed saltines, 2 tbsp French dressing, and parmesan cheese.
Divide the ground beef mixture into 6 patties, roughly 4 oz each. To form the patties, first gently roll the beef into a ball, then pat into shape by slapping and rotating.
To avoid football-shaped burgers, be sure to form evenly flat patties. Using a finger or the end of a wooden spoon, poke a hole in the center of each patty. As the burgers cook, the hole will fill in, and you’ll avoid a hump in the center.
Mix the Glaze
Mix the remaining Coke and French dressing in a small bowl. Brush the burgers with this mixture as they cook. Avoid using too much at a time as run-off could cause big flare ups that will burn the burgers before they are fully cooked. You don’t want blackened outsides with raw meat in the center.
Serve
Let the burgers rest for a few minutes before serving. Resting allows the juices to distribute evenly in the burger, giving you a full, juicy bite every time.