Shape the ground beef into four 1/3-pound patties that are about 1/2-inch thick and make an indent in the center of each patty with your thumb. Season well with your favorite burger seasoning or just coarse kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper. Think of seasoning and cooking your burgers like a steak. Set aside.
1 1/3 pounds ground beef, 1 Tablespoon your favorite burger seasoning
Make the jalapeno cream cheese by beating the softened cream cheese in a bowl until smooth. Add the chopped jalapenos and garlic powder, mixing well to combine. Set aside.
8 ounces cream cheese, 4 jalapenos, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Drain on paper towels and set aside.
4-8 slices bacon
If using a charcoal grill, fill a charcoal chimney starter with charcoal, place a couple of crumpled paper sheets underneath, and light them. The charcoal should burn in the chimney until the coals are covered with a light gray ash— usually 15–20 minutes. Once the coals are ready, carefully dump them into the bottom of the grill and arrange them in an even layer. Place the cooking grate back on the grill and let the grill heat up for 5–10 minutes. This preheats the grate so your burgers get a good sear and don’t stick.
When ready to grill the burgers, cook the burgers for about 3–5 minutes per side or 6-10 minutes total on the grill or skillet depending on how well you like your burgers (I like mine medium-rare to medium with a little pink on the inside). Brush each burger with the BBQ sauce immediately after flipping so it has time to caramelize. Top each burger with a slice of cheese in the last minute or two so it can melt. Let the burgers rest for 5-10 minutes before assembling.
4 slices sharp cheddar cheese, 2/3 cup BBQ sauce
When ready to assemble, separate the burger buns and place a burger patty on each bottom bun. Top with a generous amount of the jalapeno cream cheese topping, then pile with the cooked bacon and sliced red onions before adding the top bun. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Thinly sliced red onion, 4 brioche burger buns