Mastering Summer Grilling: The Ultimate Smoky BBQ Burger with Budweiser Sweet & Smoky Sauce, Garlic Aioli, and Fried Egg

Prepare to have your taste buds ignited this summer with a truly unforgettable burger experience! Many might be surprised to learn that Budweiser, a name synonymous with American brewing, has expanded its expertise into a delicious line of premium BBQ sauces and marinades. As part of an exciting culinary challenge alongside fellow bloggers, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring this new range, and I’m thrilled to share my first creation: a magnificent Smoky BBQ Burger with Garlic Aioli & Fried Egg, featuring the incredible Budweiser BBQ Sweet & Smoky Sauce. This recipe isn’t just a meal; it’s a celebration of bold flavors, perfect for any grilling occasion.

I received samples of the Budweiser sauces to create this recipe. This post is sponsored by Budweiser Sauces.

The arrival of this challenge couldn’t be more perfectly timed, as we are now fully immersed in the heart of BBQ season. Every day, the enticing aroma of grilling wafts through my neighborhood, serving as a delicious reminder of long summer evenings and outdoor gatherings. This new collection of Budweiser BBQ sauces and marinades promises to be an indispensable addition to your grilling arsenal, helping you unlock the full potential of this glorious season. From backyard cookouts to festive family dinners, these sauces are designed to elevate your favorite grilled dishes with exceptional flavor.

I was fortunate enough to receive the entire family of Budweiser’s new sauces and marinades. Before diving into recipe development, I made sure to taste each one, thoroughly evaluating their unique flavor profiles and quality. I can genuinely attest that the taste and overall quality of these sauces are nothing short of excellent. Budweiser has truly captured the essence of great BBQ, offering a range that caters to various preferences. The Sweet & Smoky variety, which takes center stage in this burger, is particularly outstanding with its balanced sweetness and deep, smoky undertones. But trust me, there are many more exciting recipes to come, so stay tuned for further culinary adventures with these fantastic products!

A European Twist: Inspiration for this Smoky BBQ Burger from Turkish Cuisine

While burgers are undeniably a quintessential American staple, I’m a firm believer in the magic of food fusions. Blending culinary traditions often leads to unexpected and delightful results, and this Smoky BBQ Burger is a testament to that philosophy. My inspiration for this unique creation comes from an unlikely but incredibly flavorful source: a traditional Turkish breakfast dish known as Cilbir.

Cilbir is a vibrant and comforting dish, typically featuring poached eggs nestled in a bed of garlicky herb yogurt, all generously drizzled with a rich smoked paprika-infused butter. The combination of creamy, tangy yogurt, aromatic garlic, the warmth of the egg, and the smoky spice of the paprika butter creates a truly harmonious flavor profile. It’s a dish that embodies both simplicity and profound taste, and it immediately sparked an idea to bring these elements into a burger.

For this burger, I decided to deconstruct and reimagine the core flavors of Cilbir to create a multi-layered experience. Starting with a lightly toasted burger bun, the foundation is a spread of creamy garlic herb aioli, echoing the garlicky yogurt. On top of this, a crisp piece of fresh lettuce adds a refreshing crunch. The star of the show is, of course, a succulent beef patty generously smothered in the exquisite Budweiser Sweet & Smoky BBQ sauce, infusing every bite with that classic smoky goodness. To introduce a bright, tangy contrast, a scattering of quick-pickled red onions cuts through the richness beautifully. Crowned with a perfectly fried egg, its runny yolk promises an extra layer of richness and a luxurious texture. Finally, a drizzle of smoked paprika butter over the egg ties all the flavors back to its Turkish inspiration, adding depth, warmth, and a touch of unexpected spice. This thoughtful combination of textures and tastes delivers a burger that is truly a culinary masterpiece, perfect for celebrating the joys of summer grilling.

Crafting Your Smoky BBQ Burger: A Step-by-Step Guide to Perfection

Creating this gourmet Smoky BBQ Burger with Garlic Aioli & Fried Egg involves a few distinct steps, but rest assured, the incredible depth of flavor and satisfying textures make every moment of preparation entirely worthwhile! The beauty of this recipe lies in its thoughtful layering of components, and with a little bit of planning, you’ll find that everything comes together quite quickly and seamlessly, allowing you more time to enjoy the summer weather and your fantastic meal.

The only component that truly benefits from a bit of foresight and preparation is the quick-pickled onions. While they do require a minimum of thirty minutes chilling in the refrigerator to develop their signature tangy, crisp flavor, this small effort pays huge dividends in the final burger. The good news is that these pickled onions can be made well in advance – they store beautifully in the fridge for a couple of weeks, making them a fantastic condiment to have on hand for countless other dishes, from salads to tacos. Preparing them first allows you to focus on the grilling and assembly later without any rush.

The rest of the process is wonderfully straightforward. You can efficiently multitask by frying up your eggs while your burger patties are sizzling on the grill. If you’re utilizing an outdoor grill for the burgers, it’s often easiest to cook the eggs right alongside them in a cast-iron skillet or on a griddle attachment. This simultaneous cooking approach allows for perfect timing, ensuring everything is hot and ready at the same moment. However, if juggling multiple tasks on the grill feels like too much, or if you’re cooking indoors, there’s no need to stress. Simply cook your burger patties first, then cover them loosely with foil to keep them warm and allow them to rest for a few minutes while you expertly fry your eggs indoors. This flexibility ensures a relaxed cooking experience, no matter your setup, culminating in a perfectly assembled, mouth-watering burger.

Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Culinary Masterpiece

(For precise measurements, a full list of ingredients, and comprehensive instructions, please refer to the printable recipe card located below this section.)

• Begin by preparing your quick-pickled onions. Take a medium red onion and slice it thinly, ensuring uniform pieces for even pickling.
• In a separate bowl or jar, prepare the vibrant pickling marinade. Combine warm water, tangy apple cider vinegar, a touch of sugar for balance, and a pinch of salt. Stir until the sugar and salt are fully dissolved.
• Submerge your thinly sliced onions completely in this flavorful marinade. Place the sealed container in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. You’ll likely have more pickled onions than you need for just two burgers, but they are a fantastic condiment that keeps exceptionally well in the fridge for up to two weeks and can be added to salads, sandwiches, or tacos.
• Next, whip up your creamy garlic aioli. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, rich Greek yogurt, freshly chopped dill, and a minced clove of garlic. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated and the aioli is smooth and fragrant. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

• Now, it’s time to fire up the grill! Preheat your grill to a medium-high heat. Lightly spray the grill grates with a non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Carefully place your beef burger patties onto the hot grill.
• Cook the burgers for a few minutes on the first side to achieve a good sear and those desirable grill marks. Then, using a spatula, flip the patties and immediately brush the cooked side generously with Budweiser Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce. This creates a delicious caramelized crust.
• Flip the burgers once more, allowing the sauced side to further caramelize. Now, brush the opposite side of the patties with another layer of the Budweiser Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce. Continue cooking, flipping and basting as needed, until the burgers reach your desired level of doneness.

• While your burgers are finishing up, prepare the buns. Place the halved burger buns, cut-side down, directly onto the grill grates.
• Toast the buns for a short period, typically a minute or two, until they develop light golden grill marks and are nicely warmed through, but be careful not to burn them. Remove them from the grill immediately once toasted.
• To begin assembling your burger masterpiece, take the bottom half of a toasted bun and spread a generous layer of the homemade garlic aioli evenly across its surface. This forms the creamy, flavorful base.

• On top of the garlic aioli, place a fresh, crispy lettuce leaf. This adds a refreshing texture and vibrant color.
• Carefully place your perfectly grilled and sauced burger patty directly onto the lettuce. The patty should be hot and glistening with the sweet and smoky sauce.
• Next, artfully arrange a spoonful of your quick-pickled red onions on top of the burger patty. Their tangy bite will provide a wonderful contrast to the rich beef and sweet sauce.

• Now for the crowning glory! Fry an egg to your liking, aiming for a beautifully set white and a wonderfully runny yolk. Once cooked, gently place the fried egg directly on top of the pickled onions.
• In the same pan used for the eggs (or a small saucepan), melt a tablespoon of butter. Stir in the sweet smoked paprika, and if you desire an extra kick, add a tiny pinch of hot smoked paprika. Mix until the butter is infused with the spice. Spoon this aromatic paprika butter generously over the fried egg, adding a final layer of smoky richness and a nod to the burger’s Cilbir inspiration.
• Finally, complete your burger by placing the top half of the toasted bun over the egg. Serve your magnificent Smoky BBQ Burger with Garlic Aioli & Fried Egg immediately, perhaps with a side of extra Budweiser Sweet & Smoky Sauce for dipping, and prepare for an explosion of flavor!

The combination of rich beef, tangy pickled onions, creamy garlic aioli, the sweet and smoky kick of Budweiser BBQ sauce, and that luscious fried egg, all brought together with a hint of paprika butter, creates a flavor experience so incredible, it demands a permanent spot in your summer meal rotation. It certainly has in my house; we simply couldn’t get enough of these burgers!

While I specifically used the Budweiser Sweet & Smoky BBQ sauce for this particular recipe, its versatility means you can easily experiment with other flavors from Budweiser’s exciting new line of Brewmaster’s Premium BBQ sauces. Each sauce offers a unique and flavorful profile that promises to enhance your grilling. I’m confident you’ll agree that Budweiser has truly outdone themselves with this expansion into the culinary world. To explore their full range of products and discover more about their offerings, be sure to visit the Budweiser website or connect with them on their social media channels: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Get ready to elevate your BBQ game this season!

Read more about the author Edyta here and discover more European-inspired recipes by following Eating European on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.