Why have a plain ol' cheeseburger when you can slap some bacon on it for only a few cents more? A cheeseburger recipe is good, but add on some crispy bacon and you've got yourself a meal fit for a (burger) king. You'll be hard-knocked to not find a place that doesn't serve a bacon cheeseburger. With all the choices, there has got to be the best of the bunch. So I tried out bacon cheeseburgers from every fast food chain within a 5-mile radius. The meat sweats at the end of the night were totally worth it.
Videos by Wide Open Country
How To Make a Bacon Cheeseburger
Every fast food chain, whether it's McDonald's or Hardee's (Carl's Jr. for you West Coast folk), makes their bacon burgers a little differently, but all start out with the same base: burger patties made from ground beef.
The quintessential bacon burger must contain these three things: a beef patty, burger buns, slices of cheese, and slices of bacon. Everything else is up to discretion including condiments, the type of cheese, and if the buns are toasted.
In sit-down restaurants, you'll most likely find bacon cheeseburgers served as pub burgers, served with toppings such as swiss cheese served on brioche buns. But we aren't looking for fancy pant burgers here. These burgers may not be made in a cast iron skillet with truffle salt, but they are still mighty tasty with a side of greasy french fries and cold Coca-Cola.
5 Fast Food Bacon Cheeseburgers Ranked
5. Hardee's Bacon & Cheese Angus Burger
Lyndsay Cordell
I was honestly surprised this burger was my least favorite of the bunch...and it looks like it might have been a mishap. Served with crisp bacon, melted American cheese, tomato, lettuce, red onion, and mayonnaise on a toasted potato bun, this burger was a star except for the gobs of mustard on it.
However, looking at the menu, it was never supposed to have mustard smothered on the golden brown buns. Was this cheeseburger set up for failure from the start? I'll have to try this one again, sans mustard.
4. Sonic Drive-in SuperSonic Bacon Cheeseburger
Lyndsay Cordell
This burger was SAD. Loaded to the brim with onions and mayo, I was expecting at least some tomato or lettuce. The strips of bacon were cooked well, however, I couldn't get over all the raw onion on this plain burger.
3. Wendy's Big Bacon Classic Cheeseburger
Lyndsay Cordell
This square burger came in the middle with its "almost elementary school cafeteria" taste. This burger was topped with lettuce, sweet onion, pickles, tomato, American cheese, mayo, ketchup, and applewood smoked bacon. This burger was middle of the road. It's good and better than some, but when it comes to being the best, this one didn't cut it.
2. McDonald's Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese
Lyndsay Cordell
I don't know what they do, but McDonald's burgers have a very distinct taste no other burger can compete with. Layered with two slices of melty American cheese, slivered onions and tangy pickles on a soft, fluffy sesame seed hamburger bun, this burger found its way to the #2 spot in my heart.
1. Burger King Bacon King
Lyndsay Cordell
It's been a hot minute since I've had a burger from Burger King. The flame-broiled taste is key to this bacon burger. Two 1/4 lb patties are topped a with hearty portion of thick-cut smoked bacon, melted American cheese, and topped with ketchup and creamy mayonnaise all on a soft sesame seed bun. This was the best burger of the bunch, prompting me to eat about half of it.
