Hawaiian Burgers

Hawaiian Burgers

Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 8 beef or alternative-protein patties
  • 1 cup huli huli BBQ sauce divided
  • 1 can pineapple slices drained
  • 16 slices pepperjack cheese
  • 1 small red onion thinly sliced
  • 8 sesame seed burger buns

Huli Huli Sauce (Hawaiian BBQ Sauce)

  • ½ cup ketchup
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • cup pineapple juice
  • ¼ cup tamari or shoyu soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 large garlic cloves finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon peeled and minced ginger
  • 1-2 tablespoons cornstarch and water for thickening if needed (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the grill to 450°F or medium heat. Season beef patties on both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside a ½ cup of bbq sauce for serving. Grill burgers for 4 minutes per side, basting with remaining sauce as they cook. Burgers should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Any sauce left after basting burgers should be discarded.
  • Meanwhile, place pineapple slices on grill and cook until lightly caramelized, approximately 2 minutes per side.
  • Place two slices of pepper jack cheese per burger patty and cook for another minute or until cheese has melted.
  • Place burgers on buns with a pineapple slice and red onion. Serve with reserved bbq sauce.

Huli Huli Sauce (Hawaiian BBQ Sauce)

  • Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes.
  • Once cooled, if the sauce is too thin, whisk together equal parts water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add the mixture to the barbecue sauce and rewarm to activate the thickening properties of the cornstarch.