Deluxe Bacon Burgers

Name: Deluxe Bacon Burgers
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Ingredients: 2 large carrots, grated; 1 large onion, grated; 1 cup mashed potato flakes; 2 eggs, lightly beaten; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 teaspoon salt; Pepper to taste; 2 pounds ground beef; 8 bacon strips; 8 lettuce leaves, optional; 8 hamburger buns, split, optional

I CREATED this recipe and won a red ribbon for it in a 1976 cookbook contest. It's like meat loaf in a bun, so it's very hearty. Sometimes I'll serve it with gravy and without the bun. When I prepared this for dinner, I always felt my family was well fed. -Bernadine Dirmeyer, Harpster, Ohio

Ingredients

2 large carrots, grated
1 large onion, grated
1 cup mashed potato flakes
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
2 pounds ground beef
8 bacon strips
8 lettuce leaves, optional
8 hamburger buns, split, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. Crumble beef over mixture and mix gently. Shape into eight patties. Wrap a bacon strip around each patty; secure with toothpicks.
In a large skillet, cook burgers until meat is no longer pink and bacon is crisp. Remove toothpicks. Serve on lettuce-lined buns if desired.