Photo: Carl's Jr.Western Bacon Cheeseburger
The burger Carl’s Jr. fans actually mean when they say they miss it. Onion rings go inside the bun with bacon, cheese and a sweet, smoky barbecue sauce on top of a charbroiled patty, so every bite is crunchy, sticky and a little bit messy. It has been copied everywhere since, but the charbroiled beef gives this one an edge. Also sold as a double and a triple.
The story
Carl’s Jr. introduced the Western Bacon Cheeseburger in the early 1980s, and it went on to become the chain’s most recognisable product. The idea of putting onion rings and barbecue sauce on a burger now feels ordinary, but it spread through fast food largely because this one sold so well.
What’s inside
Make it at home
There is no copycat of the Western Bacon Cheeseburger yet. Until there is, these recipes on the site come closest to it, judged by what goes into the bun.
- Shares beef, bacon, barbecue sauce and crispy onions
Onion Bomb Burger - Shares beef, bacon, crispy onions and cheese
Viral Bacon Spiral Burger - Shares beef, barbecue sauce, crispy onions and cheese
Copycat Red Robin Whiskey River BBQ Burger with Onion Straws - Shares beef, bacon, crispy onions and cheese
Fat Mimolette Bacon & Fried Onion Burger
The Western Bacon Cheeseburger on YouTube
Everyone who has cooked, copied or taste-tested it on camera.
Similar burgers at other chains
Built around the same things as the Western Bacon Cheeseburger.- Habit Burger & Grill · beef, bacon, barbecue sauce and crispy onions
BBQ Bacon Char - Johnny Rockets · beef, bacon, barbecue sauce and crispy onions
Smoke House - Black Tap · beef, bacon, barbecue sauce and crispy onions
The Texan - The Counter · beef, bacon, barbecue sauce and crispy onions
Bacon BBQ
More from Carl's Jr.
About Carl's Jr.
Carl Karcher and his wife Margaret borrowed $311 against their Plymouth in 1941 to buy a hot dog cart in Los Angeles. By 1945 they had a drive-in barbecue restaurant in Anaheim, and the burger chain that grew out of it still cooks its patties over an open charbroiler rather than a flat grill, which gives them the backyard-grill stripes and smoke that define the menu.
More than 1,000 US restaurants and locations in over 20 countries, from Mexico to Japan and Australia.
Not affiliated with Carl's Jr.. Trademarks belong to their owners. The photo is credited under it and is used to illustrate this menu item; it comes down on request.