This dish did not leave us missing the bun and definitely got added to list of favorite meals. It is jam-packed with flavor! Also… it has bacon, and that’s ‘nuff said ‘bout that.

Bacon Cheeseburger Skillet

Serves: 4-5 Cooking Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

1/2 lb. bacon
2 tbsp. Olive oil
1 onion
1 tsp. seasoning salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 tbsp. chopped garlic (or 2 cloves)
1 lb. ground elk (or any ground game meat of your choosing)
2 eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 oz cream cheese
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Dill pickle chips
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Steps

Heat Traeger or oven to 375°.
Line a baking sheet with foil.
Place bacon on pan, cook in Traeger/ oven for 20 minutes.
When the bacon is done, remove, set aside to cool.
Reduce Traeger/ oven heat to 350°.
Heat cast iron or pan on stove top, add olive oil.
Dice onion, add to pan, sprinkle with season salt and pepper.
Sauté until translucent and golden brown in color.
Add garlic to onion, cook just until fragrant.
Add ground meat to onion mixture and brown.
Add ketchup, Worcestershire, and cream cheese to meat and stir until completely melted.
At this point, if you are using a cast iron please disregard. If you are using a normal stove top pan that cannot be transferred into the oven (due to plastic handles, etc.); transfer your meat/ onion mixture into an oven safe baking dish like a bread loaf pan.
Whisk your eggs and heavy whipping cream together, pour evenly over the top of the meat.
Cut Bacon up and spread evenly on top of meat.
Add desired amount of pickles evenly to the top of the meat mixture.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Cook in Traeger or oven for 30 minutes.
Enjoy!

Variations:

Add pickled jalapenos
Add crispy onions and BBQ Sauce to the top
Add roasted green chilies
Use pepper jack instead of cheddar cheese
Add tomatoes and raw onion
Add some guacamole
Put a fried egg on top to stretch the meal a bit farther

Jacob Sansone’s first Bull Elk at 11 years old.