Romaine Caesar Burger

1.Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400°F).

2.In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.

3.Form the beef mixture into 4 equal patties, making a slight indentation in the center of each patty to prevent puffing during cooking.

4.Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels, reserving some bacon fat in the pan.

5.On the same skillet with bacon fat, add the halved romaine hearts cut-side down. Grill for about 2-3 minutes until charred and slightly wilted. Remove and set aside.

6.Place the burger patties on the grill and cook for 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare, or until your desired doneness is reached. In the last minute of cooking, place a slice of cheese on each patty if desired, and close the grill lid to melt the cheese.

7.While the burgers are cooking, toast the brioche buns on the grill until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.

8.Assemble the burgers: Spread a generous amount of Caesar dressing on the bottom half of each toasted brioche bun. Place the burger patty on top, followed by a slice of crispy bacon, a grilled romaine half, and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese. Top with the other half of the bun.

9.Serve immediately with extra Caesar dressing on the side.