Onion Rings Wrapped in Bacon: The Carnivore Donut

We're taking all the best parts of a classic cheeseburger and transforming them into something awesome: the Carnivore Donut. Imagine a savory blend of ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, and diced dill pickles, between two layers of onion. For even more flavor, each "donut" is wrapped in bacon and seasoned with the sweet Bearded Butcher Hollywood Blend. Then they are placed on the smoker until crispy and finally smothered in Bearded Butcher BBQ Sauce. Follow along to get the recipe for these, and a perfect tangy dipping sauce for these Carnivore Donuts. 

| Yield: 12 Rings | Portion Size: 2 Rings | 

| Prep Time: 1 Hour | Cook Time: 1 1/2 Hours | Total Time: 2 1/2 Hours | 

Ingredients for the Onion Rings Wrapped in Bacon: 

• Ground Beef, 1 lb.
• Sweet Onions, 3 Whole Onions
• Beef Tallow, 2 tsp
• Worcestershire Sauce, 1 Tbsp
• The Bearded Butcher Original Blend, 2 Tsp
• Dill Pickles, 1/2 Cup finely diced
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese, 2 Cups
• Bacon Slices, 24 Slices
• The Bearded Butcher Hollywood Blend, 2 Tbsp
• The Bearded Butcher BBQ Sauce, 6 Tbsp
• Sesame Seeds, as Needed

Ingredients for the Dipping Sauce: 

• Mayonnaise, 1/2 Cup
• Ketchup, 2 Tbsp
• The Bearded Butcher Rebel Red Sauce, 1 Tbsp
• Dill Relish, 2 tsp
• Granulated Sugar, 1/2 tsp
• The Bearded Butcher Bold Blend, 1 tsp

Preparing the Ingredients: 

Slicing the Onions-

1. To begin, prepare the onions by cutting off the root and the stem end of each. Depending on the size of the onion, cut it in half or into thirds crosswise. Next, peel the outer layer from each section. Each onion should yield at least four double-layered rings. Finely dice the onion ends that were not used for the rings.

The Filling-

1. Start by caramelizing finely diced onions in a skillet. Season them with Worcestershire sauce and The Original Bearded Butcher Blend. Once the onions are tender and translucent, let them cool.

2. Next, in a medium glass bowl, combine the raw ground beef, two cups of shredded cheddar cheese, and finely diced dill pickles. Once the caramelized onions have cooled, add them to the bowl. Season this mixture with The Original Bearded Butcher Seasoning, and mix until just combined. 

Instructions: 

1. First, preheat your smoker to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, select two onion layers for each "donut"—one slightly larger than the other. Then pack the ground beef mixture between these two onion layers to form a ring shape. Each ring should resemble a thick onion ring.
2. Now, tightly wrap two slices of bacon around each onion ring, ensuring full coverage. If the bacon doesn't stick, secure it with a toothpick. Once all the rings are wrapped, sprinkle each one with The Bearded Butcher Hollywood Blend. This sweet blend perfectly complements the bacon's saltiness.
3. Place the prepared rings directly on the smoker. They will need roughly 1 1/2 hours to become crispy; remember to flip them every 30 minutes. Once the bacon is rendered and crispy, and the cheeseburger filling is fully cooked, smother each ring with The Bearded Butcher BBQ Sauce. Finish by sprinkling on sesame seeds. 

How to Make the Dipping Sauce:

1. This tangy dipping sauce is incredibly simple to make. Just combine The Bearded Butcher Rebel Red Sauce, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, ketchup, dill relish, and granulated sugar in a bowl. Finish the sauce by seasoning it with The Bearded Butcher Bold Blend. Mix everything together until it's smooth and fully combined. 

This delicious sauce perfectly complements the bacon-wrapped onion rings and also pairs well with burgers, other sandwiches, and much more.