This post is sponsored by Black Creek® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Memorial Day is my favorite holiday.  It marks the beginning of summer and that means food, family and friends.  These Bacon Cheddar Ranch Burgers with Black Creek® Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese are sure to be a crowd pleaser for those special family and friend gatherings this Memorial Day!

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I remember Memorial Day being my favorite holiday ever since I was a young child.  The weather is warmer, there’s always something fun to do and it’s always a long weekend.  Of course, when I was a kid, a long weekend meant no school and that was always great! 

Now, as an adult, I know the true meaning of Memorial day and it personally means a lot more to me. I love this country and remembering those who have lost their lives fighting for us to live our lives as we do every day is important to me.

Every Memorial Day, I make sure I make it a point to explain the holiday to my stepdaughter so that she understands the meaning behind it.  I don’t want her to go through life not knowing why we celebrate this important holiday and taking her freedom for granted.  I will do the same with my son when he is old enough to understand.

Every memorial day, we are invited to many get-togethers with family and friends.  This year, I decided that we will be hosting the get together and plan to make it a fun, relaxing time for our family and friends to spend time together and of course, eat good food.

My husband has asked me to make my famous Bacon Cheddar Ranch Burgers. These are always a hit with my family and I know my friends and family will love them as well!

Being a Wisconsin girl, I cannot use just any cheese.  It has to be authentic, Wisconsin, rich and creamy cheese.  I love to support our local businesses and Black Creek® cheese is my absolute favorite. When I was invited to participate in this sponsored post by Black Creek®, I was excited because I knew it was a great product and that my readers would enjoy it as well.

I literally eat cheese every day.  I don’t drink milk so I make sure to get my calcium from cheese. I haven’t met a cheese I don’t like, and I think it’s just in my blood.

The grocery store that I shop at has a lovely cheese selection, featuring cheeses from Wisconsin.  I chose Black Creek® cheddar one day a couple of years ago when I wanted to try something different with more of a kick when I was making pasta salad.  It was a perfect match and it’s a great price for such a delicious cheese.

I distinctly remember people commenting on how creamy and delicious the cheese in the salad was.  The sharp cheddar cheese is aged over months or years and is so smooth and rich that it paired perfectly with the fresh vegetables and cold pasta in the salad.

Head over the the Black Creek website for more awesome recipes and drink pairings. I love the baked gourmet mac and cheese and the cheddar beer dip!

Black Creek® cheese is born in the Fox River Valley of Wisconsin, which is known for it’s rich soil and beautiful pastures. The cows there graze all day on the nutrient-rich grasses that grow in the rich soil which helps them produce distinctly rich and creamy milk, which is used to create the Black Creek® cheese.

The Black Creek® cheeses are aged up to three years and have a sharp, complex, rich and nutty flavor which is perfect for Bacon Cheddar Ranch Burgers.  Even though we start using our grill as soon as the temperature hits 65 degrees here, Memorial Day is the official kick off for grilling season so I’m excited to make the Bacon Cheddar Ranch Burgers using delicious Black Creek® cheese.

This recipe features Black Creek® extra sharp cheddar cheese which is aged for 2 years before it is put on shelves at the stores. It melts wonderfully on the grill and is rich and creamy and full of flavor.

I’ve had cheeseburgers where I can’t even taste the cheese, and I hate that. What is the point of a cheeseburger if you can’t taste the cheese? The cheese used in this recipe is so incredibly flavorful that it adds a wonderful taste to the burger, making it an authentic cheeseburger.

This recipe includes lean meat, but is supplemented with milk and finely ground quick oats to help keep the Bacon Cheddar Ranch Burgers moist. The bacon is cooked prior and is mixed into the hamburger meat so you don’t have to deal with bacon falling all over the place and it ensures that you’ll get bacon in every bite.

Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix is used in the recipe to give the meat additional flavors that pair wonderfully with the Black Creek® extra sharp cheddar cheese and bacon. Egg is included in the recipe to help keep the hamburger together while cooking, and A1 Steak Sauce is included for an extra kick of bold flavor.

These burgers are simply delicious.  You will love the burst of flavors and your family and friends will as well!

They are so delicious, you can even serve them without a bun, on their own.  I like to top mine with lettuce, tomato and red onion, but you can add (or not) anything you’d like!

**Tip for grilling – when you form the patties, make sure you place an indent in the patty with your thumb.  It will keep the burger from puffing out on the grill and makes it easier to eat.

Bacon Cheddar Ranch Burgers

Makes 4 servings, one burger per serving

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef (I used extra lean)
1/2 cup quick oats, finely ground
5 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled or chopped (I used turkey bacon)
1 egg, beaten
1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing and seasoning mix, unprepared
1 tablespoon A1 Steak Sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup skim milk
1 package of Black Creek® cheese, your choice of flavor (I used extra sharp cheddar, aged 2 years) – 1 ounce per serving

Directions:

• Preheat your grill to high. Oil the grilling plate so the burgers do not stick to the grill. 
• Grind the quick oats in a food processor or food chopper to break down their size a bit. 
• In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients with your hands until all ingredients are uniformly incorporated. 
• Shape ground beef mixture into four equal patties. The best way to do this is to lay the loaf of meat out on a cutting board, work it into a square and then use a knife to separate into four equal sections using a cross. 
• Once patties are formed, place in refrigerator for 30 minutes. This helps the mixture cool down from the heat of your hands and hold together better when grilling. 
• Place on an oiled grill, grilling about six minutes for medium well patties on each side. 
• When burgers are cooked to your liking, move them to the outer parts of the grill where it’s not as hot. Place one slice of Black Creek® Cheese (your choice of flavor, they have many varieties) on each burger. Close grill lid for two minutes. 
• Open grill lid and remove burgers from grill. 
• Top with your favorite burger toppings and enjoy!

I really enjoyed making these burgers.  It was simple, quick and simply delicious. Kick off grilling season right with Black Creek Cheese and these yummy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Burgers!

Let me know how you like this recipe. I love to hear how you switch it up and what yummy toppings you add!

Happy eating and remember, everything is better with Black Creek cheddar!

Cheers and cheese!

Carissa