A perfectly sized smash-style burger with crispy bacon, melty American cheese, fresh lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a soft toasted bun. This homemade version of Wendy's classic Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger is better than the drive-thru original.
fast-food · wendys · burger · lunch
🕑Prep10 min
🍳Cook10 min
⏱Total20 min
🍽Serves4
⭐DifficultyEasy
Ingredients
1 pound fresh ground beef (80/20 blend)
4 soft hamburger buns
4 slices American cheese
8 slices thick-cut bacon
4 leaves iceberg lettuce
4 slices ripe tomato
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
1.Cook the bacon. Lay bacon strips on a cold sheet pan and bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes until crispy. Drain on paper towels. You can do this while you prep everything else.
2.Form the patties. Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 4 ounces each). Form into balls, then press into thin patties slightly larger than your buns — they shrink when cooking. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
3.Toast the buns. Butter the cut sides of the buns and place them cut-side down in a skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until golden. Set aside.
4.Cook the burgers. Heat a cast-iron skillet or flat griddle over high heat until smoking. Cook patties for 2-3 minutes per side. Add a slice of American cheese during the last minute and cover with a lid to melt.
5.Assemble the burgers. Spread mayo on the top bun. Layer the bottom bun with lettuce, tomato, the cheese-topped patty, and two strips of bacon. Close it up and serve immediately.
The Wendy’s Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger is one of the best value items in all of fast food. It’s a simple formula — a thin beef patty, crispy bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a soft bun. Nothing fancy, nothing trying too hard. Just a solid, satisfying burger.
Making it at home means you get fresh beef (not sitting under a heat lamp), properly crispy bacon, and a bun that’s actually toasted. The whole thing comes together in about 15 minutes.
Why Make It at Home?
A Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger runs about $2.79 at Wendy’s. Making four at home costs roughly $8.00 total, or $2.00 each — and you’re getting higher quality beef, real thick-cut bacon, and fresh produce. The homemade version is noticeably better.
Tips & Variations
Don’t overwork the beef. Just press it into a patty and leave it alone. Overworking makes burgers tough and dense.
Use fresh, never frozen, beef. Wendy’s whole thing is fresh beef. Honor that commitment at home.
The bun matters. A soft, slightly sweet hamburger bun is essential. Martin’s potato rolls are the gold standard.
Go full-size. Double the patty to 8 ounces and you’ve basically got a Wendy’s Dave’s Single.
Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger
A perfectly sized smash-style burger with crispy bacon, melty American cheese, fresh lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a soft toasted bun. This homemade version of Wendy's classic Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger is better than the drive-thru original.
Prep10 min
Cook10 min
Total20 min
Servings
4
At home~$3.15/serving
vs
Restaurant~$14.17/serving
You save ~78%
Ingredients
Instructions
💡
Pro tip: This recipe tastes even better the next day. The flavors need time to meld together in the fridge.
❄️
Storage: Keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Freezer-friendly for up to 3 months.
~350-550 cal/serving · Rich & Indulgent🔥
CopycatSpices
Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger
A perfectly sized smash-style burger with crispy bacon, melty American cheese, fresh lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a soft toasted bun. This homemade version of Wendy's classic Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger is better than the drive-thru original.
fast-food · wendys · burger · lunch
🕑Prep10 min
🍳Cook10 min
⏱Total20 min
🍽Serves4
⭐DifficultyEasy
Ingredients
1 pound fresh ground beef (80/20 blend)
4 soft hamburger buns
4 slices American cheese
8 slices thick-cut bacon
4 leaves iceberg lettuce
4 slices ripe tomato
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
1.Cook the bacon. Lay bacon strips on a cold sheet pan and bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes until crispy. Drain on paper towels. You can do this while you prep everything else.
2.Form the patties. Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 4 ounces each). Form into balls, then press into thin patties slightly larger than your buns — they shrink when cooking. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
3.Toast the buns. Butter the cut sides of the buns and place them cut-side down in a skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until golden. Set aside.
4.Cook the burgers. Heat a cast-iron skillet or flat griddle over high heat until smoking. Cook patties for 2-3 minutes per side. Add a slice of American cheese during the last minute and cover with a lid to melt.
5.Assemble the burgers. Spread mayo on the top bun. Layer the bottom bun with lettuce, tomato, the cheese-topped patty, and two strips of bacon. Close it up and serve immediately.
Jane Smith founded Copycat Spices with a passion for recreating beloved restaurant dishes at home. A seasoned home cook, Jane meticulously tests and refines each recipe to ensure authentic flavors and straightforward instructions for home chefs of all skill levels.
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