BBQ Brie Burger with Basil and Grilled Green Apples | #BurgerMonth

Note: This brie burger is part of a kick-butt burger grill giveaway hosted by GirlCarnivore but the burger epicness is all my own.

There is nothing like combining creamy, dreamy brie with a crisp green apple. Now take that to the next level by using them, along with fresh basil and hickory barbecue sauce, to make a sensational gourmet burger.

Basil leaves on top of a hamburger.

I love grilling season because it means more excuses to make gourmet burgers, and this delicious bbq burger is my fanciest one yet. It’s like French elegance meets a down-home American summer. They'll have you drooling on sight.

Deliciously smothered in hickory barbecue sauce then topped with basil, triple-creme brie, and sweet grilled apples, this burger will have you wondering how much you can fit in your mouth at once.

How To Melt Brie on a Burger

I’ve made brie burgers over and over, and I’ll tell you this: putting the cheese under the burger patties is the easiest way to the melt the brie. Hands down. Plus, if you don't remove the rind it helps keep it contained instead of oozing off the bun.

Since brie is a soft cheese, it doesn’t need a lot of heat to melt. The heat from the cooked burger more than accomplishes this. However, you don’t get that traditional “melted cheese” look like you would with American cheese.

If you want to get that melty appeal, I recommend cutting off the rind and putting the brie on top of the burger right before you remove it from the grill. Brie melts very quickly and may spill over the burger if left on direct heat for too long.

Grilled green apple on top of brie and a hamburger bun.
side view of a stacked brie burger with green apple and basil.

National Burger Month

Burgers are one of my ultimate comfort foods, so national burger month is always one of my favorite food holidays. Every year, Kita at GirlCarnivore hosts an epic collection of gourmet burgers, as well as a phenomenal set of giveaways. Check out all the great burger recipes here.

Overhead view of an open face burger next to french fries.

How To Make Your Gourmet Burgers Even Better

To elevate this brie burger to a new level, try any (or all) of the excellent culinary tips below.

  • Two Minute Homemade Mayonnaise.   This easy mayo recipe is a great way to make the bbq burger even more flavorful. 
  • How To Buy and Store Ground Beef.  This explains which ground beef you should buy, and why. If you get the wrong one, the burgers may turn out dry or tough.
  • Homemade BBQ sauce.  This recipe takes 15 minutes to make, but tastes SO much better than store bought. It has a very complex flavor for minimal work, plus packs just a hint of heat.
  • Brioche Hamburger Buns.  You need these hamburger buns in your life. They are tender, flavorful, and don’t disintegrate under the juicy weight of your bbq burger.
  • Keep Your Basil Fresh.  Once picked, basil wilts quickly. Find out how to keep it fresh so it can complement this brie burger with delightful elegance.

Hickory BBQ Brie Burger Recipe

There are so many great brie burger recipes out there, and luckily, you pretty much can’t go wrong with any of the traditional combos ( brie and bacon burgers, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions, figs, etc..) However, this bbq burger version is absolutely going to be your favorite.

The trick to making this brie burger is to try to get everything the same size. Mainly, pick an apple that has the same girth as your buns. If they aren't, you can compensate by layering them, but that makes them slippery and more likely to spill out of the burger. 


Want a free printable grocery list for this BBQ brie burger recipe?  Everything is listed in standard grocery store amounts. If no size is specified, even the smallest package will provide more than enough.

Thank you so much for stopping by! If you want to try some other delightful gourmet burger recipes to celebrate burger month with, I recommend:

Happy Cooking! 🙂

Two giant basil leaves rest on top of a garlic cheeseburger.
5 from 3 votes

Brie Burgers with Basil and Green Apple

These gourmet burgers are sure to become your newest favorite. The sweetness of the apples with the strong flavor of the basil makes this burger a home run for your next cookout!
Course: Beef, Main Course, Sandwiches & Wraps
Cuisine: American
4 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
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Ingredients

Burger Patties

  • 1.5 lbs 80/20 ground chuck
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • ⅓ cup Hickory Smoke BBQ sauce

Toppings

  • 4 Brioche buns, toasted
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise, to taste
  • 1 Tablespoon Hickory Smoke BBQ Sauce
  • 4 oz triple creme brie cheese, cut into ½" thick slices
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 1 green apple, , cored and cut into ¼" thick rounds
  • 8-12 large fresh basil leaves

Instructions

  • Preheat Grill to medium high heat.
  • In a bowl, mix together the ground beef, minced garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. Divide the meat into four equal burger patties that are slightly larger than the hamburger buns. Season them with salt and pepper and lightly brush them with the ⅓ cup of hickory bbq sauce.
  • Grill over high heat, turning at least once, until the burgers are medium rare or done to your preference*. Remove from heat and let rest.
  • While the burgers rest, brush the apple slices and hamburger buns with extra virgin olive oil and grill them until lightly toasted. The longer you grill the apples, the sweeter and softer they will become.
  • Stir together the mayonnaise and tablespoon of bbq sauce. Dress the buns with the mayonnaise to taste. Add spinach, the grilled apples, sliced brie, and top with fresh basil. Serve hot.

Notes

*The USDA recommends an internal temperature of 160°F to kill any bacteria in the beef.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 1123kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 78g | Saturated Fat: 31g | Cholesterol: 298mg | Sodium: 1106mg | Potassium: 770mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 2415IU | Vitamin C: 8.3mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 5.4mg
Tell me how much you love this recipeand show off how you made it!

A huge thanks to the #BurgerMonth sponsors for the Ultimate Burger Grilling Giveaway:  Cabot Cheese, Char-Griller Grills, Crow Canyon Home, Porter Road, Melissas Produce, Red Duck, Spiceology, &  Western BBQ

10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    What a delicious burger! I'm drooling just looking at these photos! I love the combination of green apple and brie - yum!

  2. 5 stars
    Such a great & unique burger combo! I'm definitely looking forward to grilling season and trying these burgers. So yummy!

  3. What a great idea! This burger looks totally awesome and I am going to have to try it. I feel like it will make some really neat flavor and texture combinations. Anyhoo... never seen this one before and I like it.

    1. It is definitely unique, but it is also a huge hit. The flavors are so good together that it will be one you repeat!

  4. 5 stars
    I love everything about this burger! I've had brie and apple together, but always on a turkey sandwich. Never on a burger. Sounds delicious! And the basil is a nice touch too!

    1. They're such a good combination, and the heat from the burger making the brie melt onto it is just divine!

5 from 3 votes

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