Place the ground beef in a bowl. Add kosher salt, black pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Gently combine with your hands — do not overwork. Divide into two equal portions and form each into a 3/4-inch-thick patty slightly wider than the bun. Make a shallow dimple in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent doming.

Cook patties

Heat a heavy skillet or griddle over medium-high heat until hot. Add vegetable oil and swirl. Place patties on the hot surface and cook 3-4 minutes without moving, until a brown crust forms. Flip and cook 2-3 minutes more for medium (adjust time for desired doneness). During the last 1 minute of cooking, top each patty with one slice of white cheddar and one slice of orange cheddar, cover briefly with a lid or tent with foil to melt the cheese.

Bacon & Sautéed Onions

Cook bacon

In a separate skillet over medium heat, lay out the bacon strips and cook until crisp, about 6–8 minutes, turning occasionally. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain, then chop or leave whole depending on preference.

Sauté onions

While bacon cooks, slice the yellow onion thinly. In a clean skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 teaspoon olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced onions and stir to coat. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally, until soft and beginning to caramelize, about 10–12 minutes. Stir in brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper; cook 1–2 more minutes until glossy and caramelized. Remove from heat and keep warm.

Buns & Sauces

Make burger sauce

In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, pickle relish and hot sauce (if using). Taste and adjust seasoning. This yields enough for two burgers.

Toast buns

Butter the cut sides of the buns with 1 tablespoon butter. On a skillet set to medium heat or in a toaster, toast the buns cut-side down until golden, about 1–2 minutes. Remove and keep warm.

Assembly

Spread a generous tablespoon of burger sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Place lettuce on the sauce (optional to keep juices off bun), then set the cheeseburger patty on top.

Top each patty with 2 slices of cooked bacon and a hearty spoonful (about 2–3 tablespoons) of the sautéed onions. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce over the bacon/onions on each burger.

Add pickles to taste on top of the BBQ sauce. Cap with the top bun and press lightly to set. Serve immediately with extra burger sauce and BBQ on the side if desired.