Kristina Wiley sets out to create the perfect hamburger in honor of her favorite tv-show.
Summer time is officially here and you know what that means… time to pull out your grills, people!!! The hubs and I love a good burger, but sometimes we want a little more than just a seasoned patty on a bun. We like to mix it up with things like our Blue Cheese Balsamic Burger, and now this: 
The Hawaii 5-0 Burger (named in honor of one of our favorite shows that unfortunately isn’t running anymore)…
This burger is my at home re-creation inspired by one of my favorite burgers from a restaurant called Yardhouse. Yowza! This was DELISH. So delish that the hubs wanted me to make it again the next night haha. I’m making him wait though, don’t want him to get too much of a good thing!
If you want to spice up burger night, I highly recommend these babies! It’s the perfect combo of spicy, sweet, and savory! We love when food has that dynamic trifecta of flavor!
Enjoy friends!
Oh, and FYI: nothing goes better with burger night than these oven roasted fries!!
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Hawaii 5-0 Burger
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
The Hawaii 5-0 Burger combines spicy pepper jack cheese, sweet grilled pineapple, and savory bacon for a dynamic flavor experience.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) mayonnaise
- 1 large clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/3 lb (600 g) ground chuck
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) brown sugar
- 4 pineapple rings
- 4 slices pepper jack cheese
- 4 hamburger buns
- 4 slices of cooked bacon
- 4 lettuce leaves
- 4 slices of tomato
Instructions
- For the Garlic Aioli: In a small bowl, mix together 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- For the Burgers: Divide 1 1/3 lb of ground chuck into 4 equal patties, about 1/3 lb each.
- Sprinkle each patty with brown sugar, ensuring even coverage.
- Place the patties on the grill and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, or until they reach your desired doneness.
- During the last minute of grilling, place a slice of pepper jack cheese on each patty and allow it to melt.
- Grill the pineapple rings for 1-2 minutes on each side until they have grill marks and are slightly caramelized.
- Toast the hamburger buns on the grill for about 1 minute, until lightly browned.
- Assemble the burgers: Spread garlic aioli on the bottom half of each bun. Place a lettuce leaf, a slice of tomato, a burger patty with melted cheese, a grilled pineapple ring, and a slice of bacon on top. Finish with the top half of the bun.
- Serve immediately with your favorite sides.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add sliced jalapeños to the burger.
- These burgers pair perfectly with crispy oven-baked fries.
- If you prefer a different cheese, Swiss or cheddar can be used as substitutes.
- Store any leftover aioli in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 20 grams
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 45 grams
- Carbohydrates: 55 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 40 grams
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the brown sugar on the patties, and when is it applied?
The recipe sprinkles 1/4 cup of brown sugar over all four patties (each about 1/3 lb ground chuck) before they go on the grill. The sugar caramelizes on contact with the hot grill, creating a slightly sweet-savory crust that — combined with the pepper jack cheese and pineapple — delivers what the article describes as the “spicy, sweet, and savory” trifecta.
Why are the pineapple rings grilled rather than served raw?
The instructions have you grill the pineapple rings for 1–2 minutes per side until they have grill marks and are slightly caramelized. Grilling concentrates the sweetness and adds a smoky char that balances the heat from the pepper jack cheese and the richness of the bacon — raw pineapple would taste sharper and more acidic.
Can the garlic aioli be made ahead of time?
Yes — the notes say leftover aioli keeps in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The aioli is quick: 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper, whisked together. Making it ahead lets the garlic flavor mellow into the mayo.
This burger is mouthwatering!