The bacon cheeseburger has become an iconic menu item, blending the savory flavors of bacon and cheese with the classic hamburger. But who exactly invented this ingenious sandwich combination? While numerous establishments have staked their claim, tracing the true origins requires rewinding decades into fast food history.
Early Contenders for Inventing the Bacon Cheeseburger
Several restaurants assert that they were the first to put bacon and cheese together on a beef patty. Here are some of the leading contenders:
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Kaelin’s Restaurant (Louisville, KY) – 1934: They claim to have invented the bacon cheeseburger and even registered a trademark for the term in the 1960s. However, no evidence exists on their menus from the 1930s.
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Steak ‘n Shake – Late 1930s Founder Gus Belt applied for a trademark on “bacon burger” in the 1930s It’s likely they sold burgers with bacon, but unclear if they added cheese.
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A&W Restaurant (Lansing, MI) – 1963: This franchise is officially recognized as debuting the first bacon cheeseburger, after honoring a customer’s special request.
So while other restaurants may have experimented with bacon burgers earlier, A&W in Lansing is largely credited with specifically creating the bacon cheeseburger.
The Invention of the Bacon Cheeseburger at A&W in 1963
In 1963, owner Dave Mulder was running an A&W franchise in Lansing, Michigan. New interstate highways had diverted traffic away from the restaurant’s previous bustling location. Looking to reinvent the menu, Mulder had an epiphany one day while eating a cheeseburger.
As the story goes, he thought to himself that the sandwich would be even better with the addition of bacon. After initially testing the concept, Mulder officially added the “bacon cheeseburger” to the menu that year. It proved immediately popular with customers.
Despite some skepticism over the years, Mulder stands by A&W Lansing as the inventors, stating: “That’s okay, they can believe what they want.”
How A&W Defined the Bacon Cheeseburger
So what exactly did this original bacon cheeseburger look like? A&W’s classic bacon cheeseburger consisted of:
- A fresh beef patty
- Two strips of bacon
- A slice of cheese (likely cheddar)
- Served on a toasted bun
The ingredients were kept simple, allowing the bacon and cheese to shine as delicious complements to the burger itself. This set the standard template for bacon cheeseburgers to follow.
A&W also introduced the notion of wrapping bacon around the patty, rather than just layering bacon strips on top. This maximized the bacon flavor in each mouthwatering bite.
The Legacy of A&W’s Invention
The debut of the bacon cheeseburger proved immediately influential, as competitors rushed to add it to their own menus. Within a few years, it had spread across the fast food industry and countless restaurants.
The popularity of this indulgent sandwich has only continued to grow over the decades. It appeals to meat lovers and cheese aficionados alike. For many burger fans, it doesn’t get much better than the smoky saltiness of bacon paired with melted cheese and beef.
While restaurants may endlessly innovate new burger recipes, A&W’s original creation remains a crowd favorite. Their 1963 innovation left an indelible mark on the culinary world.
Burger created at Lansing A&WPublished:
LANSING, Mich. – It was an addition that changed an already delicious food forever — bacon on a cheeseburger.
You can find bacon cheeseburgers on a lot of menus these days, but did you know that the first one was made in Lansing, Michigan?
A&W Chairman Dave Mulder opened a franchise in Lansing in 1961.
The restaurant was on U. S. 16, an area people had to pass through to get between Detroit and Grand Rapids. But the construction of I-96 hurt the business because potential customers were now bypassing the area.
One day, Mulder looked at a cheeseburger and had an idea.
“I thought it absolutely (would) be better with bacon,” Mulder said.
So, in 1963, the bacon cheeseburger was born, forever changing burgers.
“A bacon burger became a big item in the restaurant business,” Mulder said. “And everyone else stole it from us. “.
Some people aren’t sure where the bacon cheeseburger came from, but Mulder said he knows where it came from.
“Thats OK, they can believe what they want,” Mulder said.
Did you know the bacon cheeseburger was invented in Michigan?
FAQ
When was the first bacon cheeseburger invented?
Did A&W invent the bacon cheeseburger?
Who created the first cheeseburger?
What fast food had the first bacon cheeseburger?
Who invented the bacon + cheeseburger combo?
Lexington, KY-based agency Cornett was amazed to discover that the famous bacon + cheeseburger combo was invented not by either of the biggest burger joints in the U.S., but rather A&W Restaurants. So it decided to use that priceless bit of company history in its promotion for the 95-year-old chain’s chairman Dale Mulder in this offbeat video.
Where did the bacon cheeseburger come from?
The birthplace of the bacon cheeseburger, A&W in Lansing. One day, Mulder looked at a cheeseburger and had an idea. “I thought it absolutely (would) be better with bacon,” Mulder said. So, in 1963, the bacon cheeseburger was born, forever changing burgers. “A bacon burger became a big item in the restaurant business,” Mulder said.
Did you know the first bacon cheeseburger was made in Lansing?
LANSING, Mich. – It was an addition that changed an already delicious food forever — bacon on a cheeseburger. It’s now fairly common to see bacon cheeseburgers on menus, but did you know the first bacon cheeseburger can be traced back to Lansing, Michigan? A&W Chairman Dave Mulder opened a franchise in Lansing in 1961.
Should A&W be famous for inventing the bacon cheeseburger?
“The creative revolved around the idea that A&W ‘should be famous’ for inventing the Bacon Cheeseburger, because frankly, they should,” said Cornett copywriter Jason Majewski.