JACK IN THE BOX: BACON ULTIMATE CHEESEBURGER

SAVE: 507 CALORIES, 54 G FAT, 21 G SAT. FAT

Bacon, bacon, bacon, bacon, bacon, Swiss, American, and plenty of beef . . . now that’s a combo. In fact, it’s a combo I would never have conjured on my own.

I had an ex-boyfriend who loved (and I mean loved) the Jack in the Box commercials. You know, the ones that have “Jack,” a man with an ordinary body but a big white globe of a head and the funny yellow cone-shaped hat. Granted, I agree they’re clever and probably more memorable than most fast food commercials . . . except, perhaps, the one with a half-naked Paris Hilton, but that’s a whole other topic.

Anyway, if you’re a person who dreams about bacon, you really can’t beat this tower of flavors.

6 ounces 96% lean ground beef (about ¾ cup)

Pinch of salt

5 slices center-cut bacon, halved crosswise

1 restaurant-style sesame seed bun (about 4")

½ tablespoon yellow mustard

1 slice (½ ounce) low-fat Swiss-style cheese

1 slice (½ ounce) 2% milk yellow American cheese

1 teaspoon light mayonnaise

1 teaspoon ketchup

DIVIDE the beef in half. On a sheet of waxed paper, shape each half into a 5" patty. Season both sides lightly with salt. Transfer the waxed paper to a plate. Place, uncovered, in the freezer for 5 minutes.

Lay the bacon slices side by side in a small nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Cook, flipping occasionally, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until cooked but not crisp. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate to drain. Cover to keep warm.

Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until drops of water sizzle when splashed on the pan. Place the patties and the bun top and bottom, cut-sides down, in the pan. Cook for 2 to 4 minutes, flipping the burgers halfway through, or until the beef is no longer pink and the buns are toasted.

Place the bun bottom on a plate. Top with half of the reserved bacon, 1 burger, mustard, Swiss-style cheese, the remaining burger, American cheese, and the remaining bacon. Spread the mayonnaise evenly over the toasted side of the top bun. Spread the ketchup over the mayonnaise. Flip onto the sandwich.

MAKES 1 SERVING

587 calories, 56 g protein, 41 g carbohydrates, 23 g fat, 9 g sat. fat, 3 g fiber

Original Jack in the Box Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger: 1,094 calories, 46 g protein, 53 g carbohydrates, 77 g fat, 30 g sat. fat, 2 g fiber

EVEN BETTER This burger is larger than a single meal should be for anyone. If you love these flavors, try reducing the beef to 4 ounces and the bacon to 2 slices. You’ll be left with a sizable burger, and you’ll still get bacon in every bite. Also, consider picking your favorite cheese and using only a slice. The result will be a bacon cheeseburger that has 418 calories, 36 g protein, 41 g carbohydrates, 14 g fat, 4 g sat. fat, and 3 g fiber. You’ll save 676 calories, 63 g fat, and 26 g sat. fat.

BEFORE YOU START Look in the packaged rolls aisle in the supermarket for restaurant-style sesame seed buns, which are wider than standard buns. They are sometimes called Texas-style sesame seed buns. Also, you’ll need a large nonstick skillet to cook the whole sandwich at once. If the patties and buns don’t all fit in a single layer in your pan, cook one patty and toast the bun bottom first, then start assembling the sandwich as the others cook.