Description
This recipe for The Best Ever Cheeseburgers features juicy, perfectly seasoned beef patties cooked in a cast iron skillet, topped with melted cheddar cheese, and served on toasted brioche buns with a tangy and flavorful homemade burger sauce. Accompanied with classic burger toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion, and dill pickles, this straightforward recipe delivers delicious, satisfying burgers ideal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Burger Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon dill pickle juice
- 3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Cheeseburgers
- 2 pounds ground beef, 20% fat
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 Tablespoons salted butter (divided)
- 6 slices cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)
- 6 Brioche hamburger buns
- Green leaf lettuce
- Sliced tomato
- Sliced red onion
- Dill pickle hamburger chips
Instructions
- Prepare the Burger Sauce: In a medium-size bowl, combine the mayonnaise and ketchup by whisking until smooth. Add the dill pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, and cayenne pepper, then whisk again until all ingredients are fully incorporated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the sauce while you prepare the cheeseburgers to allow the flavors to meld.
- Form the Patties: Gently shape the ground beef into six even patties about 1-inch thick, being careful not to overwork the meat to maintain tenderness. Arrange the patties on a large platter and season generously on both sides with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper according to taste.
- Cook the Patties: Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Place three patties in the skillet, ensuring they have space to cook evenly without crowding. Cook each side for approximately 4 minutes until the outside is lightly charred and the patties reach your preferred level of doneness. During the last minute of cooking, place a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty and cover lightly to melt the cheese.
- Keep Patties Warm: Remove the cooked patties with melted cheese from the skillet and place them on a tray in a preheated oven set at 200°F to keep warm while you cook the remaining patties.
- Cook Remaining Patties: Repeat the cooking process with the remaining three patties, melting cheese slices on top as before. Keep them warm in the oven as well.
- Assemble the Cheeseburgers: Toast the brioche buns lightly if desired. Spread the prepared burger sauce evenly on the buns, then layer with green leaf lettuce, sliced tomato, sliced red onion, and dill pickle chips. Add the cheesy beef patties on top, cover with the top half of the buns, and serve immediately while warm. Enjoy your delicious homemade cheeseburgers!
Notes
- For juicier burgers, avoid overhandling the meat when forming patties.
- You can adjust cooking time based on preferred doneness (e.g., less time for medium-rare, longer for well-done).
- Using a cast iron skillet provides a nice sear, but a heavy-bottomed non-stick pan can be used as an alternative.
- Keep cooked patties warm in a low oven to serve all burgers hot at once.
- Feel free to customize toppings according to taste, adding ingredients like bacon, avocado, or different cheeses.
