Description
A classic, juicy hamburger recipe featuring seasoned ground chuck patties grilled to perfection and topped with melty American cheese and fresh toppings. Perfect for an easy, flavorful meal that can be customized with your favorite condiments and add-ons.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Burger Patties
- 1 ½ pounds ground chuck (80/20)
- 1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ½ teaspoon light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Toppings
- 6 hamburger buns, toasted if desired
- 6 slices American cheese (or your favorite cheese)
- 6 lettuce leaves
- 1 beefsteak tomato, thinly sliced
- ½ red or white onion, thinly sliced
- 6 pickle slices
Optional Toppings and Condiments
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Grilled onions
- Jalapeños
- Bacon
- Onion rings
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- BBQ sauce
- Thousand Island dressing
- Ranch dressing
- Homemade Chick-fil-A Sauce
Instructions
- Make Burger Seasoning: In a bowl, combine black pepper, salt, paprika, light brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and set aside to use as your seasoning blend.
- Form Patties: Divide the ground chuck into 6 equal portions. Gently form each portion into a ½ inch thick patty that is slightly wider than your hamburger buns to accommodate shrinkage during cooking. Avoid over-handling the meat to keep the patties tender.
- Indent Patties: Press a gentle indentation into the center of each patty with your thumb. This prevents the burger from puffing up while cooking and helps it cook evenly. Cover the patties and set aside while you preheat the grill.
- Preheat Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high heat to get a nice sear on the burgers.
- Season and Grill Patties: Just before cooking, sprinkle the prepared burger seasoning evenly over each patty. Place the patties on the grill with the indentations facing up. Close the grill lid and cook for 3-4 minutes until the bottoms are seared and juices start to accumulate on top.
- Flip and Cook: Flip the burgers and cook an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F for safe consumption.
- Add Cheese: During the last minute of cooking, place a slice of American cheese on each patty to melt.
- Rest the Burgers: Remove the patties from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes to allow juices to redistribute before serving.
- Assemble Burgers: Serve the cheese-topped patties on toasted buns with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and your preferred condiments and additional toppings.
Notes
- Meat: For best flavor, use ground chuck or a blend of 60% chuck and 40% brisket. If using lean ground beef, add chopped bacon or a tablespoon of olive oil to enhance juiciness.
- Cheese: Opt for freshly sliced American cheese from the deli rather than processed pre-packaged singles for optimal melt and taste.
- Stovetop Cooking: If you don’t have a grill, cook patties in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat with a thin coating of oil for 3-5 minutes per side until 160°F.
- Cooking Temperature: Cook to an internal temperature of 160°F for medium doneness, less time for medium-rare, or longer for well done.
- Make Ahead: Form patties and separate with parchment paper. Cover and refrigerate up to 1-2 days depending on meat freshness.
- Freezing: Freeze raw patties with parchment paper between them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw before cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger with bun and cheese
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
