My Ultimate Cheeseburger Recipes

THE ULTIMATE CHEESEBURGER

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium heat.
• Mix first 4 ingredients just until blended.
• Shape into 8 (1/2-inch-thick) patties.
• Grill 5 to 6 min. on each side or until done (160ºF). Top with Singles; grill 1 min. or until melted.
• Place lettuce, tomatoes and onions on bottom halves of buns; cover with burgers, ketchup and tops of buns.

THE ULTIMATE BACON CHEESEBURGER

Steps:

• Put the bacon in a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Cook just until the fat is rendered out, 5 to 7 minutes. (The bacon should not brown at all.) Remove the bacon from the pan and place in the bowl of a small food processor. There should be about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat that has collected in the pan.
• Place the buns into the warm bacon fat, cut-side down. Toast the buns they are until golden brown around the edges, about 2 minutes. Set aside for burger assembly.
• Pulse the par-cooked bacon in the food processor until it is coarsely ground, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer the bacon to a large mixing bowl. Add the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Use your hand to gently work the bacon and seasonings into the ground beef. Divide the meat into 4 portions (6 to 7 ounces each). Loosely pack the meat into 4 thick patties, using your thumb to create a shallow dimple in the center of each. Sprinkle the outside of each patty with salt and pepper as desired.
• Preheat the grill and generously oil the grill grates. Place the patties on the grill and cook to the desired degree of doneness, 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Top each patty with a slice of American cheese and cover the grill to allow the cheese to melt, 30 seconds.
• Assemble the burgers and top with ranch, lettuce, tomato slices and red onion. Serve immediately.

MY ULTIMATE CHEESEBURGER

Steps:

• Heat outdoor grill to med-high heat. You can also use a George Foreman grill or cook the burgers as you normally do.
• Lightly oil grate, if using.
• In a large bowl, beat egg. Mix hamburger, sausage, cornflake crumbs, 2 Tblsp. BBQ sauce, salt, and pepper until just combined. Divide into 4 portions and shape into patties. Set aside.
• Mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, and 1/2 teaspoons dried basil in a small bowl and set aside.
• Cook burgers 3-4 minutes on each side (or until done to your liking). Put cheese on burgers and melt, if desired.
• Lightly toast buns on grill or under broiler. Spread an even layer of sauce on both sides of buns, top with burger patty, sliced onion, sliced tomato, and 2 leaves of baby arugula. Cover with top bun. Serve with a slice of dill pickle and fries or potato chips, and enjoy!