Description
This classic hamburger recipe features juicy grilled patties seasoned with a homemade spice blend and topped with melty American cheese, fresh lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles on toasted buns. Easy to prepare and perfect for backyard barbecues or quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Burger Patties
- 1 ½ pounds ground chuck (80/20)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 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 of a 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, or 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.
- Form Patties: Divide the ground chuck into 6 equal portions. Gently form each into a ½ inch thick patty, making sure they are slightly wider than your buns since they will shrink when cooking. Avoid over-handling the meat to keep it tender.
- Indent Patties: Press a gentle indentation into the center of each patty using your thumb. This helps the patties cook evenly and prevents puffing up. Optionally, place an ice cube in each indentation to keep the patties moist until cooking.
- Preheat Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high heat. Prepare toppings and buns while the grill heats.
- Season and Cook Patties: Just before grilling, sprinkle the prepared seasoning over both sides of the patties. Place patties on the hot grill, indent side up. Close the lid and cook for 3-4 minutes until the bottom is seared and juices form on top.
- Flip and Finish Cooking: Flip the patties and cook another 3-4 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F for medium doneness.
- Add Cheese: During the last minute of grilling, place a slice of American cheese on top of each patty to melt.
- Rest Patties: Remove patties from the grill and let rest for a few minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Assemble Burgers: Place each patty on a toasted bun and top with lettuce, tomato slices, onion slices, pickles, and your preferred condiments or additional toppings.
Notes
- Choose ground chuck or a blend of 60% ground chuck and 40% brisket for best flavor and texture. If using lean ground beef, add olive oil or chopped bacon for moisture.
- American cheese melts beautifully and is traditional for hamburgers; avoid processed singles for better quality and taste.
- To cook on stovetop, heat a cast iron skillet with a thin coat of oil over medium-high heat. Cook patties 3-5 minutes per side, ensuring internal temperature hits 160°F.
- You can make patties ahead of time and store them separated by parchment paper in the refrigerator for 1-2 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before cooking.
- Cooking times depend on desired doneness but 160°F internal temperature corresponds to medium.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger with bun and cheese
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
