Best Cheeseburger Recipe

Craving the perfect grilled cheeseburger? Discover the best homemade cheeseburger recipe that delivers juicy, flavor-packed burgers every time.

Homemade Cheeseburgers are epic.

Taking a giant bite of that juicy, grilled burger with melted and drippy cheese and all those crisp toppings is the ultimate Memorable Meat Moment. If you’ve never made grilled cheeseburgers yourself, you will be blown away by how it will absolutely crush all your past wimpy cheeseburger experiences.

You won’t have to hunt for the meat in your bun this time. The burgers are a statement piece in this meal. I love how each bite has that charred grill flavor. The meat is loaded with flavor and is SO JUICY. It may be extremely controversial and in some cases blasphemous to add anything to the hamburger meat, but I don’t mind going against the mainstream to get  a juicy and flavorful burger. The perfect burger with cheese may already deserve a standing ovation, but with the addition of the burger sauce that has just just the right amount of tang and sweetness and all your favorite toppings, it just goes over the top.

We only make burgers a few times a year, but when we do, we aren’t shy about it and go all out. 

Ingredients:

(Scroll to the bottom of the page for the printable recipe card with all the measurements.)

Burgers:

• ground chuck (80% lean ground beef)
• panko bread crumbs
• Tablespoons milk
• onion
• garlic
• Worcestershire sauce
  • the rich, concentrated and “umami” flavor enhances the beef flavor – YUM!
• tomato paste or ketchup
  • this will add both a tangy and sweet flavor, it also helps to bind everything together
• salt, ground black pepper

Toppings:

• hamburger buns or Kaiser rolls
• sliced cheese (Cheddar, American, Colby Jack, Gouda, Muenster, etc.)
• tomatoes
• lettuce leaves (Iceberg, Romaine, Boston Bibb, etc.)
• onion
• other options – pickles, sauteed mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, avocados, bacon

Burger Sauce:

• mayonnaise
• ketchup
• distilled white vinegar
• pickles or dill pickle relish
• shallot or any onion
• garlic

How to prepare the best grilled cheeseburger recipe

1. Place the ground beef in a large bowl.
2. Next, prepare the filling for the burgers that will help to keep the burgers together.
   • In a medium bowl, pour the milk over the breadcrumbs, until the breadcrumbs are covered in milk.
   • Grate the onion into the bowl, add the minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste (or ketchup), salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
3. Add this mixture to the ground beef. Mix to combine, being careful not to overwork the beef.
   • Mixing all the other ingredients together first helps to keep the mixing to a minimum. The longer you mix the meat, the more dense it will be. 
4. Divide the meat into 4 – 6 even portions, and shape each into a burger patty.
   • If you use Kaiser rolls or hamburger buns made in a bakery, you will have 4 burgers. If you use the smaller hamburger buns from the bread aisle, you will have 6 burgers.
5. Make a slight indentation in the center of the burgers.
   • As the burger cooks, the center will puff up a little. The indentation in the center will make it nice and even all the way across.
6. Prepare the grill.
   • Heat your grill on high heat for about 15 minutes.
   • Dip a wad of paper towels in oil, and go over the grill grates with the oil 3-5 times. This helps to make the grates somewhat nonstick and cleans them at the same time.
7. Meanwhile, prep all your toppings and make the burger sauce.
   • Make the burger sauce by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate.
8. Finally, place the burgers on the grill and cook the burgers for about 4 minutes per side.
9. Place a slice of cheese on top of the burgers and grill for 1-2 minutes, just until the cheese melts.

Why add breadcrumbs, onions and other ingredients to the burger meat?

A seasoned and moistened breadcrumb mixture is called a panade. This will prevent the burgers from being dry and flat. By using a panade, it will help keep the moisture inside the meat as it cooks. Most importantly, it will help keep the burgers from falling apart when grilling them.

Many recipes will not use a panade and that is just fine if you are using really good quality meat with a high fat content that you ground yourself. When using pre ground beef, it helps to use a panade, so you can cook the burgers until they are well done.

Using a panade will keep the meat juicy even if it’s cooked all the way through. By adding onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste, we are also adding a lot of flavor into the meat. 
When I grind meat myself for burgers or make burgers on the stove, that’s when I make burgers only with ground beef, salt and pepper.

Assembling and Serving the Burgers

At last, it’s time to assemble the burgers. Place your hamburger buns on the grill for a minute or so, just until they get slightly golden.

Spread the burger sauce on your hamburger buns and load them up with the burgers and all your favorite toppings.

Reheating Burgers

Did you know that leftover burges reheat really well? They taste almost the same as the day they were cooked with this magical tip – reheat the burgers on the stovetop with a tiny bit of water.

Pour in just enough water to cover the bottom of a skillet/pan. Place the grilled burgers into the skillet and cover with a lid. Then, cook on low heat until heated through all the way, flipping the burgers halfway through. The water steams and infuses the burgers with moisture, making them really juicy.

Helpful Tips For the Best Cheeseburger Recipe

What to Serve with Cheeseburgers

• Roasted Smashed Potatoes
• Ranch Potato Salad
• Salt Potatoes
• Grilled Corn Salad
• Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Print