Classic Grilled Cheeseburger

These juicy delicious homemade burgers are perfect on the grill or stovetop on your grill pan or skillet. This is my all time favourite recipe and the easiest all-purpose recipe for perfect hamburger patties every time! They are ready in no time and are a must-make for your next cookout.

How to make grilled cheeseburgers

These are quite easy to make and also freeze well if you are making them ahead. More about that in recipe notes below. Here are the simple steps:

• Season your meat - specifics below.
• Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and shape into balls.
• Flatten each ball into a ¾-1 inch-thick patty, approx 4 inches across. Create a slight depression in the center of each patty.
• Grill the burgers on a preheated grill or grill pan 4-5 minutes on the first side until nicely browned. Flip once and continue grilling until desired doneness.
• Place cheese on burger the last minute of cooking to allow it to melt
• Serve on your favourite burger buns with your favourite toppings and sauces.
  
  

Tips for making the best grilled burgers:

• Season your burger well. If you have quality ground beef, you don’t need much other than some salt and pepper. That being said, we likely to use some extra spices in our blend for maximum flavour without distracting too much from the meaty flavours of the burger. This is optional but I recommend it.
• Do not over mix your ground beef. It will create a tougher less tender burger. Once you have formed your patties you can keep them chilled while you preheat grill so they maintain their shape. I keep mine on a sheet-pan covered with plastic wrap in the fridge.
• Adding a slight indent into the center portion of each burger patty prevents it from puffing up too much during grilling. Using a spoon or your fingers, to add an indent in the middle.
• The perfect burger has to be juicy. Minimal flipping required - I only flip once. The patty itself should be seared on the outside to lock in all that beefy goodness. Do NOT press on the burger on the grill. This will release all of its flavor and makes the burger dry and ends up crumbling.
  
  

What makes the perfect cheeseburger?

Simple is always best when it comes to idea of the perfect burger. I realize that we all have differing thoughts and tastes when it comes to burgers but here are a few things that I find key to making a great burger:

• Beef: I tend to agree with the masses when it comes to the perfect fat to beef ratio in a burger. 80 percent beef to 20 percent fat ratio is my ideal for ground meat.
• Bun: No matter what buns you choose for your burger - make sure they are fresh and sturdy enough to hold the burger plus all your toppings. You want them to absorb the meat juices without falling apart. Grilling or toasting them with some butter on them is optional.
• Toppings: Fresh is key when it comes to your toppings. You want your lettuce to be fresh and your tomatoes to hold up - no mushy mealy ones here please. And I love sliced pickles that have some snap to them.
• Sauces: Choose the ones you love! My all time favorites are Mayo, ketchup and mustard. There are so many options though. My hubby loves bbq sauce and sriracha Mayo.
• Cheese: Choose your favourite cheese. I’m a sucker for melty processed cheese and think it makes the perfect cheeseburger.for these burgers I used my go to Metro’s Selection Thick Cheddar Cheese Slices. I tend to use just one slice per burger but I will leave that up to you.
  
  

Ideal Grilling Temperature & Cooking Times for Beef Burgers

You want the grill at a medium-high heat, approx 400 to 450°F for direct heat. I prefer grilling these patties quickly over direct heat not using a two zone method. A good sear goes a long way. These burgers won’t take too long to grill – approx 5 minutes per side. Grilling times may vary depending on the thickness of your burgers and your preferred doneness. Having a good meat thermometer always helps when in doubt. Burger Internal Temperature

• Med Rare – 135°F
• Medium – 145°F
• Med Well – 155°F
• Well Done – 165°F
  
  

What to serve with grilled cheeseburgers

I serve these burgers with some chips, but there are really no rules on what to serve your burgers with. They are great with fries of course and onion rings but also perfect with all sorts of salads too. Feel free to serve them up with your favourite one.

If you liked this recipe you will love these:

• Grilled Flank Steak
• Grilled Party Wings With Cholula Butter
• Greek Style Grilled Chicken Wings