Main
Homemade Cheeseburger (USA)
- Preparation time
- 20 min
- Servings
- serves 4
Ingredients
- Ground beef — to buy600 g
- Cheese — to buy4 tranches
- Bread — to buy4
- Romaine lettuce — to buy1
- Tomato — to buy1
- Red onion — to buy1
Preparation
Take the ground beef out of the fridge 15 minutes ahead — meat at room temperature cooks more evenly.
Shape it into 4 flat patties, a little wider than the buns (they'll shrink as they cook), pressing a dimple in the centre with your thumb so they don't puff into a dome.
Season generously with salt and pepper just before cooking, not before, so the meat doesn't release its juices and dry out.
Heat a pan or griddle until very hot and sear the patties for 2-3 minutes per side for medium (longer if you like it well done), adding a slice of cheese on each as soon as you flip them so it has time to melt.
Lightly toast the inside of the buns in the same pan for barely 30 seconds, so they soak up the cooking juices without going soggy.
Assemble the burger: bun, lettuce, cheesy patty, tomato, onion, then the top bun, and serve immediately while still hot.