Does anyone else sometimes crave a quality, juicy burger? I was so bummed out when I first moved away from home and didn’t have a way to grill up a good burger. Apartment complexes generally don’t allow grills (unless you use the community grill), and I was far too lazy to walk across the facility just to mess with one that seldom worked.
I really love making this when I want to have something satisfying, but doesn’t take forever to make. I take a few shortcuts on this recipe:
1. I buy pre-shaped 1/3 lb patties. They cost the same price per pound as regular ground beef, but save me the hassle of getting my hands greasy and having uneven patties. If you can’t find them pre-shaped at your grocery store, divide a lb of ground beef to your liking.
2. I use season salt to season the meat. It comes with all the delicious flavors I want, without me having to mix them myself. This is a top pantry staple in my book!
The key to keeping these burgers juicy is letting them rest for a few minutes as the cheese melts over the top. If you’re going dairy free, don’t skip this step! Let your burgers rest for two or three minutes in the pan before slathering with that special sauce and diving in.
Okay, and let’s talk about this sauce. I basically took all of our normal burger condiments and mixed them together to elevate the flavor. A little bit of lemon brings flavors together and keeps this sauce light– so slather it on!
Stovetop Cheeseburger with Burger Sauce
Ingredients
For the Burger
- 1 ⅓ lb ground beef*
- 2 tsp season salt 1/2 tsp per patty
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 slices american cheese
For the Sauce
- 1/4 C mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp lemon juice about 1/4 of a lemon
- 1 tsp ketchup
- 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 pinch garlic powder about 1/8 of a teaspoon
Optional Toppings
- sliced tomato
- lettuce
- bread and butter pickle chips
Instructions
For the Burger
- Season burger patties on each side with 1/4 teaspoon of season salt per side
- Heat olive oil in skillet over medium high heat until oil begins to ripple, and spread on pan
- Add burger patties to skillet once oil is hot, to ensure a crispy sear
- Cook for 6-7 minutes on the first side before flipping. Cook the second side an additional three minutes
- Turn off the heat and add one slice of cheese to each burger patty. Cover with lid, or tent with foil and let burgers rest for a few minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly on top. Resting the burger is KEY
- Serve with burger sauce, and optional toppings
For the Sauce
- While burger is cooking, mix together all sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
