AmericanClassic diner cheeseburger
Diner cheeseburger: a thick griddled beef patty with melted cheese, pickles, onion and burger sauce in a toasted bun
The cheeseburger is the backbone of American roadside diners and summer cookouts, from Los Angeles drive-ins to New Jersey lunch counters. This one is the thick diner style: a loosely packed beef patty seasoned only with salt and pepper, seared hard on a hot griddle, topped with slices of melting cheese and stacked with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and a tangy burger sauce in a toasted bun. The usual mistake is overworking the mince and pressing the patty in the pan: it squeezes out the juice and turns tight and dry. Shape gently, press a dimple in the centre so it stays flat, and flip only once. Beef mince must be cooked through to 71 °C, when the juices run clear. Chef's tip: season the patties only on the outside, right before they hit the pan; salt mixed into the mince turns it springy like sausage.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 4
- Per serving
- 690 kcal
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 4 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
For the burgers
- 1 ⅓ lb beef mince20% fat
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 4 cheddar or American cheeseslices
- 4 burger bunssplit
- 4 iceberg lettuceleaves
- 1 tomatosliced
- ½ red onionthinly sliced
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Stir 4 tbsp mayonnaise, 2 tbsp tomato ketchup, 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish and 1 tsp yellow mustard together and chill.
Step 2: Divide 1 ⅓ lb beef mince into 4 and shape loosely into patties 1.5 cm thick and slightly wider than the buns. Press a shallow dimple in the centre of each. Chill until needed.
Step 3: Toast the cut sides of 4 burger buns on a dry griddle or pan until golden, then set aside.
2 minStep 4: Heat 1 tsp vegetable oil in a heavy pan or griddle over high heat. Season the patties on both sides with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper.
2 minStep 5: Cook for 4 minutes without pressing, until a dark crust forms, then flip.
4 minStep 6: Lay 4 cheddar or American cheese on top, cover with a lid for the last minute to melt it, and cook for 3–4 minutes more, until a thermometer reads 160°F and the juices run clear.
4 minStep 7: Spread the sauce on the buns and stack with 4 iceberg lettuce, 1 tomato, the burger, ½ red onion and 12 dill pickle slices. Serve straight away.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 690 kcal
- Protein
- 38 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 45 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does classic diner cheeseburger take?
- About 27 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of tomato ketchup?
- Tomato purée with a pinch of sugar and a dash of vinegar.
- What can I use instead of iceberg lettuce?
- Any crisp salad leaves, same amount.
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