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Backyard cheeseburgers with melted cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion on toasted buns

Backyard Cheeseburgers

Juicy four-ingredient cheeseburgers cooked on the grill or in a cast iron skillet and served on toasted buns with your favorite toppings.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 burgers
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Burgers
  • 1 pound ground beef 80/20
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder optional
  • 4 slices American or cheddar cheese
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • 1 tablespoon butter softened, for the buns
Toppings
  • Lettuce, sliced tomato, sliced onion and pickles
  • Ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise

Method
 

  1. Divide the beef into 4 equal portions. Gently shape each into a patty about ½ inch thick and a little wider than the buns. Press a shallow dimple into the center of each with your thumb.
  2. Heat a grill to medium-high (about 450°F) and oil the grates, or heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat with a thin film of oil.
  3. Mix the salt, pepper and garlic powder. Sprinkle over both sides of the patties right before cooking.
  4. Cook the patties for 3–4 minutes, until well browned on the bottom. Flip and cook for 3–4 minutes more, until the centers reach 160°F.
  5. Top each patty with a slice of cheese for the last minute of cooking. Close the grill lid or cover the skillet so it melts.
  6. Butter the cut sides of the buns and toast them on the grill or in the skillet for about 1 minute, until golden.
  7. Let the burgers rest for 2 minutes. Serve on the toasted buns with your favorite toppings.

Notes

  • For 8 burgers, double everything and cook in two batches if you’re using a skillet.
  • Ground turkey works too. Cook turkey burgers to 165°F.
  • Quick burger sauce: stir together ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon mustard and 1 tablespoon pickle relish.