Juicy Lucy Burger
This Minnesota-born burger – featuring hot, melted cheese in the middle of the patty – is surprisingly easy to make at home! This version is slightly different from the original.
To make a juicy burger on the grill, start by selecting the right meat, ideally beef with a high fat content. Divide the meat into portions and shape them into patties, making a small dimple in the center of each patty to allow for even cooking.
Preheat your grill to high heat, grill the patties for about 3-4 minutes on each side, let them rest for a few minutes, and serve them hot.
TIP: Use beef with a high fat content, preferably 80/20 (80% meat, 20% fat) is best for making juicy burgers. You can grind your own meat or use pre-packaged ground hamburger meat.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Ground beef
- 2 teaspoons Garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 1 pinch Worcestershire sauce
- 1 false Pack of American cheese
- 1/2 cup Mayo
- 2 tablespoons Ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Mustard
- 1 tablespoon Pickle relish (dill or sweet)
- 1 pinch Hot sauce
- 1 pinch Onion powder
- 1 pinch Smoked paprika
Steps
- 1
Combine the ground beef, garlic powder, butter, salt, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce in a large mixing bowl.
If grinding your own meat, click here for How To Instructions.
- 2
Divide the ground beef into 16 meatballs, which will form one small patty each. From each meatball, flatten each meatball to form 8 patties, making an indentation in the middle to place the cheese. Continue with the next 8 meatballs to make a flat patty, which will go on top of the first 8 patties.
- 3
Take each slice of American cheese and fold it in half two times, creating a stack of small cheese squares. Place this stacked piece of cheese in the middle of the burger—this is the bite of cheese that goes in the middle. Repeat for all 8 burgers with a piece of cheese.
- 4
Take the remaining 8 patties and place them on top of the patties with cheese and seal them around the edges, combining the two patties on the outside to make one burger.
- 5
For the Secret Sauce: Combine mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickle relish, hot sauce, onion powder and smoked paprika. Place in the refrigerator until ready to put on the burgers.
- 6
Prepare a grill for medium direct heat, about 350 degrees. If using a griddle or a cast iron skillet, place the skillet on the grill.
- 7
Place the patties on the skillet or grill and let them cook until they have started to brown on one side (on the cast iron they will form a crust). Flip the patties over and then add another slice of cheese.
- 8
Remove from heat and tent under foil to stay warm. Serve on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, pickles and LOTS of secret sauce.
- 9
Serve immediately to experience the beauty of the melting cheese inside the patty, making for an epic cheesy bite with cheese literally oozing out of your burger.
