Best CheeseburgerBest Cheeseburger
Best Cheeseburger
Best Cheeseburger
The method for this smashed cheeseburger is key to a juicy inside and crispy outside. Topped with Deli cheese, fry sauce and pickles–meet your new obsession.
Logo
Recipe - The Fairway Market Corporate
BestCheeseburger.jpg
Best Cheeseburger
Prep Time15 Minutes
Servings4
Cook Time5 Minutes
Calories610
Ingredients
1 pound (2 medium) English cucumbers, thinly sliced
2 sprigs fresh dill
2 cloves fresh garlic, peeled, lightly smashed
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon whole peppercorns
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon kosher salt + 1 teaspoon kosher salt ( divided
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon juice from pickles
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 pound lean ground beef
1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 (3/4-ounce) slices Land O Lakes® Deli American
4 soft hamburger buns, split
2 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil
Directions

1. Combine cucumbers, dill, garlic, mustard seeds and peppercorns in 1-quart mason jar. Set aside.

 

2. Combine vinegar, water,1 tablespoon salt and sugar in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat just until sugar and salt dissolve. Carefully pour mixture over cucumbers, covering completely but leaving 1/4-inch gap between top of jar and liquid. Seal jar; gently shake a few times to combine. Let jar cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 12 hours.

 

3. Combine all sauce ingredients ( mayonnaise, ketchup, juice from pickles, yellow mustard) in small bowl. Cover; refrigerate until serving.

 

4. Heat broiler to high

 

5. Spread cut sides of hamburger buns with Butter with Canola Oil. Place onto baking sheet, buttered-side up. Broil 1 minute or until buns are lightly toasted. Set aside.

 

6. Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions. Shape into 2-inch patties, each about 2 inches thick. (Do not overwork meat.) Sprinkle tops with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place onto parchment-lined platter. Refrigerate until cooking time.

 

7. Brush 12-inch stainless steel or cast iron skillet with vegetable oil. Heat over medium-high heat until oil is almost smoking. Working with 1 patty at a time, place into hot skillet, seasoned-side down. Firmly smash down using heavy weight spatula. (Use second spatula to push down for more leverage.) Flatten patty to about 1/2 inch thick. Repeat with other patties. Season patties with remaining salt and pepper.

 

8. Cook burgers, without moving them, 90 seconds. Using spatula, flip burgers, making sure to scrape bottom of pan to include bottom crust. Cook 30 more seconds. Top each burger with 1 slice of deli American; continue cooking 90 seconds or until internal temperature reaches 160°F or desired doneness. Place burgers onto toasted buns; top with sauce and pickles. Serve immediately.

 

9. TIP #1: If cooking on an electric stovetop, your cooking times will be just a little longer than stated in recipe. Use a thermometer to determine desired doneness.

 

10. TIP #2: We recommend purchasing the ground beef for this recipe fresh from the meat counter. It will create the tender, juicy burger you're after. Ground beef that comes in tubes or pre-packaged has been squished for packaging which will affect the final product.

 

11. TIP #3: Pickles can be stored up to two months in the refrigerator.

 

Nutritional Information
  • 38 g Total Fat
  • 105 mg Cholesterol
  • 1750 mg Sodium
  • 32 g Carbohydrates
  • 2 g Dietary Fiber
  • 33 g Protein
15 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
4
Servings
610
Calories

Shop Ingredients

Makes 4 servings
1 pound (2 medium) English cucumbers, thinly sliced
Seedless Cucumbers, 3 ct, 3 each
Seedless Cucumbers, 3 ct, 3 each
$8.99$3.00 each
2 sprigs fresh dill
Organic Dill, 1 ct, 1 each
Organic Dill, 1 ct, 1 each
$3.99
2 cloves fresh garlic, peeled, lightly smashed
Fresh Garlic
Fresh Garlic
$1.12 avg/ea$4.49/lb
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
Fairway Yellow Mustard Seed, 2.7 oz
Fairway Yellow Mustard Seed, 2.7 oz
$4.49$1.66/oz
1/2 teaspoon whole peppercorns
McCormick Black Peppercorn Adjustable Grinder, 1 oz
McCormick Black Peppercorn Adjustable Grinder, 1 oz
$3.29$3.29/oz
1 cup vinegar
Heinz All Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 32 fl oz
Heinz All Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 32 fl oz
$3.99$0.00/ml
1 cup water
Bowl & Basket Distilled Water, 1 gal
Bowl & Basket Distilled Water, 1 gal
$1.99$1.99/gal
1 tablespoon kosher salt + 1 teaspoon kosher salt ( divided
Morton Coarse Kosher Salt, 48 oz
Morton Coarse Kosher Salt, 48 oz
$3.99$0.08/oz
1 tablespoon sugar
Bowl & Basket Granulated Sugar, 4 lb
Bowl & Basket Granulated Sugar, 4 lb
$4.99$1.25/lb
1/4 cup mayonnaise
Primal Kitchen Mayo Avocado Oil Real Mayonnaise, 12 fl oz
Primal Kitchen Mayo Avocado Oil Real Mayonnaise, 12 fl oz
$12.99$1.08/fl oz
1 tablespoon ketchup
Wholesome Pantry Organic Tomato Ketchup, 20 oz
Wholesome Pantry Organic Tomato Ketchup, 20 oz
$3.49$0.17/oz
1 teaspoon juice from pickles
Claussen Sandwich Slices Kosher Dill Pickles, 20 fl oz
Claussen Sandwich Slices Kosher Dill Pickles, 20 fl oz
$6.29$0.31/fl oz
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
French's Classic Yellow Mustard, 8 oz
French's Classic Yellow Mustard, 8 oz
$2.29$0.29/oz
1 pound lean ground beef
80% Lean Ground Beef
80% Lean Ground Beef
$9.09 avg/ea$6.99/lb
1 teaspoon coarse ground pepper
McCormick Black Peppercorn Adjustable Grinder, 1 oz
McCormick Black Peppercorn Adjustable Grinder, 1 oz
$3.29$3.29/oz
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Bowl & Basket 100% Vegetable Oil, 48 fl oz
Bowl & Basket 100% Vegetable Oil, 48 fl oz
$5.19$0.11/fl oz
4 (3/4-ounce) slices Land O Lakes® Deli American
Bowl & Basket Yellow American Cheese
Bowl & Basket Yellow American Cheese
$7.49/lb$7.49/lb
4 soft hamburger buns, split
Pepperidge Farm Bakery Classics Soft White Hamburger Buns, 8 count, 14.5 oz
Pepperidge Farm Bakery Classics Soft White Hamburger Buns, 8 count, 14.5 oz
$4.29$0.35/oz
2 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil
Land O Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil, 8 oz Tub
Land O Lakes® Butter with Canola Oil, 8 oz Tub
$3.69$0.46/oz

Nutritional Information

  • 38 g Total Fat
  • 105 mg Cholesterol
  • 1750 mg Sodium
  • 32 g Carbohydrates
  • 2 g Dietary Fiber
  • 33 g Protein

Directions

1. Combine cucumbers, dill, garlic, mustard seeds and peppercorns in 1-quart mason jar. Set aside.

 

2. Combine vinegar, water,1 tablespoon salt and sugar in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat just until sugar and salt dissolve. Carefully pour mixture over cucumbers, covering completely but leaving 1/4-inch gap between top of jar and liquid. Seal jar; gently shake a few times to combine. Let jar cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 12 hours.

 

3. Combine all sauce ingredients ( mayonnaise, ketchup, juice from pickles, yellow mustard) in small bowl. Cover; refrigerate until serving.

 

4. Heat broiler to high

 

5. Spread cut sides of hamburger buns with Butter with Canola Oil. Place onto baking sheet, buttered-side up. Broil 1 minute or until buns are lightly toasted. Set aside.

 

6. Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions. Shape into 2-inch patties, each about 2 inches thick. (Do not overwork meat.) Sprinkle tops with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place onto parchment-lined platter. Refrigerate until cooking time.

 

7. Brush 12-inch stainless steel or cast iron skillet with vegetable oil. Heat over medium-high heat until oil is almost smoking. Working with 1 patty at a time, place into hot skillet, seasoned-side down. Firmly smash down using heavy weight spatula. (Use second spatula to push down for more leverage.) Flatten patty to about 1/2 inch thick. Repeat with other patties. Season patties with remaining salt and pepper.

 

8. Cook burgers, without moving them, 90 seconds. Using spatula, flip burgers, making sure to scrape bottom of pan to include bottom crust. Cook 30 more seconds. Top each burger with 1 slice of deli American; continue cooking 90 seconds or until internal temperature reaches 160°F or desired doneness. Place burgers onto toasted buns; top with sauce and pickles. Serve immediately.

 

9. TIP #1: If cooking on an electric stovetop, your cooking times will be just a little longer than stated in recipe. Use a thermometer to determine desired doneness.

 

10. TIP #2: We recommend purchasing the ground beef for this recipe fresh from the meat counter. It will create the tender, juicy burger you're after. Ground beef that comes in tubes or pre-packaged has been squished for packaging which will affect the final product.

 

11. TIP #3: Pickles can be stored up to two months in the refrigerator.