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Ingredients
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Burger
Toppings & Condiments
Sweet Potato Fries
Method
Sweet Potato Fries
- 1
Prep and coat
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Wash and peel (optional) the sweet potatoes. Cut into 1/4–1/2-inch sticks for fries; try to keep sizes uniform. Place cut fries in a large bowl of cold water and soak 15 minutes to remove excess starch, then drain and pat completely dry with paper towels.
- 2
Coating
Toss the dried fries with cornstarch in a large bowl until evenly coated. Add olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Toss to evenly coat.
- 3
Bake
Arrange fries in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment (use two trays if needed to avoid crowding). Bake for 12 minutes, flip fries, then bake an additional 10–12 minutes until edges are crisp and golden. For extra crispness, finish under the broiler 1–2 minutes watching carefully.
- 4
Finish
Remove fries from oven, taste and adjust seasoning with a pinch more salt if needed. Keep warm while you prepare burgers.
Burger
- 5
Form patties
Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 4 oz each). Gently form into patties about 3/4-inch thick and slightly wider than buns. Do not overwork the meat. Season both sides of each patty with kosher salt and black pepper and brush both sides lightly with Worcestershire sauce.
- 6
Toast buns
Heat a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Spread softened butter on cut sides of buns. Place buns butter-side down in the pan for 1–2 minutes until golden and toasted. Remove and keep warm.
- 7
Cook patties
Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the hot pan. When shimmering, add patties without crowding. Cook 3–4 minutes on the first side until a dark crust forms. Flip and cook 2–3 minutes for medium (adjust time for desired doneness). In the last 30–60 seconds of cooking, place a cheddar slice on each patty and cover the pan with a lid to melt the cheese.
- 8
Rest
Transfer patties to a plate and let rest 2 minutes. This helps juices redistribute.
Toppings & Assembly
- 9
Slice the tomato into 4 even slices and the red onion into thin rings. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise on each bottom bun half and 1 teaspoon mustard or ketchup on the top bun (or as desired).
- 10
Place a leaf of lettuce on each bottom bun, then add the cheeseburger patty. Top each patty with 2 pickle slices, a tomato slice, and some red onion rings. Close with the toasted top bun.
- 11
Serve each cheeseburger immediately with a generous portion of sweet potato fries on the side.