Cheeseburger Recipe
$8.00; (kids 12 & under) comes with choice of side and a drink
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Ingredients
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Burger Patties
Buns & Toppings
Cheese & Sauce
Side — Oven Fries (choice included)
Drink — Choice (Chocolate Milk or Apple Juice)
Method
Burger Patties
- 1
Mix and shape patties
In a bowl, combine 1 lb ground beef, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce. Mix gently with your hands until just combined — avoid overworking. Divide into 4 equal portions and shape into patties about 3/4" (2 cm) thick and slightly wider than the buns (they will shrink while cooking). Press a shallow thumb indentation in the center of each patty to help them cook flat.
- 2
Cook patties
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp neutral oil and swirl to coat. When the pan is hot (just beginning to smoke lightly), add patties leaving space between them. Cook 4–5 minutes on the first side without moving them. Flip and cook 3–4 minutes more for medium; for kids you can cook an additional minute per side for well-done. During the last minute of cooking, place one cheddar slice on each patty and cover the pan or tent with a lid to melt the cheese. Remove patties to a plate and let rest 2 minutes.
Buns & Toppings
- 3
Prep toppings
While the patties cook, wash and dry lettuce leaves. Slice the tomato into 4 even slices. Slice 1/2 red onion into thin rings. Prepare 8 dill pickle slices (or cut pickles if whole).
- 4
Cheese & Sauce
- 5
Make burger sauce
In a small bowl combine 4 tbsp mayonnaise, 4 tbsp ketchup and 2 tbsp yellow mustard. Stir until smooth. Taste and adjust — for a sweeter sauce add a little more ketchup, for tang add a touch more mustard. Portion about 1 tbsp of sauce per bun bottom when assembling.
- 6
Assemble burgers
On each toasted bun bottom spread ~1 tbsp of the sauce. Place a lettuce leaf, then the cheesy patty, a tomato slice, a few onion rings and two pickle slices. Top with the bun crown. Serve immediately so the burger is warm and cheese is melty.
Side — Oven Fries (choice included)
- 7
Preheat oven
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oil it.
- 8
- 9
Bake fries
Spread fries in a single layer on the baking sheet (do not overcrowd). Bake 25–30 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden and crisp at the edges. For a quicker alternative, cook in an air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 12–15 minutes, shaking the basket once. Serve fries hot with extra ketchup if desired.
Drink — Choice (Chocolate Milk or Apple Juice)
- 10
- 11
Apple juice (alternative)
For apple juice: chill 4 cups apple juice and serve 1 cup per child over ice if desired. Offer either chocolate milk or apple juice according to the child's choice.
