Tavern Burger On Acme Bun With All The Fixins Recipe

Form patties

Divide the ground beef into four equal portions (about 4 oz / 113 g each). Gently form each portion into a loose patty about 3.5–4 inches in diameter and roughly 3/4 inch thick. Make a shallow dimple in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent doming while cooking. Do not overwork the meat.

Season patties

Place patties on a plate and season both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, and a light sprinkle of Worcestershire sauce. Let rest at room temperature for 10 minutes while you prepare other components.

Toast buns

Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Butter the cut sides of the Acme buns with the softened unsalted butter. Place buns buttered-side down on the skillet and toast until golden brown, about 1–2 minutes. Remove and keep warm.

When cooking the burgers (next section), add the chosen cheese during the final 1–2 minutes of cooking so it melts over the patty. For cheddar or Emmentaler, place a slice directly on each patty and cover the pan briefly to trap heat. For blue cheese, crumble the blue onto the patties after flipping and allow it to soften and warm (it will not fully melt like cheddar).

Prepare vegetables and sauces

While patties rest, wash lettuce leaves and pat dry. Slice the tomato into 4 even slices and set aside. Separate thin red onion slices into rings. Arrange pickle slices. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard to make a quick burger spread; taste and adjust proportions if desired.

Assemble burger

Spread about 1 tablespoon of the burger spread onto the bottom half of each toasted bun. Place a lettuce leaf on the spread, then add the hot cheesed patty. Top with tomato slice, a few onion rings, and 2 pickle slices. Spread a thin layer of mustard or extra mayo on the top bun if desired, then close the burger.

Preheat skillet or grill

Heat a heavy skillet, cast-iron pan, or grill over medium-high heat until hot. Add the neutral oil and swirl to coat the surface.

Cook patties

Place patties in the hot pan leaving space between them. For medium doneness: cook about 3–4 minutes on the first side without pressing. Flip once and cook another 3 minutes. In the final 1–2 minutes, place your chosen cheese on each patty and cover the pan for 30–60 seconds to help melt. Adjust cooking time +/- 1 minute per side for rarer or more well-done preferences.

Rest patties briefly

Remove patties to a tray and let them rest 2 minutes so juices redistribute before assembling. This also helps the cheese set slightly.