Best Juicy Lucy Burger Recipes

JUICY LUCY BURGER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together 2 teaspoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Divide the beef into four equal portions, then halve each of those portions. Gently roll each portion into a ball using the palm of your hand, then flatten each into a disk shape on a large cutting board, pressing with your fingers and palm until just over 4 inches wide and 1/4-inch thick. Repeat to form eight patties. Season both sides of each patty with the salt-and-pepper blend.
• Add one slice cheese to the center of one patty, folding any overhanging corners of the cheese inward. Using a spatula, lift another patty from the cutting board and place it on top of the cheese, pressing gently to connect both patties. Gently pinch the edges of the patties together to thoroughly seal, then use your fingers to round the edges by pressing and patting along the perimeter. Repeat with the remaining patties, forming three more burgers, and set aside.
• In a large (preferably 12-inch) cast-iron skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; sprinkle with sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, adding 2 tablespoons water about every 5 minutes to prevent burning, until tender and caramelized, about 20 minutes. Once the onions are caramelized, transfer them to a bowl. (If you have any bits left in the pan, wipe them out.)
• Add the oil to the skillet to lightly coat the bottom and heat over medium-high until scalding-hot, about 2 minutes. Add the burgers and cook until seared and dark brown on the outside, 3 to 5 minutes per side. (You'll want to let the burgers cook undisturbed as long as possible to develop a crisp sear and to prevent them from splitting. Their insides will cook through by the time the outsides form a proper sear. Resist the urge to cut them open, as the cheese will spurt out.) Transfer burgers to a clean cutting board to rest.
• Meanwhile, toast the buns: Scrape up and remove from the pan any cheese that may have leaked, leaving a thin layer of accumulated fat in the pan. Reduce the heat to medium. Working in batches, toast the buns cut-side down until warmed and toasted in spots, about 1 minute. Form sandwiches by layering pickles, patties, then caramelized onions on buns. Serve immediately.

AMERICAN BURGER "JUICY LUCY" RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Mix together the patty ingredients until evenly combined.
• Flatten the beef into a thin layer, then place a chunk of cheddar inside, wrapping the beef completely around the cheddar. Form a patty with your hands.
• Repeat with the remaining beef and cheese.
• Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
• Cook the burgers for 3 minutes on the first side, flip, then cook for 6 more minutes.
• Assemble the burgers with the bun, bacon, tomato, and lettuce.
• Enjoy!

GIANT BACON-CHEDDAR JUICY LUCY BURGER

Steps:

• Line a 9-inch round cake pan with aluminum foil. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of the Montreal steak seasoning. Press half of the ground beef into the cake pan. Layer the cheese in the middle, leaving a 1/2- to 1-inch border around the side. Sprinkle with another 2 teaspoons of the Montreal steak seasoning. Top with the remaining ground beef in an even layer and press to seal in the cheese. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 teaspoons Montreal steak seasoning. Lift out the burger from the cake pan using the foil and flatten it with your hands to about 11 inches in diameter. Refrigerate until ready to cook; the burger can be assembled up to 2 hours in advance.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard and pickle brine in a small bowl until smooth. Cover and refrigerate.
• Remove most of the soft insides from the top of the loaf of bread to make it fairly hollow. Reserve for another use.
• Prepare a grill for direct and indirect heat: For gas grills (with 3 or more burners), turn all the burners to medium-high heat; after about 15 minutes, turn off one of the side burners and turn the remaining burners down to medium. For charcoal grills, bank one chimney starter-full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Set up a drip pan on the other side to avoid flare-ups. (Be sure to consult the grill manufacturer's guide for best results.) If your grill has a thermometer, aim to keep the temperature at about 350 degrees F throughout grilling.
• Oil the grill grates. Hold the burger on the foil bottom and flip it onto the indirect-heat side of the grill; peel off the foil. Cook until the sides of the burger are cooked and it feels firm when you lift it with a spatula, 8 to 10 minutes depending on the heat of your grill. Using 2 spatulas, carefully flip the burger (if you have a large fish spatula, use it here); try not to create any holes through which the cheese could escape. Cover the grill and cook until the burger is cooked through and the cheese is melted, 5 to 8 minutes more. (If you would like more char on the burger, move it to the direct-heat side of the grill for 1 to 2 minutes per side.) Transfer to a plate.
• Brush the cut sides of the bread with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill on the direct-heat side of the grill until the bread has grill marks and is nicely toasted, about 3 minutes.
• Put the bottom half of the bread on a large serving platter or cutting board. Spread with half the mustard sauce. Put the burger on top and top with the tomatoes, onions, pickles and bacon. Spread the top of the bread with the remaining mustard sauce and fill with the lettuce. Put the top on the burger and cut into 8 wedges.

JUICY LUCY MEATBALL BURGER

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Mix the meatball mix, parsley, Parmesan, fennel, 2 of the garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of pepper in a large bowl. Divide the mixture into 4 equal balls. Working with one ball at a time, divide it in half and flatten to make 2 patties about 5 inches in diameter. Fold 2 slices of mozzarella into quarters and place into the center of the patty. Top with the other patty and press the meat together very tightly, forming a large patty shape with the cheese secured inside. Repeat with the remaining balls and 6 of the cheese slices. (At this point, you can freeze the burgers. Thaw in the refrigerator before cooking.)
• Cook the pancetta in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, flipping once, until the fat has released and it's crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove to a paper-towel-lined plate. Add the burgers to the pan and cook, flipping once and topping each patty with 1 slice of the remaining cheese with 1 minute of cooking time left. Cook until nicely golden brown and an instant-read thermometer registers 150 degrees F for medium, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl and stir in the remaining garlic. Place the hamburger buns onto a baking sheet and brush both sides with the garlic butter. Broil until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Spread 1 to 2 tablespoons marinara sauce on each bottom half of the buns. Place a burger patty on top of the bottom half of the bun. Then top each burger with a spoonful of marinara, 2 pieces of pancetta, a sprinkle of Parmesan and the top half of the bun.