Stuffed Burgers Are Full of Sharp, Cheesy Goodness — 3 Tasty Recipes for Father's Day
The secret to your best-ever burgers, especially for a Father's Day cookout, involves doing a key step backwards. Instead of placing cheese on top of the patties, simply stuff it inside of the meat. This trick works to evenly melt the cheese as the burger cooks on the grill, creating a sharp and gooey center. The melty cheese is also a nice surprise for guests when they take the first bite. To avoid cheese oozing onto the grates, we have a few chef's tips to ensure the cheddar or mozzarella stays within the patty. Here's how to make cheesy stuffed burgers that everyone — including the dads in your life — will rave over!
The ingredients in stuffed burgers
Stuffed burgers mostly consist of seasoned patties with cheese in the center. These patties are cooked in a pan or on the grill to the preferred temperature, then served on a bun with toppings and condiments. Stuffing burgers with cheese gives it more time to melt during the cooking process. This way you don't have to wait for the cheese to melt at the end, which could lead to the burger overcooking.
Best types of cheese to use for stuffed burgers
For best results, David Rose, executive chef at Omaha Steaks, prefers using flavorful picks that melt nicely such as cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, pepper jack or gouda. "Cheddar provides a sharp, tangy flavor, while mozzarella offers a mild and creamy texture," he explains. "Swiss cheese brings a nutty and slightly sweet taste, and pepper jack adds a spicy kick. Gouda is rich and slightly sweet — you really can't go wrong with any of them." Another worthwhile option cheese is pimiento cheese spread as it's deliciously tangy and softens as the burger cooks.
The key to keep stuffed burgers from falling apart
Cheese oozing out of the burger may cause it to burn on the outside and make cleaning the grates a hassle. Luckily, Chef Rose shares his easy two-step process to ensure the burgers are sealed with your favorite cheese.
Place the shredded or cubed cheese in the center of one thin patty, leaving enough space to form a border around the edges.
Top with another thin patty and seal the edges well to prevent the cheese from leaking during grilling.
It's worth noting that stuffed burgers are more delicate than regular patties. So, you'll want to avoid constantly flipping and pressing them on the grill to maintain their juiciness.
How to make stuffed burgers
Here, you'll find three stuffed burger recipes — each using a different type of cheese — to enjoy with sides like baked beans and potato salad.
Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers
This Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers recipe comes from Kirstyn Lipson, director of marketing at Verde Farms, and is perfect to dress up with lettuce, tomato and other fix-ins.
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef, preferably 80/20, at room temp.
? to ? cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper
Additional seasonings like garlic powder
4 burger buns
Desired condiments and toppings
Directions:
Yield: 4 servings
Heat grill for medium direct-heat cooking.
In medium bowl, gently mix ground beef salt, pepper and other seasonings (if using) until well-combined. Portion meat into 8 patties and flatten. Place cheese in center of 4 patties and cover remaining patties. Crimp sides to seal in cheese.
Grill burgers around 3? to 4 minutes per side. Check internal temperature and remove from grill once burgers reach preferred doneness.
Once cooked, transfer burgers to plate, cover with foil and rest 5 to 10 minutes. Serve each patty on bun with condiments and toppings. Enjoy!
Stuffed Caprese-Style Burgers
Below, Chef Marco of Galbani Cheese shares his Stuffed Caprese-Style Burgers recipe. Each patty contains creamy mozzarella that pairs nicely with toppings such as sweet tomatoes and earthy pesto.
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
4 large cubes of fresh mozzarella
4 burger buns (regular or ciabatta rolls)
Salt and pepper
Tomato slices
Basil pesto
Directions:
Yield: 4 servings
Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
In medium bowl, season ground beef with salt and pepper. Divide into 8 patties. Place mozzarella cube in 4 patties before topping with remaining patty and sealing edges.
Place burgers on grill and cook 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until meat reaches your desired temperature.
Remove from grill and rest 5 to 10 minutes. Place each on patty on bottom of bun and layer with tomato slices and pesto before topping with lid. Serve.
Pimento Cheese-Stuffed Burgers
Our test kitchen takes stuffed burgers to the next level by filling the patties with pimento cheese for a tangy and peppery twist.
Ingredients:
? cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. hot sauce
? tsp. soy sauce
? tsp. smoked paprika
1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, grated
? cup pimiento cheese
4 hamburger buns
Assorted toppings
Directions:
Yield: 4 servings
Heat grill for medium direct-heat cooking. In bowl, combine mayo, hot sauce, soy sauce and paprika. In bowl, mix ? cup sauce mixture with beef, onion, ? tsp. salt and ? tsp. pepper.
Divide beef into 8 pieces; shape into patties. Place 1 Tbs. pimiento cheese on each of 4 patties; top with remaining patties. Seal edges.
Grill 3 to 5 minutes per side; until burgers reach your desired level of doneness. Rest at least 5 minutes.
Serve on buns with remaining sauce and assorted toppings.
Continue reading for more hearty recipes!
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