The humble cheeseburger traces its origins to the late 19th century, when cattle ranching began on the grasslands of North America’s Great Plains. For the first time, the average American was able to eat beef on a regular basis. The hamburger was then and still is one of the least expensive beef options in the American diet. Cheese added to hamburgers became popular in the late 1920s. Lionel Sternberger, then age 16, claimed to have created the first cheeseburger in 1926 at his father’s sandwich shop in Pasadena, California. Today cheeseburgers are popular throughout the US.
Recipe Servings: 6
Prep Time
15 minutes
+ 3 minutes resting
+ 3 minutes resting
Cook Time
10 minutes
Total Time
28 minutes
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Kosher
Halal
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 6 slices American cheese
- 6 hamburger buns
- Toppings, as desired
Directions
- Mix together the ground beef, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until just combined.
- Divide the meat into six equal portions and form them each into a thick patty.
- Preheat a grill, grill pan, or skillet to high heat and then add the patties. If using a grill, cover with the lid. If using a pan, cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Cook them for about 2 minutes until a crust forms on the bottom of the patties, releasing them from the pan or grate. When burgers lift easily, flip them, top each with a slice of cheese, close lid if using a grill, and cook 2–3 minutes for medium to medium-rare.
- Transfer patties to a plate using a spatula and let them rest for 3–5 minutes before placing them on the bottom halves of the buns.
- Garnish patties with desired toppings, place the top halves of the buns over the toppings, and serve immediately.
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