Grilled Cheese Burger

As the name suggests, this grilled cheese burger takes two classic sandwiches—grilled cheese and cheeseburger—and smashes them together. The familiar beef-and-cheese combo of a classic cheeseburger is here, but it’s cooked between buttered pieces of bread in a hot skillet, as you do with a grilled cheese. This sandwich is actually very close to a classic patty melt, another timeless sandwich recipe made with ground beef. A true patty melt, however, also contains sauteed onions and a rich, tangy burger sauce.

A grilled cheese burger is the prime antidote for chilly days when you need something quick, hearty and warming, or for when you’re bouncing back from a bug and need a little taste of childhood comfort. Need some speedy game day snacks? Cut these sammies up into smaller triangle pieces, and enjoy them as casual appetizers. Just add chips and dips!

Grilled Cheese Burger Ingredients

• Ground beef: You’ll want one pound of ground beef for these burger patties. Not sure which type of ground beef is best for burgers? It depends on your preferences. There’s no single right blend to use, but for pan-frying these patties, you might lean toward a lower-fat blend.
• Patty seasonings: This sandwich is half about the burger, and you want a patty with loads of savory flavor. This recipe calls upon dried minced onion, Worcestershire sauce, salt, garlic powder and pepper for a solid foundation of umami and savory flavors.
• Butter: Your burger patties are seasoned with salt, and your cheese will naturally be salty, so you can use unsalted butter on the bread in this recipe. But if you like that instant salt sensation on the tip of your tongue when you bite into something, go for salted butter.
• White bread: White bread is the classic choice for a grilled cheese sandwich. Its browning power and ability to form that crispy-topped toast make it perfect here.
• Cheddar cheese: Cheddar is among the best melting cheeses you can pick from, and it’s one of the standards in both grilled cheese sandwiches and cheeseburgers.

Directions

Step 1: Form the beef patties

Preheat a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, minced onion, Worcestershire, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Shape the mixture evenly into four patties.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t overmix your beef mixture here, or you risk winding cup with tough and dense patties once they’re cooked.

Step 2: Cook the patties

Place the patties in the hot skillet. Cook them for three to four minutes per side. Remove the patties from the skillet and set them aside.

Editor’s Tip: Cook the burgers to the level of your desired doneness here.

Step 3: Assemble and cook the grilled cheese burgers

Spread the butter evenly over one side of each bread slice. Working in batches, place a slice of bread in the skillet, butter side down. Add a slice of cheddar, then a burger patty, and then top with a second slice of cheese. Top with a second slice of bread, butter side up. Cook two to three minutes per side or until the bread is browned and toasted and the cheese is melted. Slice the grilled cheese burgers in half, and serve them.

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

Grilled Cheese Burger Variations

• Use a different bread: No need to stick with white bread if another type of bread is calling to you. Wheat, sourdough or seeded bread would all work great. Or, go with a hamburger bun for round sandwiches, or brioche for additional richness in your bread.
• Choose a different cheese: Melting cheeses have different flavor profiles, so you can experiment with different cheeses on each sammy. Try provolone for a smooth melt and funky undertone, Gruyere for a nutty, caramelized flavor, or American cheese for that classic throwback feel.
• Try vegan patties: For a hearty meatless sammy, replace the beef patty with a plant-based burger patty like Impossible or Beyond Meat.
• Have fun with the toppings: Choose from a multitude of burger toppings to sandwich between the buns with the cheese before the sandwich hits the griddle.

How to Store Grilled Cheese Burgers

Cheeseburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches alike taste best when they’re enjoyed immediately. That said, you can store them in the refrigerator; just be prepared for the once-crisped bread to turn soggy as it sits in the fridge.

How long do grilled cheese burgers last?

To store your assembled and cooked grilled cheese burgers, cover them in foil or storage wrap, and store them in the fridge for up to four days.

How do you reheat grilled cheese burgers?

Reheat your grilled cheese burger on the stovetop in a heavy pan. Cook it for a couple of minutes over low heat, covered, to start to re-melt the cheese. Then, uncover the sandwich, crank up the heat, and give it a minute or so over higher heat to re-brown the toast.

Grilled Cheese Burger Tips

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

How long should you grill cheeseburgers?

In this recipe, we’re not grilling cheeseburgers, but if you want to cook these grilled cheese burgers on an actual grill, you can do that! Follow the recipe as directed, but cook your patties and assembled sandwiches on ungreased grates of a medium-heated grill. It will take about the same amount of time to cook your patties and sandwiches on the grill as on the stovetop. As always, check the temperature of your patties to be sure they’re cooked to your desired doneness.

What can you serve with grilled cheese burgers?

Your grilled cheese burgers will be great with something crisp like potato chips or pretzels, along with a couple of plant-forward dishes. For a fresh option, an apple and walnut salad features two common pairings for warm cheese: apples and walnuts. For a cooked, plant-forward side, try baked beans to match the gooey, savory notes of the sandwich.