Introduction: Restaurant Grade Cheeseburger: Overview

Total Servings: 1 cheeseburger
Estimated Time: 20 minutes · Prep Time: 10 minutes · Cooking Time: 10 minutes Difficulty Level: intermediate Estimated Cost: $16.45 · Includes all ingredients required to make a cheeseburger

Step 1: Gather Materials

-2 Sesame Buns (1 top and 1 bottom bun)

  • Guten Free substitution: Udi’s Classic hamburger buns
  • ⅓ pound raw hamburger patty
  • 2 square slices colby jack cheese

-Non-dairy or vegan substitution: 2 slices of Kite Hill Ricotta Cheese

  • ¼ cup fresh shredded lettuce
  • 1 Beefsteak tomato, sliced
  • 5-6 slices of sweet pickles
  • 1 Tablespoon of Chipotle Ranch
  • Seasoning: 1/2 tbsp of salt, 1/2 tbsp of fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 cup of lukewarm water in squirt bottle
  • Grill
  • Slotted turner spatula
  • Dishes for prep/product

-3 food containers (for any leftovers)

-3 plates

-Plates, containers

  • Metal lid/cover
  • Optional: safety gloves for cooking
  • Optional: stiff wire brush (to clean the grill)

Step 2: Burger Seasoning

-Add burger

-Seasonings: 1/2 tbsp of salt, 1/2 tbsp of fresh ground black pepper.

  • Combine salt and pepper into a container and mix until even before sprinkling onto hamburger patty.
  • Sprinkle salt and pepper onto hamburger patty.
  • See Figure 2 for demonstration.

Step 3: Grill Prep and Dropping the Patty.

-Set ⅓ pound of raw ground beef on a flat top iron grill.
Once the grill has reached 375 degrees Fahrenheit, the ground beef may be laid flat on the grill in a circular shape. Refer to the oven/grill safety suggestions during this step to ensure no injuries.

-Press down on hamburger patty with iron twice, at perpendicular angles. Set iron on the hamburger patty and press down to create lines in the hamburger. Lift the iron, rotate iron 90 degrees, set on hamburger, and press to create new lines in the hamburger. This will ensure even cooking of the hamburger patty. Note the crisscross pattern from the iron as shown.

-When liquid appears on top of the burger, flip using the turner spatula. When the burger is ready to be flipped, moisture will appear on the top of the hamburger. Use the turner spatula (not your hands) to flip the hamburger patty onto its uncooked flat side.

Step 4: Grill Accessories

-Add the bun to the grill top to toast.


-Place the top and bottom sesame buns (or Udi’s Classic Hamburger buns) for the hamburger on the grill. The insides of the buns should be touching the grill, while the outsides of the buns are facing upwards.

-Add two crossed slices of colby jack cheese (or cheese substitutions).
About 2-3 minutes after the hamburger has been flipped, place two square pieces of colby jack cheese (or Kite Hill Ricotta Cheese) on the top of the hamburger patty. The second piece of cheese should be rotated 45 degrees from the angle of the first slice of cheese. If more cheese is desired, a third piece may be added.

Step 5: Melting Cheese

-Place the lid over the burger.

-Squirt water under the lid to steam the cheese. Refer back to the oven safety guidelines while performing this step. Lift the lid covering the hamburger and squirt the hamburger and cheese 1-2 times with a squirt bottle. Then, cover the hamburger again.

Step 6: Toasted Bun, Pt.2

-Remove the bun from the grill and place on a plate.

-Remove the lid from the flat top.

Step 7: Additions Pt.1

-Place lettuce and tomatoes on the bottom bun.
A. Add a handful (about ¼ cup) of shredded lettuce on the bottom bun. Spread lettuce evenly across the top of the bottom bun.

B. Place 2-3 slices of the beefsteak tomato on top of the lettuce. See figure 8 for an example.

Step 8: Main Assembly

-Move the hamburger patty on top of the lettuce.
-Use the slotted turner spatula to move the grilled hamburger patty. Carefully place the hamburger on top of the lettuce and tomatoes, with the cheese side of the hamburger facing upwards. Beware of the heat of the hamburger.

Step 9: Additions Pt.3

-Add pickles and Chipotle ranch on top of hamburger patty.
1. Add 5-6 slices of sweet pickles to the top of the hamburger patty. 2. Squirt about a Tablespoon of Chipotle Ranch across the top of the hamburger. Make sure that it is spread over the top, rather than in one spot.

Step 10: Top It Off

-Place top bun on the burger.
(Place the top bun on top of the pickles with the grilled side of the hamburger bun facing downwards.)

Step 11: Observe Your Creation.

Enjoy your burger you have now created!

Step 12: Troubleshooting

-Tough Burger

  • If the burger patty seems too dry when eaten, try to use more spray when patty is still on the grill.

-Undercooked Burger

  • If the burger patty is undercooked, keep the hamburger on the grill for another 2-3 minutes to ensure that it is fully cooked.

-Do not Touch your Burgers

  • Once you have placed the uncooked patty on the grill make sure you let it sit and leave it alone. Excessive flipping or poking can affect how well the patty gets cooked. This can lead to undercooked meat which is not safe to consume.