Old-Fashioned Cheeseburgers

Skip the drive-through and get classic burger taste at home. Everyday Food editor Sarah Carey shows you how easy it is and shares her trick for getting the juiciest patties.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef chuck (20 percent fat)
4 teaspoons softened butter
4 hamburger buns, split
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 slices melting cheese, such as American or mild cheddar
Toppings, such as shredded iceberg lettuce, pickle chips, thinly sliced red onion, mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise

Directions

Heat broiler. Divide beef into 4 rounds and place each between two layers of plastic wrap. Using a rolling pin, roll beef into 1/4-inch-thick patties. Butter inside of each bun. Place on a baking sheet, buttered side up, and toast under broiler.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet or griddle over high. Generously season patties on both sides with salt and pepper. Working in batches, cook burgers 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and top each with cheese; cover and cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Place burgers on buns and serve with desired toppings.

Cook’s Note

Beef chuck with 20 percent fat makes for juicy burgers. The meat shrinks as it cooks, so form it into wide patties.

Our friend Sarah Carey, editor-in-chief of Everyday Food Magazine just launched her delicious “How-To” series on YouTube. A 13-year veteran of the Martha Stewart test kitchen, Sarah is an expert in converting culinary classics into easy and convenient meals for the family.

Tune in to Sarah’s Everyday Food YouTube Channel Monday through Friday as Sarah introduces viewers to fresh meal ideas like Simple Potato Gnocchi, Crispy Beef Tacos, Fudgy Pecan Brownies and Glazed Citrus Doodles.