5best2buy
The Recipe · No.68 · The Cheeseburger

The Cheeseburger, and where to source it

The Cheeseburger — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM The Cheeseburger American 5best2buy.com

A burger is beef, cheese, and bread, so the meat is where the money goes. Get the pan ripping hot and press the patty thin once so the crust sears instead of steaming.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep10 min
Cook10 min
Makes4 burgers
CuisineAmerican
Cost$$$
Gluten-free
Contains  dairy
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 4 burgers
Ground beef
80/20 chuck from pastured cattle; the fat is what browns and drips.
1 lb
Cheese slices
A real melting cheese drapes over the patty instead of sitting on it.
4 slices
Burger buns
A soft bun that toasts without turning to cardboard.
4 buns
Dill pickles
Crisp brined pickles cut the fat with acid.
8 slices
Yellow onion
Thin raw rings, or griddle them soft first.
1/2 onion

Using ground beef? It behaves the way it does for a reason — what this cut is for and how to cook it →

The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge
A light hand — your arteries say thanks.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
Stovetop
The Method
  1. PortionDivide the beef into four loose balls. Do not pack them; a tight patty cooks up tough.
  2. SearHeat a cast-iron or griddle until a drop of water skates, then press each ball flat with a spatula and season the top.
  3. FlipCook 2 to 3 minutes until the edges are lacy and brown, flip once, and lay on the cheese.
  4. MeltCover for 30 seconds to melt the cheese; the patty is done at 160F internal.
  5. BuildToast the buns cut-side down on the griddle, then stack patty, pickles, and onion.
The Toolkit

Cast-iron skillet · Burger spatula · Instant thermometer

Straight Answers
Can you make The Cheeseburger in an air fryer? — Sometimes

Sometimes — if the pieces are small and cooked dry, an air fryer can handle it in a single layer; anything saucy or liquid needs a pan. When in doubt, the stovetop or oven is the safe call.

Can you freeze The Cheeseburger? — Yes

Yes — cool it, portion into airtight containers, and freeze; thaw in the fridge and reheat.

Can you make The Cheeseburger ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it needs the chill time to set, so making it ahead is the whole point.

Is The Cheeseburger gluten-free? — Yes

Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.

Is The Cheeseburger vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.

Loading notes…

Notes are public and posted as written. Be kind, no links. Spam and abuse get removed.

More American recipes
MeatloafRoast ChickenPulled PorkCornbreadBiscuits and GravyTuna Melt
All American recipes →  ·  Browse all 1433 →
One list, with a link to where to buy each one.

Some ingredient and tool links are affiliate links — if you buy through one, 5best2buy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never costs the maker anything, and it never decides who we recommend. The list is the list.
© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.68

Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →