Diner-Style American Cheeseburger
By Joe
Source: Serious Eats and America's Test Kitchen.
A diner-style cheeseburger with silky melted American cheese and a tangy homemade sauce in every bite.
Always check the labels of the products you use.
Method
- 1
Shape the patties. Divide 600g cold beef mince into four 150g portions and shape into patties 11-12cm wide and about 1.5cm thick, slightly wider than the bun to allow for shrinkage. Press a shallow dimple into the centre of each so they stay flat as they cook. Keep the handling light so the mince stays tender.
- 2
Chill before cooking. Chill the patties for 10 minutes before they go anywhere near the pan. This firms the fat so the shape holds and gives a quicker, more even sear once cooking starts.
- 3
Stir the diner sauce. Stir together mayo, ketchup, finely chopped pickles, mustard and paprika in a small bowl, then chill while the patties cook. A short rest in the fridge lets the flavours meld into one tangy, well-rounded sauce.
- 4
Season just before cooking. Season both sides of each patty with salt and pepper right before cooking, not while shaping. Early salting toughens mince into a springy texture rather than a tender one.
- 5
Toast the buns. Toast the buttered cut sides of the buns in the pan over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until golden, then set aside. This protects the bread from turning soggy once the sauce and juicy patty go in.
- 6
Sear the first side. Heat the pan over medium-high for 3 minutes, add 1 tsp of oil, then add the patties (2 at a time, or all 4 in a 30cm pan) and leave untouched for 4 minutes. Look for a deep, even brown crust that releases easily from the pan before flipping.
- 7
Flip and add the cheese. Flip each patty once and cook for 3 more minutes, laying a slice of American cheese on top for the final 1-1.5 minutes under a lid. American cheese contains emulsifying salts, so the slice melts into a smooth, even layer rather than breaking apart. The patties are done at 71°C in the centre.
- 8
Rest briefly. Move the patties to a warm plate and let them rest for 2 minutes. This brief pause keeps the juices in the meat instead of pooling out as soon as you cut in.
- 9
Build the burger. Spread the diner sauce on both cut sides of the bun, then layer shredded lettuce on the bottom, the cheesy patty on top, and finish with diced white onion and pickles. The sauce on both halves means every bite gets that tangy hit, not just the top.
Storage
Cooked patties keep covered in the fridge for up to 2 days, or frozen without buns, sauce or toppings for up to 2 months. Reheat thoroughly until piping hot and 74°C at the centre before serving. Cool leftovers in a shallow container and refrigerate within 2 hours (within 1 hour on a day above 32°C).
EU nutrition claims
- Source of protein: 4.7 g protein per 100 kcal, about 19% of energy (needs ≥ 12%)
- Low sugars: 2.8 g sugars per 100 g (limit ≤ 5 g)
Per 100 g of the finished dish, worked out from the nutrition per serving and the lowest likely cooked weight (about 243 g a serving), so the true values are, if anything, lower. Thresholds from the Annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. How we decide
Free sugars
5.8 g per serving
11.6 % of the 50 g daily maximum · 23.2 % of the ideal 25 g
Free sugars under 50 g a day, ideally about 25 g, based on WHO free-sugar guidance (not endorsed by WHO). The share shown is the share of one serving. WHO
Equipment
- large heavy frying pan or cast-iron skillet (at least 26 cm)
- lid or large upturned heatproof bowl
- metal spatula
- instant-read thermometer
Nutrition per serving Calculated from USDA FoodData Central
| Per serving | Amount |
|---|---|
| Energy | 768 kcal |
| Protein | 35.9 g |
| Carbohydrate | 34.8 g |
| of which sugars | 6.7 g |
| of which free sugars | 5.8 g |
| Fat | 53.1 g |
| of which saturates | 18.7 g |
| Fibre | 1.7 g |
| Salt | 3.05 g |
Protein per 100 kcal
4.7 g High protein needs ≥ 5 g per 100 kcal (20% of energy) and ≥ 10 g per serving
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values
