Cheeseburger Deluxe

Ingredients

• Ground beef (1 pound (preferably 80/20 for juiciness))
• Salt (1 teaspoon)
• Pepper (1/2 teaspoon)
• Cheddar cheese (4 slices)
• Hamburger buns (4, toasted)
• Lettuce (4 leaves (romaine or iceberg))
• Tomato (1, sliced)
• Onion (1, sliced (red or white, to taste))
• Pickles (1/2 cup (sliced))
• Mayonnaise (2 tablespoons)
• Ketchup (2 tablespoons)
• Mustard (1 tablespoon)

Instructions

1. Preheat your grill or skillet over medium-high heat.
2. In a mixing bowl, season the ground beef with salt and pepper. Gently form the beef into 4 equal patties, making a small indentation in the center of each to prevent puffing during cooking.
3. Cook the patties for 4-5 minutes on each side, or until they reach your desired level of doneness (135°F for medium-rare, 160°F for medium).
4. During the last minute of cooking, place a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty and cover the grill or skillet with a lid to allow the cheese to melt.
5. While the patties are cooking, prepare the special sauce by mixing together the mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard in a small bowl.
6. Spread the special sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun.
7. Once the patties are cooked and the cheese has melted, place each patty on the sauce-covered buns.
8. Top each burger with a piece of lettuce, a slice of tomato, onion rings, and pickles.
9. Cover with the top half of the bun, serve hot, and enjoy your Cheeseburger Deluxe!