Cheeseburger Zucchini Pie Food

CHEESEBURGER SALAD

Steps:

• Brown the meat in a large skillet over medium heat, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove it from the heat and drain off the fat. Add the ketchup, barbecue sauce and mustards to the meat and stir to combine. Taste and add more of whatever you think it needs. Keep warm.
• Melt 1/4 stick (2 tablespoons) of the butter in a separate skillet over low heat, then add the bun cubes and toss to coat. Toast the croutons in the skillet over low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, adding 1/4 stick (2 tablespoons) of butter every couple of minutes until you've used the whole stick. (This will ensure all the croutons soak up the butter and toast nicely.)
• To assemble: Pile some torn lettuce on each plate. Pile on a good quantity of the meat mixture, then top with plenty of grated Cheddar. Add diced tomato, chunks of pickles and slices of red onion over the top. Finish by sprinkling warm croutons all around the plate. Serve immediately.

PIMENTO CHEESEBURGER

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat.
• Put the onions in a medium bowl and cover with ice water. Let the onions soak 10 minutes while you prep the patties and pimento sauce.
• Combine the beef with 2 tablespoons of the Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl. Form the meat mixture into eight 3-ounce patties. A quick and easy way to do this is to divide the mixture into 8 piles. Place a pile on top of a deli container lid. Place the top of a second deli container lid against the pile, press down evenly and firmly and watch as a perfect patty forms. Repeat with the remaining meat mixture. Make a slight indentation in the middle of each patty with your thumb to keep the patty from shrinking as it cooks. Set aside.
• Add the cream cheese, pimentos, mayonnaise, cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1 teaspoon Worcestershire to a medium bowl and stir until well combined. Drain the onions and pat dry.
• Lightly brush the grill grates with oil. Grill the patties, indentation-side up, until marked on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Flip and grill until marked on the second side and slightly firm, about 2 minutes more for medium rare. Top each patty with 1 slice cheese, cover the grill and cook until melted, about 1 minute. Remove to a plate and let rest for a few minutes. Toast the buns cut-side down, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Top each bottom bun with 2 burgers. Top the burgers with lettuce and the onions and spread the inside of the top buns with the pimento sauce. Top the burgers with the top buns and secure with a toothpick if desired. Serve with dill pickle and French fries.

CHEESEBURGER POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• For the toasted sesame buns: Set the oven to broil. Toss the sesame bun chunks on a sheet pan with the oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Broil until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
• For the cheeseburger potato soup: In a large Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 7 minutes. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to cool, then roughly chop. Set aside.
• Add the beef and a pinch of salt to the Dutch oven and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned, 4 to 5 minutes (it will continue to cook through). Add the onion, carrot, celery and a good pinch of salt and pepper and cook until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and mustard powder and cook for another minute. Add the potatoes, stock, parsley, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a bunch of turns of pepper and bring to a boil, then simmer until the potatoes are tender (pierce with a fork to check), 30 to 40 minutes.
• Add the heavy cream and 8 ounces cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.
• Finish the soup with the pickle brine. Taste and adjust for seasoning as desired. Ladle the soup into bowls, then top with some of the remaining shredded cheese, pickles, bacon, a drizzle of ketchup, mayo if you're freaky, and toasted sesame buns.

THE BEST BACON CHEESEBURGER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, relish and vinegar in a small bowl; set aside.
• Working in batches if necessary, add the bacon to a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Cook, flipping halfway through, until crisp and golden, about 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a nonstick baking sheet. Discard the bacon fat (or save for another use) and wipe the skillet clean but do not wash. Heat over medium-high heat until very hot, about 5 minutes.
• Add the buns split-side up to the baking sheet with the bacon and bake until the buns are toasted, about 5 minutes.
• Loosely form the beef into 4 balls. Add one ball of beef to the skillet and press firmly to flatten with a large flat metal spatula for 10 seconds, then gently remove the spatula. Sprinkle the patty generously with salt; repeat with the remaining beef balls, cooking in batches if necessary. Let cook, undisturbed, until well browned on the bottoms, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the patties, sprinkle with more salt and top each with a slice of Cheddar. Continue cooking until the cheese is melted around the edges and the bottoms are browned, about 2 more minutes.
• Spread the mayonnaise mixture on the bun tops. Serve the patties on the bottom buns topped with the bacon, onion, tomato and lettuce.

ONE-POT CHEESEBURGER MACARONI

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened 6 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the chili powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes (if using), 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and stir to combine. Add the beef and break it up into small pieces with a large spoon; cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is cooked through and no longer pink in the center, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and Dijon until combined. Pour in the chicken stock and 1 teaspoon salt, stir to combine and bring to a boil, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the elbow macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and the pasta is al dente, 9 to 11 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Cheddar and cream cheese until smooth. Fold in the parsley. Garnish with more parsley, if desired.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

CHEESY CHEESEBURGERS

Steps:

• Divide the beef into 4 equal portions. Press a cube of pepper jack into the center of each and shape the meat around the cheese; form into patties, about 4 inches wide and 3/4 inch thick. Season the patties with salt and pepper.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook until browned on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Flip the patties and top each with a slice of Cheddar; cook 4 to 5 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast the hamburger buns and spread with ketchup, mustard and/or mayonnaise. Fill with the burgers and top with lettuce, tomato and/or red onion. Serve with pickles.