Grilled Juicy Lucy Burger Food

JUICY LUCY BURGER

Steps:

• Preheat your grill. Start by preheating your grill to 400 degrees F with an indirect cooking zone. Charcoal grills will require two zone heat with coals on one side and none on the other. Propane grills will have one side of the burners set to high and the other side with the burners off. Pellet grills will just be preheated to 400 degrees F since they are already indirect grills.
• Prepare your juicy Lucy patties. Divide your ground beef into 12 equal portions. Press each portion into a patty that is slightly larger than the size of your buns. Turn up the edges of 6 of the patties to create a basin in the meat. Fill the 6 patties that have the edges turned up with a slice of American, mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese. You may need to break your cheese slices into pieces to get them to fit in the basin. Top each cheese filled patty with a flat patty. Tightly seal the edges of the meat together so there are no holes or gaps.
• Season the juicy Lucy burgers. Sprinkle each patty with Beef Seasoning until lightly and evenly coated.
• Grill the burgers. Place your stuffed burgers on the indirect heat side of your grill (the side where the coals or the burners are off). Close the lid and cook your burgers for about 6 minutes. Open the lid and flip the burgers once. Close the lid and finish cooking the burgers until an internal thermometer reads 160 degrees F for well-done burgers. Remove the patties to your serving platter.
• Toast the buns. Place the buns on the direct heat side of the grill and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until toasted to your desired doneness.
• Assemble your juicy Lucy burgers. Top your buns with your favorite burger condiments and toppings and enjoy!

JUICY LUCY

Steps:

• Lightly mix 6 ounces ground beef chuck with a big pinch of kosher salt. Form into two equal balls, and then shape into two flat patties. Lay two slices American cheese between them and form the meat around the cheese; make an indentation in the center of the patty. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat; sprinkle the skillet with salt. Cook the burger 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve on a soft bun.

SPICY CHEDDAR JUICY LUCIES

Steps:

• Combine the beef, 1 tablespoon sriracha (or more if you're feeling spicy), 1 teaspoon salt and a few good turns of pepper in a large bowl. Mix with your hands to combine, being careful not to overmix. Divide into 4 parts, roll into balls and create a large divot in the center of each. Fill each divot with an equal amount of cheese. Seal in the cheese and press into patties. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.
• Lightly oil a cast-iron pan or grill and heat over medium-high heat. Grill the burgers to desired doneness, 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Lightly butter the buns. Grill the buns until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a medium cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and melt. Add the onions and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes.
• To serve: I like this order: bun, large squiggle of mayo, lettuce, tomato, meat, smiley face of sriracha, onions, bun. Enjoy!

JUICY LUCY BURGERS

Steps:

• Combine ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, and pepper in a large bowl; mix well. Form 8, thin patties from the beef. Each patty should be slightly larger than a slice of cheese.
• Cut each slice of American cheese into 4 equal pieces; stack the pieces. Sandwich one stack of cheese between 2 ground beef patties. Tightly pinch edges together tightly seal the cheese within the meat. Repeat with the remaining cheese and patties.
• Preheat a cast-iron or other heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Cook burgers until well browned, about 4 minutes. It is common for burgers to puff up due to steam from the melting cheese. Turn burgers and prick the top of each to allow steam to escape; cook until browned on the outside and no longer pink on the inside; about 4 minutes. Serve on hamburger buns.

CHEF JOHN'S JUICY LUCY

Steps:

• Divide beef into two 3-ounce balls. Lightly moisten fingertips with water and press beef into patties about 1/4-inch thick. Drop Worcestershire sauce over patties; rub in lightly. Sprinkle garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and cayenne on top and rub in.
• Cut a circle of cheese using a pastry cutter or the rim of a glass. Place cheese onto 1 patty; cover with the other patty. Press edges together carefully. Flip and continue pressing until fully sealed. Season both sides with a little salt.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patty for 5 minutes per side for medium doneness. Place patty on one half of a bun. Top with tomato, lettuce, and the other half of the bun.

JUICY LUCY BURGER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together 2 teaspoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Divide the beef into four equal portions, then halve each of those portions. Gently roll each portion into a ball using the palm of your hand, then flatten each into a disk shape on a large cutting board, pressing with your fingers and palm until just over 4 inches wide and 1/4-inch thick. Repeat to form eight patties. Season both sides of each patty with the salt-and-pepper blend.
• Add one slice cheese to the center of one patty, folding any overhanging corners of the cheese inward. Using a spatula, lift another patty from the cutting board and place it on top of the cheese, pressing gently to connect both patties. Gently pinch the edges of the patties together to thoroughly seal, then use your fingers to round the edges by pressing and patting along the perimeter. Repeat with the remaining patties, forming three more burgers, and set aside.
• In a large (preferably 12-inch) cast-iron skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; sprinkle with sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, adding 2 tablespoons water about every 5 minutes to prevent burning, until tender and caramelized, about 20 minutes. Once the onions are caramelized, transfer them to a bowl. (If you have any bits left in the pan, wipe them out.)
• Add the oil to the skillet to lightly coat the bottom and heat over medium-high until scalding-hot, about 2 minutes. Add the burgers and cook until seared and dark brown on the outside, 3 to 5 minutes per side. (You'll want to let the burgers cook undisturbed as long as possible to develop a crisp sear and to prevent them from splitting. Their insides will cook through by the time the outsides form a proper sear. Resist the urge to cut them open, as the cheese will spurt out.) Transfer burgers to a clean cutting board to rest.
• Meanwhile, toast the buns: Scrape up and remove from the pan any cheese that may have leaked, leaving a thin layer of accumulated fat in the pan. Reduce the heat to medium. Working in batches, toast the buns cut-side down until warmed and toasted in spots, about 1 minute. Form sandwiches by layering pickles, patties, then caramelized onions on buns. Serve immediately.