All-American Backyard Burger

⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes • 🍳 Cook Time: 10 minutes

Nothing screams summer (or comfort food, honestly) like a thick, juicy All-American Burger stacked with melty cheese, crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, tangy pickles, and a slather of ketchup and mustard. Whether you're grilling in the backyard or cooking on a stovetop skillet, this recipe brings the diner vibes right to your kitchen.

Juicy classic All-American cheeseburgers stacked with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles, on toasted sesame seed buns with a side of fries.

The beauty of an All-American Burger is its simplicity—just good quality beef, classic condiments, and a few fresh toppings. This recipe is all about balance: rich, savory patties paired with crunchy lettuce, juicy tomato, sharp onion, and those signature pickles that bring everything to life. It’s the kind of burger that never goes out of style, and it works for every occasion from weeknight dinners to backyard BBQs.

You can make the patties ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze them to make dinner even easier. Just be sure to let them come to room temperature before cooking so they sear evenly. Toasting the buns with a little butter adds flavor and helps prevent sogginess—definitely a pro tip worth following.

Whether you're keeping things classic or dressing it up with extra toppings, this burger delivers serious flavor and satisfying crunch in every bite. Serve it with fries, chips, coleslaw, or even a pickle spear if you’re going full diner-style.

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🍽️ Servings: 4 • 🔥 Calories/Serving: 620

Ingredients

• 1½ lbs ground beef (80/20 for juicy patties)

• 1 tsp kosher salt

• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

• 4 slices American or cheddar cheese

• 4 sesame seed burger buns

• 1 tbsp butter (for toasting buns)

• 4 leaves romaine or iceberg lettuce

• 1 large tomato, sliced

• ½ red onion, thinly sliced

• 12 slices dill pickle

• 4 tbsp ketchup

• 2 tbsp yellow mustard

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Steps

Step 1

Divide ground beef into 4 equal portions and gently form into patties, about ¾-inch thick. Press a small indent in the center of each to prevent puffing.

Step 2

Season both sides with salt and pepper.

Step 3

Preheat grill or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot.

Step 4

Place patties on grill/skillet and cook for 3–4 minutes on the first side without moving.

Step 5

Flip and cook for another 2–3 minutes, adding cheese slices during the last minute to melt.

Step 6

While burgers cook, butter the insides of buns and toast them on the grill or skillet until golden.

Step 7

Assemble: Spread ketchup and mustard on bottom buns. Add lettuce, burger patty with melted cheese, tomato, onion, and pickles. Top with bun and serve hot.

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Make it your own!

• 🥓 Add bacon
  Crispy bacon strips take it up a notch—layer them right under the cheese.

• 🥑 Go California-style
  Add sliced avocado and swap ketchup for a swipe of mayo.

• 🧅 Caramelize your onions
  Sauté onions low and slow in butter until golden and sweet for a gourmet touch.

• 🍄 Make it mushroomy
  Sauté mushrooms in garlic and thyme and pile them on top for an earthy flavor twist.

• 🍞 Swap the bun
  Try brioche, pretzel buns, or even lettuce wraps if you're low-carb-ing.

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Try it with…

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