Ultimate Cheese-Stuffed Burgers

By Food & Wine

"I love meat loaf, but I hate that it's cooked all the way through," says chef Jamie Bissonnette. For these burgers, he mixes beef with ingredients you might use for meat loaf, like pickles. On top: a ketchup he doctors with hoisin (for sweetness), lime juice (for tang) and soy sauce (for umami).
Best Burgers in the U.S.

Ultimate Cheese-Stuffed Burgers
Ultimate Cheese-Stuffed Burgers

Cheesy Burgers with Soy-Spiked Ketchup

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons ketchup
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons ancho chile powder
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck, preferably 80 or 85 percent lean
1/2 cup shredded Colby cheese
1/4 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons minced kosher pickles
2 tablespoons plain dry bread crumbs
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco
Canola oil, for brushing
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
6 potato hamburger buns, split and toasted
Mayonnaise, lettuce and sliced red onion, for serving

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of the ketchup with the soy sauce, hoisin, lime juice and ancho chile powder.
2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with the cheese, minced red onion, pickles, bread crumbs, garlic, Tabasco and the remaining 2 tablespoons of ketchup. Knead gently until thoroughly mixed. Form the meat into six 4-inch patties, about 1/2 inch thick.
3. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. Brush the burgers with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over moderately high heat, turning once, until lightly charred outside and medium-rare within, about 3 minutes.
4. Spread the cut sides of the buns with mayonnaise. Place lettuce on the buns then top with the burgers. Spread some of the spiked ketchup on the patties and top with sliced onion. Close the burgers and serve, passing additional spiked ketchup at the table.

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