All Star BBQ Cheeseburgers bring together two American cookout favorites: juicy cheeseburgers and smoky barbecue sauce. The rise of backyard grilling after World War II helped turn the hamburger into a summertime staple, while bottled barbecue sauces made it easy for home cooks to add bold flavor to everyday meals. In this vintage recipe, barbecue sauce is mixed directly into the ground beef along with shallot, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper, giving every bite extra flavor. The patties are grilled, topped with American cheese, and served on hamburger buns with lettuce, tomato, and onion. Simple, hearty, and unmistakably American, these burgers are perfect for summer cookouts, family dinners, and casual gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs lean ground beef
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- 2 tbsp barbecue sauce
- 1 shallot (minced, about ⅓ cup)
- ¼ cup flat-leaf parsley (chopped)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 4 slices American cheese (about 4 oz)
- 4 green-leaf lettuce leaves
- 4 tomato slices
- 4 onion slices (Bermuda or Spanish preferred)
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Burger Mixture
- 1 ½ lbs lean ground beef, ¼ cup barbecue sauce, 1 shallot, ¼ cup flat-leaf parsley, ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepperCombine the ground beef, ¼ cup barbecue sauce, minced shallot, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Gently shape the mixture into 4 patties.
Step 2: Grill the Burgers
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.
- Grill the patties until browned and cooked through, approximately 4 to 6 minutes per side, or until the centers reach 160°F.
Step 3: Add the Barbecue Sauce and Cheese
- 2 tbsp barbecue sauceBrush the remaining 2 tbsp barbecue sauce over both sides of the patties.
- 4 slices American cheesePlace one slice of American cheese on each burger during the final minute of cooking.
- Grill until the cheese melts.
Step 4: Assemble the Cheeseburgers
- 4 hamburger bunsPlace each burger on the bottom half of a hamburger bun.
- 4 green-leaf lettuce leaves, 4 tomato slices, 4 onion slicesTop each with a lettuce leaf, tomato slice, and onion slice.
- Cover with the top half of the bun and serve immediately.
Tips
- Handle the ground beef mixture gently to keep the finished burgers tender and juicy.
- Make a shallow indentation in the center of each patty before grilling to help prevent it from puffing up.
- For a smokier burger, use a hickory- or mesquite-style barbecue sauce.
- Substitute cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper Jack for the American cheese.
- Toast the hamburger buns briefly on the grill for extra texture and flavor.
- Add sliced pickles for a tangy contrast to the sweet barbecue sauce.
- For extra barbecue flavor, serve additional sauce alongside the finished burgers.
- Prepare and shape the patties a few hours ahead, refrigerating them until you're ready to grill.
- For a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne or chopped jalapeño to the beef mixture.
Nutrition
Calories: 640kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 46gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 1180mgPotassium: 720mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 900IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 260mgIron: 5mg