Juicy Lucy

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A Juicy Lucy burger is made with cheese stuffed inside the patty rather than on top. This gives the burger a delicious, juicy flavor that will amaze your taste buds.

If you’re looking for a juicy, cheesy burger then you need to try a juicy lucy! It’s filled with gooey, melted American cheese in every bite. Want another type of stuffed burger? Give our Pepper Jack Cheese Stuffed Burgers or Bacon Cheddar Stuffed Burgers a try!

Close up of three juicy lucy burgers on a cutting board.

Juicy Lucy

Plain cheeseburgers are great, but what if you could do something to make them over the top delicious? Let’s talk about the Juicy Lucy.

A juicy lucy is a burger with cheese stuffed inside the patty rather than on top. This burger originated in Minnesota and is a popular regional dish that many enjoy today.

To make these cheese-stuffed burgers all you’ll need to do is follow the same steps as you would for a regular burger.

However, before you cook the patties, you’ll need to add your cheese between the two patties and seal it up. Then, cook them up like you would any other burger.

The end result is a delicious burger that has cheese oozing out of every bite. Top them with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

How To Make Juicy Lucy (Cheese Stuffed Burgers)

  1. Season the ground beef: Place the ground beef in a bowl, and season with salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix the meat with the seasonings without overworking. Divide the meat into 6 equal portions.
  2. Divide the burgers: Split each of the portions of beef into 2 pieces. Flatten both pieces into disc-shaped patties slightly larger than the hamburger bun you’re using.
  3. Stuff with cheese and seal: Take 2 slices of cheese and tear each slice into small pieces. Place the pieces into the center of one of the burger patties. Place the second patty over the cheese, and crimp the edges together making sure there are no cracks. Flip the burger over, gently press the burger down and crimp again to ensure it’s fully sealed. Using the back of a large spoon, press a small dimple into the middle of the burger to help it cook evenly.
  4. Cook the burgers: Once all of the burger patties have been made, melt the butter and olive oil in a cast-iron pan using low-medium heat. Once the pan is hot, work in batches and carefully transfer the stuffed burger patties to the pan and cook for approximately 4-5 minutes on each side or until the beef is cooked through to your liking.
  5. Top and serve: Once cooked, serve on hamburger buns with your favorite toppings. These burgers are best served immediately while warm.
Collage showing how to make a juicy lucy.

Recipe Tips

  1. When seasoning the beef, just mix until the seasonings are fully distributed to avoid overworking the meat. Overworking could cause it to become tough in texture.
  2. When forming the burger patties, make sure they are slightly larger than the burger buns you’re using to ensure they are the perfect size when they shrink down and cook.
  3. 80/20 ground beef will work great for burgers, if you use something too lean your burgers may come out dry.
  4. Be sure that the cheese is sealed into the burger properly or it could spill out and melt while cooking.

Variations

  • Use other types of ground meat such as turkey, lamb, pork, and chicken.
  • Add in some extra flavors like onions, garlic, green pepper, bacon, and jalapeno pepper to the meat.
  • Instead of cheese slices, you can also use shredded cheese, blue cheese crumbles, and goat cheese.
  • Serve with different types of sauces: BBQ sauce, ketchup/mustard, aioli, and salsa.
  • Add some classic burger toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, and bacon.
  • Serve with fries, chips, a Shamrock Shake, strawberry shake or your favorite beer or soda.
Hand holding a juicy lucy burger.
What type of cheese should I use for a Juicy Lucy?

Any type of cheese will work for a Juicy Lucy, but we recommend using a cheese that is melty and stringy in texture. Some great options are American, cheddar, Swiss, Provolone, and pepper jack.

Storing and Freezing

Storing: These burgers are best served immediately after cooking. However, the raw patties can be formed 24 hours ahead of time.

Freezing: It is not recommended to freeze the cooked burger patties, but you can freeze the raw cheese-stuffed patties by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and storing them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking.

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Close up of half a juicy lucy burger.

Juicy Lucy

5 from 1 vote
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Author: Kimberly
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef, We used 80/20.
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 12 slices American cheese, may substitute with cheddar
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 6 hamburger buns, for serving
  • Toppings of your choice, for serving

Instructions
 

  • Place the ground beef in a bowl, and season with Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Divide the meat into 6 equal portions.
    2 pounds ground beef
    1 teaspoon salt
    1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • Divide each of the portions of beef into 2 pieces. Flatten both pieces into patties slightly larger than the hamburger bun.
  • Take 2 slices of cheese and tear each slice into small pieces. Place the pieces into the center of one of the patties.
    12 slices American cheese
  • Place the second patty over the cheese, and crimp the edges together making sure there are no cracks. Flip the burger over, gently press the burger down and crimp again. 
  • Using the back of a large spoon, press a small dimple into the middle of the burger. 
  • Once all of the burger patties have been made, melt the butter and oil in a cast iron pan using low-medium heat.
    1 tablespoons cooking oil
    1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • Once the pan is hot, work in batches and carefully transfer a couple patties to the pan and cook for approximately 4-5 minutes on each side.
  • Serve on a hamburger bun with your favorite toppings. These burgers are best served immediately.
    6 hamburger buns
    Toppings of your choice

Suggested Equipment

Notes

*The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 1 burger. Actual calories will vary.
 
*For more information, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions, please refer to the post.
 
*Photos courtesy of The Kindred Whisk.

Nutrition

Serving: 1burger | Calories: 705kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 1529mg | Potassium: 589mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 464IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 539mg | Iron: 5mg
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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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