Have you ever heard of a "Juicy Lucy"? No? In that case, I will consider this my public service message for the day.
A Juicy Lucy is a stuffed burger with cheese inside the patty instead of on top resulting in a melted core of cheese. What's not to love?
Two bars in Minneapolis claim to be the inventor of the burger, though other bars and restaurants have their own interpretations. One, "Matt's Bar, where I had my first JL (and not my last) " uses a different spelling: "Jucy Lucy."
If you love cheeseburgers, this is a must try.
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Why You'll Love This Juicy Lucy Burger Recipe
Cooking the cheese in the burger gives you two "wins." The first is a cheesy hot lava effect, which is awesome. The bonus is a juicier burger. And just like any hamburger, feel free to use different cheeses and toppings.
What is a Juicy Lucy?
A Juicy Lucy is a cheeseburger with the cheese stuffed inside the burger rather than on top. When the burger cooks, the cheese melts into a gooey center that doesn't show itself until you take the first bite. Then, it oozes out in all its cheesy glory!
This simple twist on a classic cheeseburger creates a whole new experience. The cheese stays extra melty, the burger stays juicy, and every bite delivers the perfect blend of meat and cheese.
Where was the Juicy Lucy Invented?
The Juicy Lucy was invented in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There are two different bars in that town who claim to be the inventors, sometime in the 1950's.
- Matt's Bar spells it "Jucy Lucy (they drop the "i") and claim the burger was born when a customer asked for cheese to be sealed inside the meat rather than on top.
- The 5-8 Club also claims they were the first to serve this burger that has now become a Minneapolis icon.
Jucy Lucy Recipe Ingredients
For the burgers themselves you only need two ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Cheese
And for serving you of course need buns and whatever condiments you love on your burgers.
How to Make a Burger With Cheese Inside
For each burger, start with slightly more than ¼ pound of ground beef. Split that into two equal amounts and then make an equal-sized thin patty from each.
Place the cheese in the center of a patty. Part of you will want to place the cheese all the way to the edge. Resist this urge and keep it in the middle.
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Then place the other thin patty on top of the first and seal the edges of the two patties all the way around.
You can cook this on the BBQ grill or indoors in a skillet, you choose! Either way, you get a burger that is delightfully cheesy and delicious.
Juicy Lucy Recipe FAQs
Do not underestimate the importance of the sealed edge. I have the best luck when I seal it all the way around, then turn the sealed patty over and work those edges some more. Melted cheese will seek the smallest of openings, and sealing helps to contain.
I also consider this stuffed burger a little more fragile than a typical burger patty, so flip carefully, especially if cooking on a grill. You need to keep it all together!
I tried this with two different cheeses: a chunk of sharp cheddar cut from a block, and a slice of Kraft singles "American" cheese cut in quarters and stacked inside the patty.
Both worked well, but my carnivorous taste-tester felt the sharp cheddar was superior: It provided a more significant core of molten cheese vs. the American cheese. This actually delighted me, since I tend to dismiss those processed cheese slices as "not real cheese" anyway.
That's right, we're cheese snobs in Wisconsin.
Imagine how fun it would be to experiment with other cheeses, like pepper jack, brick, Swiss, etc. The wide world of cheese is waiting for you!
And for another low carb and cheesy option, try some Keto Feta Burgers for your next burger night!
Safety warning: Please wait a few minutes before biting into this stuffed burger. The cheese is VERY hot. Yes, kind of like hot lava.
Serving a Jucy Lucy Burger
We all have our favorite burger fixin's, but the onion lovers will want to try making caramelized onions in a crockpot for a delicious burger topping!
Try this Juicy Lucy with coleslaw or potato salad - so good! And nothing can beat smoked corn on the cob for a truly elevated side!
And if you're feeding a crowd, instant pot pork and beans will make a delicious and filling meal or side!
Make it a double!
Supercharging Tip: If one piece of cheese makes a delicious burger, why not … two! That's right, a "Double" Juicy Lucy. I decided to add cheese to the top of the burger as well as inside. Double cheese: How can this go wrong, right? It was a big hit! 😍
More grilling ideas
Love cooking on the grill? Try some Sweet and Sour Pork Kabobs or even Grilled Pizza!
And for a different kind of burger, try some chicken feta and spinach burgers - healthy and delicious!
📖 Recipe
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Juicy Lucy Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 slices cheese 8 to make it a double
Instructions
- Divide beef into 4 piles. Split each pile into 2 and make a thin patty from each. You will have a total of 8 thin patties.1 lb ground beef
- Cut 4 slices of cheese into quarters. On 4 of the thin patties, pile the cheese, the equivalent of one slice per patty. (If your slices are thick, ½ slice total might be enough)4 slices cheese
- Layer the remaining patties on top of the cheese-topped patties. Seal the meat edges very well.
- Cook as you would any other burger, taking extra care when flipping.
- If double cheese is desired, place a second slice of cheese over the top of the burger at the end of the cooking time and allow it to melt.
- Serve on buns with condiments of choice.
- And lots of napkins.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Texasgirl
Yes......going to make these soon, going to try with some Swiss cheese!!! Yummy
Sula
Ok I want to know how this turns out. Great, I'll bet - I love Swiss cheese!