Homemade Happy Hour

  • Cocktails
  • Mocktails
  • Recipes
  • My Book
  • Etsy Store
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cocktails
  • Mocktails
  • Recipes
  • My Book
  • Etsy Store
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cocktails
    • Mocktails
    • Recipes
    • My Book
    • Etsy Store
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    How to Make Amazing Cheeseburgers on the Stovetop

    Modified: May 6, 2025 · Published: Jun 15, 2021 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

    78 shares

    This post contains affiliate links (paid links). Advertisements displayed on this website do not reflect endorsements or recommendations made by Mitten Girl LLC.

    Skip to Recipe
    How to make amazing cheeseburgers at home

    You remember a great cheeseburger. It sticks in your memory the way other food doesn’t. And you’ll go back time and again for that amazing burger. Now you can make amazing cheeseburgers at home on the stove top.

    Cheeseburger

    The amazing, cravable cheeseburger that I go back for over and over comes from The Littlebird in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. All you have to say to me is “Littlebird Cheeseburger?” and I’m there. And I know I’m not alone. Spend 5 minutes inside The Littlebird and you’ll see the cheeseburger set down at tables all around you. 

    The Littlebird is located blocks from where I worked pre-pandemic, which means I had the luxury of enjoying one any time I craved it. But when the pandemic required me to start working from home - and then The Littlebird opted to close for a few months - I was suddenly faced with a world without my favorite cheeseburger. So I set out to make it at home.

    Breaking down the awesomeness of The Littlebird cheeseburger is easy because it’s a pretty straightforward sandwich: a soft brioche bun; 2 thin, griddled patties; 2 slices of cheese; pickles; creamy dijon mayo. That’s it. The inside of the bun is buttered and toasted. The meat is super juicy. The pickles are crunchy. No lettuce. No tomatoes. No fancy “secret” sauce. 

    My husband is also well versed in The Littlebird cheeseburger, so he was the perfect tastester for my make-it-at-home experiment. It took me several tries, but eventually he said “this is it.” 

    Here’s what I do to create my ode to The Littlebird cheeseburger at home. It’s so dang good. 

    What You Need to Make Amazing Cheeseburgers

    • 80/20 ground beef or ground chuck
    • Brioche hamburger buns
    • Cheddar cheese slices, mild (not sharp)
    • Onions or pickles, thin sliced
    • Butter or olive oil
    • Mayonnaise
    • Dijon mustard
    • Salt
    • Black pepper

    How to Make Them

    In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and dijon mustard at a ratio of 4 parts mayo to 1 part mustard (e.g. 4 teaspoon mayo, 1 teaspoon mustard). Set aside. 

    Split open the buns and spread the inside with a small layer of butter or brush with olive oil. 

    Toast the buns, buttered/oiled side down, in a skillet over medium heat until they brown. 

    Remove from heat and set on plates. 

    Cover each bun with the mayo/mustard mixture and add your onions or pickles to the top bun.

    Grilled hamburger buns spread with dijon mayo and onions

    Set the plates of prepared buns aside.

    Heat a skillet or griddle on the stove over medium-high heat. 

    Make the hamburger patties using aprox ½ cup (3-4 oz) of the ground beef for each patty. 

    Press each patty thin and flat using your hand or the flat bottom of a glass. (Tip: Do this on parchment paper for easy flipping into the skillet.)

    Season one side with salt and pepper. 

    Place the patties into the hot skillet, seasoned side down. 

    Cook for 3-4 minutes or until you see the edges of the patties starting to brown. 

    Raw hamburger patties in a skillet

    (Tip: Now is a good time to quickly drain off some of the excess beef fat in your skillet, if desired.) 

    Season the tops with salt and pepper and flip over your burgers. 

    Let the burgers cook for 2 minutes before topping each patty with a slice of cheese. 

    Slices of cheese on hamburger patties

    Put a lid on the skillet and let the burgers continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese is melted. 

    Placing a lid on a skillet of hamburger patties with cheese

    Remove the lid and grab your prepared plates/buns. 

    Place 1 burger patty on each bottom bun. Top with a second patty.

    Placing one cheeseburger patty on top of another.

    Add the top bun, onion/mayo side down, on top of the burger. 

    Dig in and enjoy! 

    Cheeseburgers

    Tips for Making Amazing Cheeseburgers

    Do I have to use 80/20 beef?

    YES! The juiciness and flavor comes from the fat. Drain off the excess as you cook, but do not switch to a lower fat beef and expect an amazing cheeseburger. I tried for over a decade, and it just doesn’t work. You end up putting the fat back in via butter, cheese, or oil. 

    Are brioche buns really necessary? 

    A good quality bun that’s toasted is necessary. I prefer brioche. Feel free to use whatever you prefer, just don’t grab the $1 package of white buns from the store. Those don’t make anything amazing. 

    Can I substitute something else for the cheddar cheese? 

    Use any cheese you like, just make sure it’s one that melts nicely. American, Swiss, or Provolone cheeses would all be delicious here.

    Can I leave off the onions/pickles? 

    Of course, but consider substituting something else crunchy in its place. I prefer onions to pickles, so I only use onion. The point of this ingredient is to give the sandwich some texture. Iceberg or Romaine lettuce will help do the same here, if you’d rather not use raw onions or pickles. 

    Can I make these on the grill instead of the stovetop? 

    Only if you use a griddle on your grill. These are thin patties that can fall apart easily on a standard grill. If you have a cast iron pan or skillet, you can use that on your grill and cook the burgers in the pan or skillet. Keep an eye on your grill’s heat if you go this route. These burgers will create excess grease, which burns/flames/catches on fire easily! 

    What to Serve with Stovetop Cheeseburgers

    Homemade Potato Chips

    Enjoy your amazing cheeseburger with a side of homemade potato chips.

    Print the Recipe Card

    Cheeseburger

    How to Make Amazing Cheeseburgers on the Stovetop

    Katy McAvoy
    An amazing cheeseburger is one you won’t soon forget. It has a toasted brioche bun, a pair of juicy, griddled patties covered in melting cheese, a few crunchy pickles and some creamy dijon mayo.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Servings 1

    Ingredients
      

    • .33 pounds 80/20 ground beef or ground chuck
    • 1 hamburger bun brioche
    • 1 slice cheddar cheese mild (not sharp)
    • onions or pickles thin sliced
    • 1 teaspoon Butter or olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon Mayonnaise
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • Salt
    • Black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and dijon mustard. Set aside. 
      1 tablespoon Mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • Split open the bun and spread the inside with a small layer of butter or brush with olive oil. 
      1 hamburger bun, 1 teaspoon Butter or olive oil
    • Toast the bun, buttered/oiled side down, in a skillet over medium heat until they brown. 
    • Remove from heat and set on plate. 
    • Cover the bun with the mayo/mustard mixture and add your onions or pickles to the top bun.
      onions or pickles
    • Set the plates of prepared buns aside.
    • Heat a skillet or griddle on the stove over medium-high heat. 
    • Make 2 hamburger patties using the ground beef.
      .33 pounds 80/20 ground beef
    • Press each patty thin and flat using your hand or the flat bottom of a glass. (Tip: Do this on parchment paper for easy flipping into the skillet.)
    • Season one side with salt and pepper. 
    • Place the patties into the hot skillet, seasoned side down. 
    • Cook for 3-4 minutes or until you see the edges of the patties starting to brown. (Tip: Now is a good time to quickly drain off some of the excess beef fat in your skillet.) 
    • Season the tops with salt and pepper and flip over your burgers. 
      Salt, Black pepper
    • Let the burgers cook for 2 minutes before topping each patty with a slice of cheese. 
      1 slice cheddar cheese
    • Put a lid on the skillet and let the burgers continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese is melted. 
    • Remove the lid and grab your prepared plates/buns. 
    • Place 1 burger patty on each bottom bun. Top with a second patty. Add the top bun, onion/mayo side down, on top of the burger. 
    • Dig in and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1burgerCalories: 704kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 34gFat: 52gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 140mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 481mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 308IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 215mgIron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love

    • How to Make Watermelon Juice for Cocktails and Mocktails
    • Homemade Potato Chips
    • Slow Cooker Shredded Beef for Tacos, Sandwiches & Stock
    • Parmesan Potato Rounds
    • Avocado Corn Salsa

    I love when you share my recipes!

    78 shares

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com and Homemade Happy Hour. Since 2017, she's been crafting recipes for easy-to-make cocktails and delicious snacks while sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Al says

      June 29, 2021 at 1:59 pm

      Best Cheeseburgers ever!
      Household favorite.

      Reply
      • Katy McAvoy says

        June 29, 2021 at 2:06 pm

        So glad you like them!!

        Reply
    2. Meadow says

      July 28, 2021 at 7:31 pm

      So easy and delicious! I never knew it could be so simple to cook up one burger for my son's dinner. The steam trick to melt the cheese is brilliant!
      No more waiting for the next cookout to enjoy a good cheeseburger! Thanks for expanding our dinner menu. Fantastic!

      Reply
      • Katy McAvoy says

        July 30, 2021 at 10:58 am

        YAY! So glad you enjoyed them! 🙂 We've stopped grilling burgers in favor on this method. No more flare ups on the grill from grease!

        Reply
    Katy McAvoy, mixologist and photographer

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that everyone deserves a delicious drink. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

    Search

    Buy Homemade Happy Hour, a Cocktail Book

    Most Searched Recipes

    • Cranberry Mocktail
      6 Easy Mocktail Recipes with Club Soda (Non-Alcoholic)

    • A glass of pineapple old fashioned garnished with a pineapple wedge.
      Pineapple Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe 

    • Glass filled with mocktail drink and garnished with a cherry and orange slice.
      Easy and Delicious Mocktail for Kids (Without Sugary Soda)

    • BBQ Meatballs in a bowl, garnished with parsley.
      Easy Stove Top Barbecue Meatballs (No Grape Jelly)

    • A coupe glass of strawberry lemon drop martini cocktail with a white sugar rim and strawberry slice garnish.
      Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini Cocktail

    • Glasses filled with red drinks and fruit, with a pitcher of red drinks in the background.
      Easy Pitcher Drinks - Large Batch Cocktails and Mocktails for a Party

    • Tomato Rice and Beans
      Easy Tomato Rice and Beans on the Stove Top

    • Non Alcoholic Piña Colada Mocktails
      Piña Colada Mocktail (Without a Blender)

    • Pineapple Vodka Martini
      Bright and Refreshing Pineapple Martini with Citrus

    • A glass of coconut margarita.
      Creamy Coconut Margarita Recipe (On the Rocks)

    Footer

    Website

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    Sign up for weekly emails

    Contact

    Work with Me

    Contact Me

    As an Amazon Associate and Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Mitten Girl LLC. All rights reserved.

    Advertisements displayed on this website do not in any way reflect endorsements or recommendations made by Mitten Girl LLC.

    Mittengirl.com and Homemade Happy Hour are properties of Mitten Girl LLC.
    All photographs, text, and recipes on this site may not be copied to social media, or used for any commercial
    or AI purposes without the express written permission of the site owner.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required