Juicy Lucy Burger Recipe (Twin Cities stuffed cheese burger) (2024)

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Famous Juicy Lucy burger of Twin Cities fame, cheese stuffed ground beef patty, with or without jalapeños, cooked on the stovetop or grill.

The Juicy Lucy Burger! I'm finally paying homage to our time in St. Paul, Minnesota and to this iconic burger that is popular in the Twin Cities.

I first had a Juicy Lucy at the Groveland Tap, just a block from our house. In fact, this is the only place I've had a Juicy Lucy. I've been hooked ever since, and all these years later, I finally made them at home.

What is a Juicy Lucy burger?

A Juicy Lucy is an inside-out cheeseburger. The cheese is stuffed into the center of two ground beef patties and "sealed" in, then cooked on a griddle, in a cast iron skillet or thrown on the grill.

And the cheese of choice is good old American cheese. Not the shiny individually wrapped slices, at least not for me, I get it sliced to order from the deli. It's better, trust me on this one.

You know what else is good in a Juicy Lucy? Jalapeño peppers. That's my preference, but I leave it out for those that can't take a little heat ~ no worries. That is it, just cheese and maybe jalapeños. Start with this classic version and experiment with fillings, if you must.

Juicy Lucy Ingredients

Pretty simple here, just ground beef, some Worcestershire, said type of American cheese slices, pickled or candied jalapeños (optional) and toasted buns. I like brioche buns but any hamburger bun will work, especially with sesame seeds.

How do you stuff it with cheese?

  • Divide beef into equal portions and form into balls.
  • Place ball in plastic wrap and flatten into a disc.

  • Place American cheese slices into center on one patty.
  • If desired, add 2-3 slices of jalapeño on top of cheese.
  • Place another patty on top and then pinch and seal all around the edges.

What do you put on it?

Anything you want and like on a burger! I like a good swipe of mayo and lettuce and tomato, if I have it. And there's nothing better than a seasonal tomato on a grilled burger.

Here's what you'll get with a good burger like this ~ a warning. The center is hot molten cheese, gloriously mixed with beef juices, and when you bite into it, well, be careful! And know there is a good possibility of hot cheesy juices flying across the room, as well. Seriously, it can happen. Miss you, St. Paul. Best, Kelly🍴🐦

You might also like this classic diner-style patty melt.

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UPDATED:Spruced things up with new photos and copy in May, 2020, no changes to original recipe.

Juicy Lucy Burger Recipe (Twin Cities stuffed cheese burger) (7)

Juicy Lucy Burger

Famous Juicy Lucy Burger of Twin Cities fame, cheese stuffed ground beef patty, with or without jalapeños, cooked on the stovetop or grill.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 775kcal

Author: Kelly Wildenhaus

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground beef (preferably chuck)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 slices American cheese
  • Pickled jalapeño slices (optional)
  • 4 brioche hamburger buns (or regular buns)
  • Optional toppings for serving, such as lettuce, tomato and onion

Instructions

  • To the ground beef, add Worcestershire, salt and pepper and mix to combine. Divide beef into eight equal portions and form gently into balls. One portion at a time, place ball on piece of plastic wrap, fold over, and flatten into a disk with your hands. It doesn't have to be perfect, but they should all be the same size patties.

  • Tear each slice of American cheese into 4 pieces/squares. Place 4 torn pieces on the centers of 4 patties. If desired, add 2 to 3 slices of pickled jalapeños on top of cheese. Place another patty on top and then with fingers, pinch and seal all around the edges, completely sealing the cheese in all 4 burgers.

  • Heat a cast iron skillet or fire up the grill. Cook burgers about 3 minutes a side for medium-rare, a little longer for medium. Remove to a plate and tent with foil and let rest 5 minutes. Meanwhile, lightly toast/grill buns.

  • Serve Juicy Lucy's on buns with any additional toppings. Careful on that first bite! Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

  • I don't recommend lean ground beef, for these or any burger. Use ground chuck (or 85% lean)
  • This recipe makes 4 half-pound burgers. You can make the portions a little smaller if you like, 10 portions of beef yielding 5 burgers.
  • We like brioche bakery-style buns which are readily available in our supermarket. Regular or sesame seed hamburger buns are great also.

Nutrition

Calories: 775kcal Carbohydrates: 23g Protein: 47g Fat: 54g Saturated Fat: 22g Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g Monounsaturated Fat: 22g Trans Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 182mg Sodium: 1347mg Potassium: 729mg Fiber: 1g Sugar: 4g Vitamin A: 204IU Vitamin C: 1mg Calcium: 327mg Iron: 6mg

Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!

Juicy Lucy Burger Recipe (Twin Cities stuffed cheese burger) (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a juicy burger? ›

For beef and lamb burgers, choose mince that has at least an 80% meat to 20% fat ratio. The fat is essential for juiciness and flavour. If you can't find mince with the right ratio, add finely chopped streaky bacon to your patty mixture.

How do you keep stuffed burgers from falling apart? ›

Most stuffed burger recipes start with ground meat and a handful of seasonings. There's also usually an egg involved—this helps bind the meat, so the stuffed hamburgers don't fall apart during cooking. This basic recipe for stuffed hamburger patties serves four.

What is the Minnesota burger with cheese inside? ›

The Juicy Lucy is a Minneapolis staple. Never heard of it? Let us fill you in: a burger with melty cheese oozing out of the center of the patty instead of sitting passively on top.

What is a stuffed burger called? ›

A Jucy Lucy (or Juicy Lucy) is a stuffed cheeseburger with the cheese inside of the meat instead of on top, resulting in a melted core of cheese.

What can I put in a burger to make it taste better? ›

Blue cheese, grilled pineapple, or avocado will add a lot of flavor to a classic hamburger. Many, if not all, of these ingredients can already be found in your kitchen and pantry.

Should I put egg in my burger? ›

Egg yolk acts as a binder and adds flavor

After forming it into a patty, he explains that the egg actually helps bind the meat together, and adds an incredibly rich flavor to the burger patty. As a good rule of thumb, it's best to add one yolk per pound of ground beef.

What do you put inside a burger? ›

Common seasonings include salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or other herbs and spices based on personal preference. Cheese: Placing a slice or grated cheese inside the burger patty can add a melty, gooey surprise in the center. Cheddar, Swiss, American, or other types of cheese work well.

What is a Capone burger? ›

Capone Burger. $14.99. 6 oz fresh beef patty, 4 oz shaved ribeye steak, 3 oz grilled chicken, 2 strips of beef bacon, american cheese, swiss american cheese, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, pickles, jalapenos, and capone sauce.

What is a beaver burger? ›

INGREDIENTS: * 2lbs ground beaver meat * 2 eggs * 1/2 cup oatmeal * 1/2tsp salt * 1/4tsp seasoning salt * 1/2cup chopped onions * 1/4tsp pepper * 1/4tsp season all DIRECTIONS: 1. Thoroughly mix all ingredients together. 2. Fry or barbecue until cooked. serve on hamburger buns.

What is a Bruin burger? ›

Blended Patty, Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle, Red Onion, Mayo, House-made Bun. Contains Eggs.

What is a Mickey burger? ›

With Mickey himself branded on the top of a buttered bun, this burger is topped with macaroni and cheese, American cheese, cheese sauce, and spicy cheese dust.

What is it called when you put an egg on a burger? ›

A burger with an egg on top can be called various names, including a “breakfast burger,” “egg burger,” “sunrise burger,” or simply a “burger with an egg.”

What is the name of the fake meat burger? ›

The Beyond Burger® (made by the folks at Beyond Meat®) is a plant-based burger patty designed to look, cook, and satisfy like beef. It has all the juicy, meaty deliciousness of a traditional burger and packs 18 grams of plant-based protein.

Why aren't my burgers juicy? ›

Using meat that's too lean.

One of the hallmarks of a really good burger is one that's super juicy when you bite into it, and you just don't get that by using lean meat. Using meat that's too lean results in burgers that are lacking in both flavor and texture, and easily end up dry and crumbly.

Should you grill burgers with the lid open or closed? ›

The heat doesn't build up and intensify the way it would if the lid was down. Thin pork chops, shrimp, and burgers tend to cook quickly. Leaving the grill lid up will slow the cooking process by reducing the temperature around the meat. For thicker cuts, you want to close the lid to keep the temperature high and even.

How do you keep burgers from drying out after cooking? ›

If you've cooked your burgers ahead of time and won't be serving them right away, there is one secret trick to making sure they don't dry up: wrap them in parchment paper.

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