Recipe

Classic Diner Burger

Community Pick!

Classic Diner Burger

Photo 1 of 2
by thirschfeld

Classic Diner Burger

Photo 2 of 2
by thirschfeld

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Beef Burgers
  • A&M's Testing Notes: This is a great classic burger. Cooking the onions and burgers in bacon fat gives them a nice extra layer of flavor. The Thousand Island dressing is much better than any secret sauce. - Stephanie...

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  • Chef

    thirschfeld's Notes: With so many fast food choices we forget how great a really good burger can really be. If you use good technique and great home made ingredients you may find hamburger joints needless except...

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Serves 4

  1. Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the ground chuck, worcestershire, lemon juice and salt into a bowl. Mix until well combined. Divide into four equal sized patties that are about a 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Then season the up side with lots of black pepper.

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  2. Place a 12 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon grease and the four slices of onion. Season the onions with salt and pepper. Saute the onions until they are soft and caramelized on each side. When they have browned place them on a sheet tray.

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  3. Turn the heat to high and gently place the burgers into the pan, black pepper side down. Season they tops with more black pepper. Sear them until good and cararmelized on each side. Remove to the sheet tray with the onions to let them rest. After 10 minutes slide the tray into the oven and reheat the burgers to your desired temperature. I prefer medium rare to medium.

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  4. Butter the insides of each bun. Wipe out the skillet and then toast each bun. Assemble the burgers with the onion, Thousand Island dressing and serve.

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  5. For the Thousand Island dressing:

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  6. Combine all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix until combined.

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22 Comments on Classic Diner Burger

Reply

LOVED IT! made in france with comté, cornichons, and la moutarde de dijon...........simply wonderful!

Reply

One comment -- it matters what kind of horseradish you use to make the pickle sauce. I put in a tablespoon of Beaver Extra Hot Horseradish, and the sauce just tastes of horseradish. I wish I had followed my cooking instinct which said: put in a little horseradish at a time and taste...

Dsc_0382 Reply

Love your dressing!

Dscn0826 Reply

As a kid it was always my favorite. I don't eat it much now but I made extra and have been eating it on iceberg wedges all week. I think I need to add it back into the rotation.

Copy_of_me Reply

Hmmm, you mix some lemon juice into the patty mixture, I love lemon with anything and use a tablespoon in my beef stew, never thought to use in my ground beef patties...love that!

Dscn0826 Reply

Acids work to enhance flavor. I have a veal stew that has lemon juice added to it at the beginning and end.

Picture_6 Reply

I had a cookout with my family last night and we used your recipe. These bad boys are the truth. (I can also vouch that I found bacon, sliced avocados, and red onions are all pretty delish on these burgers.)

Dscn0826 Reply

"ahhh bacon", in my best Homer Simpson voice.

Dscn0624 Reply

Classic is the perfect name for this burger.

Dscn0826 Reply

thanks

Lnd_jen Reply

This is what it's all about. Perfect.

Dscn0826 Reply

Thanks lastnightsdinner.

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

A real classic hamburger!! Love your version of "secret sauce" aka thousand isl. dressing, too.

Dscn0826 Reply

Thanks, can't wait to see your entry because they are always delicious.

186003_1004761561_1198459_n Reply

I probably won't enter anything..."Woody" does it the same way I do with the Ohana burger...make a pocket and then shove in some butter and blue cheese and grill to order. This is going to be a tough one...there are so many great burger recipes...I love yours because it is so simple and just perfect...not a lot of "what else is in the refrigerator" ingredients. And, as always , your picture tell the story!

Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

This is almost exactly how we made burgers when I was growing up. (Except I don't like hard boiled eggs in my thousand island dressing...just me).

Dscn0826 Reply

I sometimes leave out the eggs, too, you know you are the one eating it. I always have to laugh when I see hard boiled eggs with Russian dressing.

Newliztoqueicon-2 Reply

I want one! Love the photo, the classic burger shot, cast iron skillet and all...

Dscn0826 Reply

Thanks Lizthechef, aren't you on vacation?

Newliztoqueicon-2 Reply

Bakc from vacation but passed on the swordfish theme - and my burgers can't compete here - thumbs up!

Mrs Reply

Oh, my. I can almost smell it. Love this, thirschfeld.

Dscn0826 Reply

Thanks mrslarkin. I am thinking the Roquefort burger looks tasty as well

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