For the best tasting burgers, choose ground meat with a higher fat content, like an 80/20 blend. Of course you can always go more healthy, with a 85/15 or even 90/20 ratio, but if you’re aiming for flavor and a juicy consistency, the fat helps.
Typically I don’t use a lot of seasonings on my burgers other than salt and pepper, but this recipe goes all out, mixing in some other goodies to max out the wow factor. A combination of sweet Italian pork sausage, salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, and fresh rosemary are used to pack a lot of flavor into each bite.
And obviously this recipe can be customized any way you choose. In addition to the blue cheese and avocado, you could do a whole “burger bar” with toppings such as chili, other cheeses, bacon, sauteed veggies, fun condiments such as pestos and aiolis, and the usual suspects such as lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup . . let your guests build their own if you like.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 8-10 minutes
Yields: 8 burgers
Ingredients
2 lbs. ground beef
1 lb. ground sweet Italian pork sausage (no casings)
3 T. Worcestershire sauce
¼ c. white onion, very finely minced
4 cloves garlic, very finely minced
3 T. fresh rosemary, stems removed and leaves finely minced
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Blue cheese, crumbled
8 hamburger buns, lightly toasted*
2 T. unsalted butter, melted
*To toast buns, brush the inside surface of each bun with the melted butter and place over indirect heat while the burgers are cooking.
Toppings
Leaf lettuce
Tomato, sliced
Avocado, sliced
Directions
- Clean grill grates and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Pre-heat grill to high.
- Add ground beef, sausage, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, and rosemary to a large glass bowl. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and combine thoroughly. Make sure both types of meat and all seasonings are completely incorporated throughout the mixture.
- Divide meat mixture into 8 equal parts and shape each part into ¾-inch thick patties. Place patties on a lined tray and use your thumb to create an indent in the middle to keep them from puffing up while cooking.
- Place patties over direct, high heat on your grill and cook for 8-10 minutes.
Tip: Actual cooking time will depend on desired level of doneness, so check after 4-5 minutes and adjust final cook time accordingly. (According to the USDA, the safe internal temperature for ground beef and pork is 160°F. Use an instant read thermometer to confirm). - Flip and move burgers to indirect heat 2-3 minutes before they are done. Top with blue cheese and close lid to allow cheese to melt completely.
- Transfer burgers to a platter and serve immediately on toasted hamburger buns and topped with lettuce, tomato, and avocado slices. Enjoy!
Hey Mom, What’s For Dessert??
And if you’re already out grilling on a beautiful day, what would be a more fitting dessert treat than easy and delicious homemade ice cream! Check out the recipe, with fun variations here.
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