The All-American Burger

One last chance to perfect your burger skills before summer is up. Grilling season is precious.

Who Invented the Cheeseburger?

Like any good American story, our tale begins with a hero. Lionel Sternberger, 16, was but a lad when he began working at his father's sandwich shop.

One summer afternoon, while Sternberger was hard at work, a homeless man walked into the shop begging for food. When asked what he wanted, the man requested "just a hamburger." Sternberger happily obliged.

Overworked, Sternberger accidentally let one side of the burger overcook. Not wanting to waste the meat, he covered up the side with a slice of cheddar cheese and let it melt over the burn marks. The homeless man was pleasantly surprised by the flavor, and Sternberger got the idea to build on his creation.

Today, cheeseburgers remain one of America's most popular food staples.

Prep: 20 min | Cooking: 10 min | Total: 30 min

Makes 4 burgers

INGREDIENTS

Burger Patties

• Ground beef (1 lb.)

• Worcestershire sauce (3 tbsp)

• Garlic powder (2 tsp)

• Onion powder (1 tbsp)

• Salt (1 tsp)

• Ground black pepper (1 tsp)

• Dried parsley (1 tsp)

• American cheese, sliced (4 slices)

Sauce

• Mayonnaise (3/4 cup)

• Dijon mustard (2 tbsp)

• Pickle relish (2 tsp)

• Chili sauce (2 tsp)

• Lemon juice (1 tsp)

• Onion powder (1 tsp)

• Garlic powder (1/2 tsp)

• Salt (1/2 tsp)

• Paprika (1/2 tsp)

Toppings

• Burger buns (4)

• Lettuce

• Heirloom tomato slices (4 slices)

• Onion rings (8 rings)

• Pickles, sliced

• Optional: ketchup

DIRECTIONS

1. To make the patties: Preheat grill to medium. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, onion powder, salt, black pepper, parsley, and bread crumbs. Shape the meat into 4 patties.

2. Grill burgers to desired doneness. When grilling the final side, place one slice of cheese on each patty and close the lid to let melt. Remove burgers from heat and cover while you make the sauce.

3. To make the sauce: In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, relish, chili sauce, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and paprika.

4. Assemble burger: Place bottom bun and slather with the sauce. Place burger on top, and pile on the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Serve with fries and an American flag.