Description

These molten cheese-stuffed burgers combine juicy beef patties infused with a flavorful mixture of smoked pancetta, caramelized onions, and herbs, encasing a gooey center of mature cheddar and mozzarella. Served with a tangy herb mayonnaise, crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and crunchy fried onions on toasted buns, these gourmet burgers offer a perfect balance of textures and rich tastes, ideal for grilling or stovetop cooking.

Ingredients

Scale

Burger Patties

1½ tbsp olive oil
1 onion, very finely chopped
70g smoked pancetta, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
4 thyme sprigs, leaves picked
500g lean beef mince (no more than 10% fat)
50g fresh breadcrumbs
1 egg yolk
60g mature cheddar, grated
60g grated mozzarella

Herb Mayonnaise Sauce

120g mayonnaise
2½ tsp English mustard
½ small bunch of parsley, finely chopped
½ small bunch of basil
50g baby gherkins, finely chopped

To Serve

4 seeded burger buns, split
2–3 Little Gem lettuces, leaves separated
2 ripe tomatoes, sliced
crispy fried onions

Instructions

Prepare Onion and Pancetta Mixture: Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and fry the finely chopped onion with a good pinch of salt for 15 minutes until soft and translucent. Add the smoked pancetta and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Then add the crushed garlic and picked thyme leaves and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool for 15 minutes.
Tenderize and Mix Mince: Place the beef mince in a large bowl and massage it with your hands for about 5 minutes to tenderize the meat. Add the cooled onion and pancetta mixture, fresh breadcrumbs, and egg yolk. Season generously with salt and pepper and mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
Form Cheese Centers: Mix the grated mature cheddar and mozzarella together. Divide the cheese mixture into four equal portions. With your hands, form each portion into a firm ball, then flatten each into approximately a 4cm disc.
Shape Beef Patties with Cheese Center: Divide the beef mixture into four even portions, weighing them if desired. Shape each portion into a 10cm round patty. Place a cheese disc in the center of one patty and wrap the beef around it, sealing the edges carefully to encase the cheese completely. Lightly press down each patty to flatten slightly. Cover and chill the patties for at least 30 minutes or up to 48 hours for better flavor infusion.
Make Herb Mayonnaise Sauce: In a small food processor, blend together the mayonnaise, English mustard, parsley, and basil until smooth. Stir in the finely chopped baby gherkins. Cover and refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve.
Cook the Burgers: Light the barbecue and grill the burgers for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until they develop a nice char. Then wrap each burger individually in foil and leave wrapped on the barbecue for an additional 5 to 7 minutes to allow the cheese center to fully melt. Alternatively, if you don’t have a barbecue, heat a dry frying pan over medium heat with a little oil and cook the burgers for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until golden. To melt the cheese center, transfer the cooked patties to a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 220°C (200°C fan)/Gas mark 8 for 10 minutes.
Toast the Buns and Assemble: Grill the burger buns cut-side down on the barbecue or in a pan for 1 to 2 minutes until toasted. Spread all the cut sides generously with the prepared herb mayonnaise sauce. Layer each bun with lettuce leaves, tomato slices, the molten cheese-stuffed burger patty, and finish with crispy fried onions. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Notes

You can cook the burgers on the stovetop if a barbecue is unavailable; just follow the tip for stovetop cooking and oven finishing to melt cheese.
For best results, chill the formed patties to help them hold together during cooking and deepen flavors.
Using lean beef with no more than 10% fat ensures the patties stay juicy without excessive grease.
Make the herb mayonnaise sauce ahead of time for better flavor development.
Wrapping the burgers in foil while resting on the barbecue helps melt the cheese filling perfectly without overcooking the meat.

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Grilling
Cuisine: British

Keywords: molten cheese burgers, stuffed burgers, grilled burgers, cheddar mozzarella stuffed beef patties, herb mayonnaise, pancetta burgers