Merkts Cheeseburger

I don’t know what it is lately, but I have been loving smashed style burgers. In the past I was making burgers, typically on the grill, where they were big, plump, and obviously delicious, but now I have taken the burgers inside on a cast iron skillet, and allowing them to get nice and caramelized. Believe it or not, and this is just my opinion, there is a big difference between grilled, charcoal burgers, and cast iron skillet burgers. I’ll let you decide on which is better.

I wanted to make this burger because a friend on Facebook had suggested that I try slathering on some Merkts cheese on a burger. I’ve actually never tried that and was curious how it would taste. After all, Merkts cheese is somewhat of a staple in the house as a couple of the kids love eating it as an after school snack on pretzels, or crackers.

If you have never tried or heard of Merkts cheese, it is some awesome stuff. It is basically an all natural cheese spread that comes in a variety of flavors. I’ve tried most of them, and pretty much love them all, so I knew that spreading this on a smash style burger would be awesome.

Let’s get started.

Ingredients: (Makes one burger)

• 1/4 lb ground chuck
• 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp Merkts Sharp Cheddar Spread
• Salt
• Cracked black pepper
• Soft hamburger bun

Start by preheating a cast iron skillet on medium, to medium high heat.

During this time, form the ground chuck into a loose meatball shape. Season with a bit of salt and pepper, to your liking.

Add the ground chuck to the cast iron skillet, and let it sear, and cook for a couple of minutes. Then, with a large spatula smash the burger down, completely flattening it. Let cook another minute, then flip it over. You should have an awesome, caramelized burger. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then add the thinly sliced onions over the top of the burger, letting the burger steam the onions. After a couple of minutes, flip the burger, along with the onions, over, allowing the onions to cook.

Add the Merkts cheese on top of the burger and allow that to begin to melt.

Place the burger onto the bun, and serve.

Biting into this burger is great. I’m actually excited just thinking about it. Maybe it is that aroma from the onions, or those crispy, caramelized edges of the burger, but then when you bite into it and get that great sharp cheddar from the Merkts, well, enough said. As you can tell, I made a couple of more as well. Oh yeah, and don’t even get me started on the homemade, double cooked fries with rosemary and garlic. Please don’t. If you want a great burger, give this one a shot, then let me know… Grilled or cast iron?

Merkts Cheeseburger

Dax Phillips

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 minutes mins

Total Time 11 minutes mins

Course Burgers

Cuisine American

Servings 1

Ingredients

  

• 1/4 lb ground chuck
• 1/2 small onion thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp Merkts Sharp Cheddar Spread
• Salt
• Cracked black pepper
• Soft hamburger bun

Instructions

 

• Start by preheating a cast iron skillet on medium, to medium high heat.
• During this time, form the ground chuck into a loose meatball shape. Season with a bit of salt and pepper, to your liking.
• Add the ground chuck to the cast iron skillet, and let it sear, and cook for a couple of minutes. Then, with a large spatula smash the burger down, completely flattening it. Let cook another minute, then flip it over. You should have an awesome, caramelized burger. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then add the thinly sliced onions over the top of the burger, letting the burger steam the onions. After a couple of minutes, flip the burger, along with the onions, over, allowing the onions to cook.
• Add the Merkts cheese on top of the burger and allow that to begin to melt.
• Place the burger onto the bun, and serve.