Description

These California Burgers are a fresh and vibrant twist on the classic hamburger, loaded with juicy beef patties, crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, creamy avocado, and Monterey Jack cheese. Finished with a tangy homemade sauce and served on toasted buns, this burger brings the best flavors of California to your plate.

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Burger Patties

1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Toppings

4 slices Monterey Jack cheese
1 ripe avocado, sliced
4 slices tomatoes
4 leaves butter or romaine lettuce
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

For the Sauce

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon pickle relish
Salt and black pepper to taste

For Assembling

4 brioche buns, sliced and lightly toasted
1 tablespoon butter (for toasting buns)

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Instructions

Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and pickle relish. Stir until smooth and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Make the Burger Patties: In a large bowl, gently combine the ground beef with salt and pepper. Form the mixture into 4 equal patties, making a slight indentation in the middle of each to prevent doming while cooking.
Cook the Patties: Heat a grill or stovetop skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for about 3-4 minutes on the first side. Flip, add a slice of Monterey Jack cheese to each, and cook another 2-3 minutes until desired doneness and cheese is melty.
Toast the Buns: While the patties cook, spread butter on the cut sides of the brioche buns. Place them, buttered side down, on a skillet or griddle and toast until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes.
Assemble the Burgers: Spread a generous layer of the prepared sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Top with lettuce, tomato slices, the cheesy burger patty, avocado slices, red onion, and finish with the top bun.
Serve: Serve the California Burgers fresh with extra sauce and your favorite sides.

Notes

Use ripe but firm avocados for the best texture in your burger.
You can substitute cheddar or Swiss cheese if you prefer.
The homemade sauce can be made a day ahead and refrigerated for even more flavor.
Try grilling the buns for added smokiness.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 burger
Calories: 540
Sugar: 7g
Sodium: 820mg
Fat: 31g
Saturated Fat: 11g
Unsaturated Fat: 16g
Trans Fat: 0.8g
Carbohydrates: 37g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 31g
Cholesterol: 95mg