Michaels Hamburgers Recipes

MICHAEL'S SLOPPY CHEESEBURGERS

Steps:

• Brown the hamburger meat and drain.
• Return the meat to the pan and add the Cheese Whiz.
• Turn the burner on the stove to low and stir the hamburger and Cheese Whiz until it's mixed well.
• Add your favorite steak seasoning to taste.
• I use Montreal Steak seasoning.
• At this point, you can add chopped onions, mushrooms, bacon bits, or whatever you deem necessary to complete your "burger".
• Spoon it onto toasted hamburger buns, garnish as usual and enjoy.

BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. If you're not using an outdoor grill, preheat a second grill pan over medium heat (for a side griddle).
• Gently mix together the brisket, short rib and sirloin in a large bowl. Divide the mixture into 4 equal pieces and gently form into burgers, being careful not to pack too tightly.
• Season both sides of the burgers with a good amount of salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• When the grill or first grill pan is at medium-high, place the burgers on the grill and cook to your desired temperature, 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium rare. Add a piece of cheese to each burger and cook for another minute or so until it is melted.
• In the meantime, spread the mayo on the cut side of the buns and place them over medium heat or on the secondary grill pan to toast.
• Build the burgers by placing a burger on each bottom bun and top with 2 pieces of bacon, some red onion, pickles and mustard.

MICHAEL'S SPECIAL BURGERS

Steps:

• Form the ground beef into four patties. Place in a cold skillet over medium-low heat. Sprinkle each patty with seasoned salt, pepper, and a dash of Worcestershire.
• Cook about 10 minutes on each side if you like them well-done. After turning, sprinkle more salt, pepper, and Worcestershire.
• When cooked to your liking, add slices of American cheese, cover with a lid just until the cheese melts.
• Serve on buttered hamburger buns, with the toppings of your choice. Yum and yum!

GYRO-STYLE LAMB BURGERS WITH TZATZIKI AND GRILLED ONIONS

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals evenly over the bottom. Heat 2 flat cast-iron skillets over direct heat.
• For the burgers and onions: Combine the lamb, coriander and mint in a large bowl. Form the meat mixture into 4 equal thin half-moon shaped patties. Season the patties with salt and pepper on both sides. Add a splash of oil to the cast-irons. Cook the patties 3 to 5 minutes, allowing the meat to get a nice crust. Flip and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the burgers from the heat and let rest 2 to 3 minutes before assembling the burgers.
• Meanwhile, drizzle the onions with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, flipping once, until softened and charred, about 5 minutes.
• For the tzatziki: Add the yogurt, garlic, lemon zest, cucumber, dill and mint to a large bowl and mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve: Spread some tzatziki over each pita, add a patty to one half of each pita, top with some grilled onion and add some chopped tomato and lettuce. Fold the other half of each pita over. Serve!

MICHAEL'S HAMBURGERS

Steps:

• Place ground meat in large bowl. Add salt and pepper, and mix lightly with hands.
• Shape meat into thick, one-third-pound patties, being careful not to press too hard. (The patties should be neither too thin nor too dense, so that they retain their juiciness when grilled.) Set patties on a plate and salt liberally.
• Grill the patties over mesquite charcoal grill until medium-rare. Just before the burgers come off the fire, grill buns lightly.

FAT DOUG BURGER

Steps:

• Prepare the slaw: In a medium bowl, mix together the cabbage, garlic, onion, jalapeno, vinegar, mustard, mayonnaise, sugar, salt, Worcestershire sauce and ShaSha Sauce. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Make the burgers: Build a charcoal fire or heat a gas grill. On a work surface, combine the meats and form the burgers into 4 equal-size patties. Season liberally with salt and pepper.
• Grill the burgers over high heat until medium rare, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
• Meanwhile, heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Place 4 heaping piles of pastrami in the pan. After 2 minutes, top each pile with a slice of Swiss cheese. Remove them when the cheese is melted; set aside.
• Pour the butter into the pan. Place the buns in the pan, cut-side down, and toast, about 2 minutes.
• Place a heaping tablespoonful of the slaw on the bottom half of each bun. Top with a burger and a mound of pastrami and cheese. Cover each with the top half of the bun and serve immediately.
• In a food processor, puree the peppers, garlic, mustard and vinegar.
• Pour the puree into a nonreactive saucepan, then add the sugar and bring it to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and simmer the mixture for 30 minutes.
• In a small bowl or juice glass, mix the flour and 1/2 cup water to make a smooth paste. Whisk it into the pepper mixture and continue to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring regularly, until it becomes very thick. Let the sauce cool, then pour it into a covered nonreactive container (such as a glass jar). The sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 month.
• Photograph by Andrew Mccaul

BEEF AND CHORIZO STUFFED BURGERS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• For the caramelized onions: Add the butter, onions and a pinch of salt to a medium saute pan. Place the pan on the indirect heat side of the grill and cook, stirring occasionally until the onions are tender and deeply caramelized, about 1 hour. When ready, remove from the grill and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the beef and chorizo. Divide the mixture evenly between 8 deli container lids. Flatten the meat into each lid to create an even disk. Pop the 8 meat disks out of the lids. Add the cheese to the center of 4 of the meat disks, then top with the remaining 4 meat disk and seal the edges.
• Preheat a large cast-iron pan on the direct heat side of the grill. Season both sides of the burgers with salt and drizzle with olive oil. Place the burgers in the pan and immediately smash them with a spatula. Cook the burgers for about 2 minutes per side. Remove the burgers from the grill. Spread the mayo on the burger buns and toast them the indirect heat side of the grill.
• To build: To each bun, add some caramelized onions, a burger, the condiments of your choice and cilantro. Serve!

THE LOLA BURGER

Steps:

• *Cook's Note: Michael's favorite mix of meats for this burger is chuck, sirloin, and brisket
• Build a medium-hot fire in your grill or preheat a stovetop grill pan.
• Cook the bacon in a saute pan over medium-high heat, turning once, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon to paper towels to drain. Reserve the bacon fat in the pan.
• Form the ground beef into 4 patties, each about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Season the patties with salt and cracked black pepper, to taste. Put the burgers on the grill or in the grill pan and cook for 3 minutes. Flip and top each burger with a slice of cheese. Grill for 3 minutes for medium- rare. Remove them to a plate. Add the English muffins to the grill or grill pan and toast for 1 minute.
• Cook the eggs sunny side up in the bacon fat while the burgers rest.
• Build the burgers by sandwiching them between the muffin halves along with pickle slices, red onion, bacon, an egg, and some spicy ketchup.
• Pack the onions in 2 (1-quart) jars and cover with enough water to come within 1/2-inch of the rim. Pour the water out into a measuring cup. Note the volume, pour off half the water, and replace it with vinegar. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons salt for every 3 cups of liquid.
• Pour the vinegar mixture into a nonreactive saucepan, add the mustard seeds, red pepper flakes, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, garlic, and bay leaves, and bring to a boil over high heat. Allow the liquid to boil for 2 minutes, and then remove it from the heat.
• Pour the hot liquid into the jars to cover the onions and screw on the lids. Refrigerate for up to 1 month.
• In a nonreactive 2-quart saucepan over medium heat add the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, and a large pinch of salt. Saute until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the Fresno chiles, ancho chile, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the brown sugar, cumin, cinnamon, tomato paste, and vinegar and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in 3 cups of water, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook over low heat for 2 hours.
• Remove the ketchup from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Discard the cinnamon stick. Puree the mixture in a blender and strain through a sieve, pushing down on the any solids. Let cool and pour into a storage container. Cover the container and refrigerate for up to 1 month.