Juicy Lucy from Supernatural

Name: Juicy Lucy from Supernatural
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 500g ground beef, 80/20; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 4 thick squares American cheese (about 1.5 inch each, stacked); 2 soft burger buns; 2 tbsp ketchup; 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce

8.5community · 0 votes8.5BM score

8.5

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About

This is the Juicy Lucy straight out of Supernatural. The burger Dean calls the best in the world. Looks simple on the outside, but the whole trick is inside. Melted American cheese sealed right into the center of the patty. No fancy sauces, just ketchup and iceberg lettuce like in the show. Crispy crust outside, molten cheese inside. Mess it up and it leaks everywhere. Nail it and you get that perfect cheese explosion. This burger should look normal from the outside, but when cut, molten cheese should flow out of the center. Serve hot but warn people, the inside is extremely hot. Let it rest slightly so it doesn’t burn like lava. It scored 8.5 out of 10 here after cooking it exactly as written. The full method runs to 7 steps below. Nothing here needs equipment beyond a pan, a spatula and somewhere to rest the patty.

Ingredients

0 / 7

patty

Ground beef500g ground beef, 80/20
Salt1 tsp salt
Black pepper1/2 tsp black pepper

cheese core

American cheese4 thick squares American cheese (about 1.5 inch each, stacked)

assembly

Burger bun2 soft burger buns
Ketchup2 tbsp ketchup
Iceberg lettuce1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce

Recipe

1
Start by dividing the beef into 4 equal portions, about 125g each. Take 2 portions per burger. Flatten them into thin patties, about 1/4 inch thick. You need them wide enough to fully seal the cheese inside.
2
Place a stack of American cheese in the center of one patty. Put the second patty on top and carefully seal the edges all the way around. Press firmly and pinch the seams closed. If there are gaps, the cheese will leak out while cooking.
3
Season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Not too hot here, or the outside burns before the inside melts.
4
Cook the stuffed patty for about 4 to 5 minutes on the first side without touching it until a deep brown crust forms. Flip gently and cook another 4 to 5 minutes. Do not press it or pierce it, or the cheese will escape.
5
Toast the buns cut-side down on a pan over medium heat for about 60 to 90 seconds until lightly golden.
6
Build the burger. Bottom bun, a layer of ketchup, then the hot stuffed patty, then a handful of shredded iceberg lettuce, then top bun. Keep it simple, that’s the whole point.
7
Let it rest for 1 to 2 minutes before eating. The cheese inside is extremely hot and needs a second to settle, otherwise it will burn instantly.