McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese (Copycat)

9.7community · 4 votes9.5BM score

9.7

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About

This is a home version of the Quarter Pounder with Cheese from McDonald's, rebuilt from scratch rather than reheated out of a box. Beef does the work here, so the seasoning stays light and the cooking stays hot. Stripped back, it is ground beef, salt, black pepper and sesame seed bun. Worth reading twice before you start: time to assemble in the classic mcdonald's order: on the toasted top bun, apply five small 'dots' of mustard around the edge and a healthy swirl of ketchup in the middle. It scored 9.5 out of 10 here, and readers have voted on it 3 times since. The full method runs to 7 steps below, with the ingredient list above it. Everything is measured for a normal home kitchen rather than a restaurant line.

Ingredients

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Ground beef1/4 pound (115g) ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
Salt1 pinch salt
Black pepper1 pinch black pepper
Sesame seed bun1 sesame seed bun
American cheese2 slices American cheese
Ketchup1 Tablespoon (15ml) ketchup
Yellow mustard1 teaspoon (5ml) yellow mustard
Dill pickle2 dill pickle slices
White onion2 Tablespoons (15g) white onion, slivered (thinly sliced strips)

Recipe

1
First, prep the signature 'slivered' onions. Instead of dicing them like a regular cheeseburger, slice a white onion into long, thin strips. This gives the Quarter Pounder its distinct crunch and bite. Set these aside with your pickle slices.
2
Form your beef into a smooth, round ball. Since this is a 'Quarter Pounder,' you need exactly 4 ounces (115g) of beef. Don't flatten it yet—we want it to stay juicy. Season the outside generously with salt and pepper right before it hits the heat.
3
Toast your sesame seed bun in a dry pan or with a tiny bit of butter until it's light golden brown. A warm, toasted bun is the secret to keeping the ketchup and mustard from soaking in and making things mushy.
4
Heat a heavy skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Place the beef ball in the center and press it down with a heavy spatula until it's about 1/2 inch thick and slightly wider than the bun. Cook for about 2-3 minutes until a deep, dark crust forms.
5
Flip the patty. Immediately place one slice of American cheese on top. Pro tip: The real QPC actually uses TWO slices of cheese—one on top and one on the bottom bun. Place the second slice on the toasted bottom bun now so it starts to soften from the heat of the patty.
6
Time to assemble in the classic McDonald's order: On the toasted top bun, apply five small 'dots' of mustard around the edge and a healthy swirl of ketchup in the middle. Toss on your slivered onions and two pickles.
7
Place the cheesy beef patty onto the bottom bun (which already has a slice of cheese waiting). Crown it with the dressed top bun. Give it a gentle squish to bring the flavors together, and let it sit for 30 seconds to let the cheese fully 'velveetize.'