The Best Burger in the World

Let’s talk about the best burger in the world.

A few months ago, a good friend of mine took some friends and I to his family’s restaurant. At this restaurant I ordered this burger, of which I exclaimed, “This is the best burger in the world.”

I have had it in my mind for a while to remake this miraculous burger to the best of my ability… and while on a recent visit to Texas, with plans of watching this big basketball game that I think was supposed to be important or something, my boyfriend said he was buying some beer on his way over, to which I thought it would only be right to pair the best burger in the world.

I twisted my friend’s family restaurant’s burger a bit to make it my own, but I have to give great thanks for the inspiration. My tummy thanks you ;)

Let me just preface that this is NOT healthy. But, ya know, that’s what Splurge Saturdays are for. 

You just gotta splurge sometimes.

Equation to the best burger of the world:

2 Buttery Toasted Hawaiian buns

+

¼ Cup Pimento Cheese

+

1 Perfectly-Cooked Over Easy Egg

+

1 80/20 (Beef-To-Fat Ratio) Well-Seasoned Ground Beef Patty

+

1 Small Block of American Cheese (stuffed into the Beef Patty)

YUM!

The Juicy Pimento Cheese, Egg, American-Cheese Stuffed Burger

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Perfect Pimento Cheese:

2 cups grated Cheddar Cheese

1 cup grated Monterey Jack Cheese or Pepper Jack Cheese

1 4-ounce can diced Pimentos (found by the olives in the grocery store)

1 Jalapeño pepper, washed, diced fine, seeds kept

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon cayenne

2/3 cup reduced-fat Mayonnaise

½ cup reduced-fat Cream Cheese, softened

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Burger:

1 ½ pounds Ground Beef (80 percent lean-this is most important for the perfect burger)

1 ½ tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste

1 teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 eggs

4 American Cheese slices (or any type of cheese, but for this burger I suggest this)

4 Hawaiian buns

1 tablespoon softened butter

Original Pam Spray
A bunch of napkins (you'll need them, trust me)

Procedure:

1. So you don’t forget, preheat the oven to Broil. Butter each bun and bottom of the Hawaiian buns, and place on a baking sheet. (DON’T place in oven yet).
2. Make pimento cheese: Mix all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to use. (Note: you probably won't use all of the Pimento cheese of the burgers, but it serves as a GREAT snack with pretzel crackers, snow peas, or even a killer grilled cheese)
3.  Cut each slice of American cheese in half, then in half again (so you have 4 equal squares). Stack 4 squares on top of each other to form 4 cheese cubes.
4. In a large bowl, mix with your clean hands ground beef, Worcestershire Sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, and olive oil until ingredients are well combined.
5. Divide beef into 8 equal portions and place on a work surface. Roll each of these portions into balls and then flatten them. Place 1 stack of American cheese in 4 patties. Place the other empty patties on top of the patties with American cheese, and pinch the edges to form a tight seal. Cup each patty with your hands to reform them into normal looking burger patties, and work them until they form a single, thick patty. Repeat with all patties until you have 4 good-looking patties. Transfer them to plate and refrigerate for a moment while you prepare the stove.  
6.  If you have this type of amazing stovetop grillpan, then get out that baby. But if you don’t (don’t fret, but you should probably go ahead and order it), just get out a large, nonstick sauté pan. Heat over medium-low heat until hot (like 2-3 minutes), spray well with Pam, then place the 4 patties (or as many as will fit at one time) into the plan. Turn heat to low (it's all about low and slow!) and cook, undisturbed (don’t press them), for 4 minutes (it's totally okay if cheese oozes out a bit). With a spatula, flip patties and cook another 4 minutes. This creates a medium-rare burger (how a burger should be eaten), but if you aren't one for any pink in the center, then cook your burger a little longer on each side for desired done-ness. Transfer patties to a plate and cover loosely with tinfoil (it’s important to let the burger rest for a few minutes). Reserve the burger juices in the pan they cooked in.
7.  While burgers are resting, throw those Hawaiian Buns in the oven and set a timer for 3 minutes.
8. In a medium saucepan, pour the reserved burger “juices” and heat to medium heat. Gently crack all 4 eggs into the pan and cook until whites are set, but yolks are still soft (about 3 to 4 minutes-over easy style). With spatula, divide the eggs into 4 portions (if the whites are all stuck together). Season with salt and pepper and take off heat.
9. Pull the Hawaiian buns. Divide onto four plates. Immediately coat the top buns with a heaping amount of pimento cheese. Place a burger patty on each of the four bottoms. Place an over-easy egg on top of each patty.
10. Serve to your sports-obsessed boyfriend, who actually takes his eyes off the game to eat this burger because it is, in fact, the best burger in the world.