This Classic Grilled Cheeseburger with Easy Burger Sauce is everything backyard BBQ should be—juicy, melty, flame-kissed, and loaded with bold, crave-worthy flavor in every bite.
Made with high-quality ground beef, gooey melted cheese, and a quick homemade burger sauce that brings tang and richness, this burger is grilled to perfection and served on a toasted bun. Whether you’re firing up the grill for a weeknight dinner or a weekend BBQ, this foolproof cheeseburger delivers big-time flavor with simple ingredients. Get ready for your new go-to burger recipe
Feeds 2-4 people
Prep time 15 minutes
Cook time 15 minutes
Why This Cheeseburger & Sauce Recipe Works
Juicy, Flavor-Packed Beef: Using high-quality ground beef with an 80/20 meat-to-fat ratio ensures every bite is tender, juicy, and full of rich, beefy flavor. The fat renders perfectly over high heat, creating a slightly charred crust that locks in the juices—exactly what you want in a grilled burger.
Perfect Cheese Melt: Cheese is melted directly over the patties in the final minutes of grilling, allowing it to drape over the meat like a creamy blanket. Whether you’re using American, cheddar, or a custom blend, that gooey melt adds a rich, savory layer that ties the whole burger together.
Easy Homemade Burger Sauce: This sauce is the secret weapon. It combines pantry staples like mayo, ketchup, mustard, and a dash of pickle juice to create a tangy, creamy, slightly sweet condiment that elevates the burger without overpowering it. It’s fast, customizable, and far better than anything store-bought.
That Flame-Grilled Char: Cooking over an open flame or hot grates gives the burger that unmistakable grilled flavor—slightly smoky, deeply savory, and impossible to replicate on a stovetop. It’s that backyard BBQ magic that sets this cheeseburger apart from the rest.
Ingredients
- 4 beef hamburger patties. The package i used for this recipe was a 4 pack weighing 1.3 pounds
- 4 brioche or hamburger buns
- 4 slices of american cheese
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Red onion slices
- Pickle slices
- 1 pound of bacon
Ingredients for Burger Sauce
- ¾ cup mayo
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon relish
Burger Prep
Make the Burger Sauce: First, prepare your homemade burger sauce by mixing your ingredients and placing it in the refrigerator. This allows the flavors to meld while you prep and cook the rest of the meal.
Prep Your Toppings: Next, slice your lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. If you’re adding bacon, lay it out on a sheet pan so it’s ready to cook. Prepping your toppings ahead of time will make assembling the burgers much easier and less stressful later on.
Season the Bacon (Optional): For extra flavor, season your bacon with a BBQ or pork rub on one side. This step is totally optional, but it adds a nice kick of smoky-sweet flavor.
Cook the Bacon: Place the bacon in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Set it aside once done.
Season the Burger Patties: Now, take your beef patties and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Keep it simple—this lets the beef shine.
Preheat the Grill: Before grilling, heat your grill to medium heat. Allow it to come up to temp so you get a good sear.
Cooking Process
Grill the Burgers: Place your patties on the grill and cook them, flipping every 2 minutes. This method helps build an even crust on both sides while locking in the juices.
Add the Cheese: Once the crust has formed, add a slice of cheese to each patty. Close the lid and let the cheese melt over the burgers.
Check Internal Temperature: Grill your burgers until they reach an internal temperature of 155–160°F (68–71°C) for a safe and juicy medium-well doneness.
Build Your Cheeseburgers: Now it’s time to assemble! Start by placing a leaf of lettuce on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Add a spoonful of your chilled burger sauce on top of the lettuce.
Add the Patty and Toppings: Place your cheesy beef patty on top, then layer on sliced red onion, pickles, tomatoes, and bacon. Finally, drizzle with more burger sauce and top with the bun.
This pairs great with with Spinach & Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms
If you are looking for another quick BBQ handheld recipe check out this BLT With Steakhouse Bacon
Classic Grilled Cheeseburger with Easy Burger Sauce
Made with high-quality ground beef, gooey melted cheese, and a quick homemade burger sauce that brings tang and richness, this burger is grilled to perfection and served on a toasted bun. Whether you're firing up the grill for a weeknight dinner or a weekend BBQ, this foolproof cheeseburger delivers big-time flavor with simple ingredients. Get ready for your new go-to burger recipe
Ingredients
- 4 beef hamburger patties. The package i used for this recipe was a 4 pack weighing 1.3 pounds
- 4 brioche or hamburger buns
- 4 slices of american cheese
- 1 pound of bacon
- Pickle slices
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Red onion slices
Ingredients for Burger Sauce
- ¾ cup mayo
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon relish
Instructions
Make the Burger Sauce: First, prepare your homemade burger sauce by mixing your ingredients and placing it in the refrigerator. This allows the flavors to meld while you prep and cook the rest of the meal.
Prep Your Toppings: Next, slice your lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. If you're adding bacon, lay it out on a sheet pan so it's ready to cook. Prepping your toppings ahead of time will make assembling the burgers much easier and less stressful later on.
Season the Bacon (Optional): For extra flavor, season your bacon with a BBQ or pork rub on one side. This step is totally optional, but it adds a nice kick of smoky-sweet flavor.
Cook the Bacon: Place the bacon in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake until it reaches your desired level of crispiness. Set it aside once done.
Season the Burger Patties: Now, take your beef patties and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Keep it simple—this lets the beef shine.
Preheat the Grill: Before grilling, heat your grill to medium heat. Allow it to come up to temp so you get a good sear.
Grill the Burgers: Place your patties on the grill and cook them, flipping every 2 minutes. This method helps build an even crust on both sides while locking in the juices.
Add the Cheese: Once the crust has formed, add a slice of cheese to each patty. Close the lid and let the cheese melt over the burgers.
Check Internal Temperature: Grill your burgers until they reach an internal temperature of 155–160°F (68–71°C) for a safe and juicy medium-well doneness.
Build Your Cheeseburgers: Now it's time to assemble! Start by placing a leaf of lettuce on the bottom half of each toasted bun. Add a spoonful of your chilled burger sauce on top of the lettuce.
Add the Patty and Toppings: Place your cheesy beef patty on top, then layer on sliced red onion, pickles, tomatoes, and bacon. Finally, drizzle with more burger sauce and top with the bun.
Notes
Juicy, Flavor-Packed Beef: Using high-quality ground beef with an 80/20 meat-to-fat ratio ensures every bite is tender, juicy, and full of rich, beefy flavor. The fat renders perfectly over high heat, creating a slightly charred crust that locks in the juices—exactly what you want in a grilled burger.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 720Cholesterol: 120mgSodium: 820mgProtein: 38g