Grilled Cheese Burger Recipe

Why You'll Love This Grilled Cheese Cheeseburger

This grilled cheeseburger is one of those recipes that makes you wonder how you didn't try it sooner. I first heard about a grilled cheese burger from an Applebee's commercial. I, of course, went to Applebee's to try it, and it was so good I had to make my own version at home. Instead of overcomplicating it, I kept things classic. A juicy, well-seasoned burger patty cooked just right, sandwiched between two buttery grilled cheese-style slices of bread. The result is a grilled cheeseburger that tastes like the best parts of a diner burger and a gooey grilled cheese fused into one ridiculous, over-the-top sandwich.

This recipe takes everything people love about a regular cheeseburger and a grilled cheese and merges them into one bite. It's fast to make, satisfyingly messy in the best way, and absolutely “worth it” comfort food. Whether you're cooking for game day, a fun weeknight dinner, or just craving something indulgent and different, this grilled cheese burger delivers big-time.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 10 oz ground beef
• 2 slices American cheese
• 3 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 4 slices thick white bread
• 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
• Yellow mustard, to taste
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste

How To Make a Grilled Cheeseburger

Step 1: Form and Season the Patties

Divide the ground beef into two equal portions and form them into patties. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.

Step 2: Cook the Burger Patties

Heat a cast-iron skillet or frying pan over high heat for about a minute. Press each patty to roughly ¼-inch thick and cook for 4 minutes per side. During the last 2 minutes of cooking on the final side, place a slice of American cheese on each patty and let it melt fully.

Step 3: Prep the Bread

Spread a thin, even layer of mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread. This will be the outside of your grilled cheeseburger.

Step 4: Build the Sandwich

Place two slices of bread mayo-side down in the pan over medium-low heat. Add a layer of shredded mozzarella to each slice, then place a cheesy burger patty on top.

Drizzle with yellow mustard and top with the remaining bread slices, mayo-side facing outward.

Step 5: Grill Until Golden

Cook each side of the sandwich for about 2 minutes, pressing gently, until the bread is golden brown and the cheese inside is fully melted.

Step 6: Serve

Remove from the pan, slice in half if desired, and serve immediately while hot and gooey.

Expert Tips To Make The Best Grilled Cheese Burger

• Use mayo on the bread instead of butter. A thin layer of mayonnaise on the outside of the bread gives you that diner-style golden crust. Mayo spreads more evenly than cold butter and has a higher smoke point, so it browns beautifully without burning while the inside of the sandwich heats through.
• Cook the sandwich low and slow. Once you build the grilled cheeseburger, drop the heat to medium-low. This gives the mozzarella and American cheese time to fully melt and the bread time to crisp without scorching. If the bread is browning too fast and the cheese is still firm, your heat is too high.
• Keep the patties thin and well seasoned. Press the patties to about ¼ inch thick before cooking. Thin patties cook quickly, develop a nice sear, and fit the sandwich without making it too bulky. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper so the beef holds its own against all that cheese.
• Use American cheese directly on the burger. American cheese melts into a smooth, gooey layer that clings to the patty and gives you that classic cheeseburger flavor. Add it during the last couple of minutes of cooking the beef so it can melt right onto the patty before you transfer it to the bread.
• Layer mozzarella for stretch and pull. Mozzarella or a good melty cheese blend on the bread gives you those long cheese pulls when you slice or bite into the sandwich. Lay it down first on the bread, then add the cheesy burger patty on top so you get both stretchy mozzarella and melty American in every bite.
• Do not skip the mustard. A small drizzle of yellow mustard inside the sandwich cuts through the richness of the butter, mayo, cheese, and beef. It adds just enough acidity and tang to keep the grilled cheeseburger from feeling heavy and gives it that familiar “burger and grilled cheese” hybrid flavor.
• Let the sandwich rest briefly before cutting. Once both sides are golden and the cheese is fully melted, take the grilled cheeseburger off the heat and let it sit on the cutting board for 30–60 seconds. This quick rest allows the cheese to settle slightly so it does not all ooze out the moment you slice or bite into it, and it makes for a cleaner, more satisfying first bite.

Grilled Cheese Burger FAQs

My Final Thoughts

This grilled cheeseburger is indulgent, crispy, cheesy, and unapologetically over-the-top. It’s one of those recipes that feels like a guilty pleasure but becomes an instant favorite after the first bite. If you love burgers and grilled cheese, this mash-up belongs in your regular rotation.

Recipes To Try Next

• Crack burger
• Grilled cheese burrito
• In-N-Out burger
• Onion-wrapped burger
• Quesadilla burger