Name: Try Colin’s ultimate beef burger recipe and you’ll never want takeaway again
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 36 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 6 PATTIES 500g chuck steak, minced (see Cook’s Tip); 500g brisket with fat on, minced (see Cook’s Tip); 1 Tbsp garlic powder; 1 Tbsp onion powder; 1/2 bunch thyme, leaves picked and chopped; Sea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season; Sauce; 1/3 cup whole-egg mayonnaise; 1 Tbsp American mustard; 1 Tbsp gherkin relish; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp white pepper; 2 Tbsp pickling vinegar (from pickled cucumbers); For burgers; 6 cheddar cheese slices; 6 milk buns, split, warmed; 6 butter lettuce leaves, washed; 3 oxheart tomatoes, sliced; 6 sandwich stacker pickled cucumbers; Baby pickles, crinkle-cut potato crisps, to serve

Everyone loves a good burger, but Colin’s ultimate beef burger takes things to the next level. Not surprisingly, the star of this show is the perfectly seasoned beef patty: juicy, flavour-packed, and cooked to perfection.

Along with the most perfect patty you’ve ever tasted is, of course, the secret sauce. The smoky yet tangy burger sauce brings this burger all together. Just serve with fresh produce and brioche buns, and you’ll be wondering why you’d ever need a takeaway burger ever again.

Ingredients

6 PATTIES 500g chuck steak, minced (see Cook’s Tip)

500g brisket with fat on, minced (see Cook’s Tip)

1 Tbsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp onion powder

1/2 bunch thyme, leaves picked and chopped

Sea-salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to season

Sauce

1/3 cup whole-egg mayonnaise

1 Tbsp American mustard

1 Tbsp gherkin relish

1 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp white pepper

2 Tbsp pickling vinegar (from pickled cucumbers)

For burgers

6 cheddar cheese slices

6 milk buns, split, warmed

6 butter lettuce leaves, washed

3 oxheart tomatoes, sliced

6 sandwich stacker pickled cucumbers

Baby pickles, crinkle-cut potato crisps, to serve

Method

Step 1

For patties, combine all ingredients, taking care not to overmix. Divide into six patties. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm.

Step 2

For sauce, whisk all ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate.

Step 3

Heat an oiled barbecue grill plate or chargrill pan on high heat. Add patties and flatten slightly with a spatula. Cook 2–3 minutes or until charred. Flip patties and cook the other side for a further 1 minute. Top with cheese slices. Cook 1–2 minutes, until cheese melts.

Step 4

Spread sauce on bun bases. Top with lettuce, tomato, patties and pickled cucumbers. Drizzle with extra sauce and top with bun lids. Skewer a baby pickle on top. Serve with crisps.

beef burger with pickle on top on blue tabletop

Cook’s tips

Your local butcher can provide minced chuck steak and brisket with fat on. For an alternative, use fatty beef mince.
To warm buns, microwave for about 10–15 seconds.

What is the best sauce for beef burgers?

The perfect sauce for beef burgers really depends on what your preference is. Typically, a creamy, tangy, and slightly smoky sauce is a great option (like the one in Colin’s recipe). Mixing sauces together like mayo, tomato sauce, and mustard is a good place to start if you’re short on time to make your own from scratch.

How do I make a good beef burger?

Quality mince is where you’ll want to start. As mentioned, heading to your local butcher is a great option. Otherwise, when you’re looking at supermarket mince, find something that has a good mix of fat and lean mince. Further, make sure you season your patties well and avoid overmixing, as that can make them a bit dense.

Colin Fassnidge Chef

Colin brings his signature cheeky Irish flair to Better Homes and Gardens, joining the top-rating lifestyle program during its 30th anniversary year and becoming the latest ingredient in Australia’s favourite Friday night tradition.