A Very Good Pimento Cheese Burger

Recipe Notes

This is one of my absolute favorite ways to eat burgers - we make homemade pimento cheese all the time, and I love doing things with it besides just serving it with crackers or on sandwiches.

The method here is super simple: sear some beef patties in a very hot cast iron skillet, then top them with a scoop of pimento cheese once they are flipped. Top them however you'd like, then eat!

I make my own homemade pimento cheese without cream cheese for this recipe in particular because I find that some storebought versions have too much mayo and get a little drippy on the burger. My version has more cheese, less mayo, but that's just my personal preference. These burgers work perfectly with any pimento cheese that is your favorite!

Ingredients

Super simple stuff here! Pimento cheese, beef and salt, buns and toppings. That's IT! The simplicity is so magic here, and why it's extra important to pick a pimento cheese that you really like - it adds a lot of the flavor to this recipe.

Step By Step Instructions

The main thing to keep in mind here is timing: all the steps for these burgers are very simple as long as everything is where you need it to be and prepped!

1. First, I make sure that the pimento cheese is on hand or made, if I'm making it myself. If you're making pimento cheese from scratch, give it at least 15 minutes to sit once it's all stirred together.
2. Next, form patties with your beef. I make 4 thin patties, about ¼ pound each, in a shape slightly larger than the buns to allow for a little shrinking when they cook in the skillet.
3. While the pimento cheese and burger patties are resting, gather up buns and any toppings you'd like for your burgers. Then, it's time to cook!

Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

Now that we're prepped and ready, all that's left to do is sear the burgers, add the pimento cheese, and eat!

• To start, preheat a cast iron skillet to medium heat (they get hot, just give it time!) with a drizzle of olive oil.
• When the skillet is HOT, add the burger patties and sprinkle them with salt if you haven't already. We want the beef to be very flavorful, so don't skip this step.
• Let the burgers sear without messing with them for about 4 minutes. Check one burger; it's ready to flip when there is a nice dark crust on the first side.
• When the burgers are browned on the first side, flip them. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of pimento cheese on each burger, then let the burgers finish cooking for just another minute or two while the pimento cheese melts and softens slightly.
• Build your hamburger with pimento cheese, top it however you'd like, and eat!

Pro Tip: If you'd like, toast the buns in some butter in the skillet before starting the burgers, then sear the burgers in the remaining butter. YUM.

My favorite toppings are lettuce and bread and butter pickles because I think the sweet pickles go so well with the salty burger and cheese. But, sky's the limit - use any burger toppings you love here!

Of course, if you prefer to grill your burgers do that! I just love this cast iron skillet burger method.

Make Ahead and Storing Leftovers

These are 100% best served immediately. To prep, I like to make the pimento cheese and form the burger patties in advance, then bring the meal together in about 20 minutes.

Leftovers store best WITHOUT being assembled. Keep the pimento cheese, burgers, and buns all separate if you think you won't eat them all when you're making them.

What To Serve with Pimento Cheeseburgers

• Classic pimento cheeseburger and fries, make some frozen French fries to make life really easy. They'll be done in almost the same amount of time it takes to make the burgers!
• Homemade potato chips are really special as a side dish too.
• OR loaded potato salad that you can make in advance.
• For something fresh, strawberry cucumber salad is absolutely delicious in the summer!

I hope you love these! They are so delicious for a holiday weekend or a weeknight burger night at home. Pimento cheese burgers are the best!