Description
A quick and indulgent comfort food dish featuring juicy ground beef, melted cheddar cheese, and soft burger buns soaked in a rich, zesty garlic butter sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 6–8 burger buns (potato or brioche)
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 tbsp yellow or Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup pickle chips (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Pinch of smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula. Season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook until browned and no pink remains. Drain excess grease if necessary, then transfer beef to a bowl.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over low heat. Add minced garlic and diced onion. Sauté gently for 2-3 minutes until onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant. Stir in mustard and pickle juice if using.
- Place the bottom halves of the burger buns into the prepared baking dish, arranging them snugly together. Spoon half of the garlic butter sauce over the buns.
- Spread the cooked ground beef evenly over the buns. Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar cheese over the meat. Add pickle chips if using.
- Place the top halves of the buns over the cheese. Pour the remaining garlic butter sauce generously over the top buns. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden, and the buns are toasted but soft. If browning too fast, cover loosely with foil.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing into squares and serving immediately.
Notes
Use 80/20 ground beef for maximum juiciness. Grate cheese from a block for better melting. If the buns brown too quickly, cover with foil. For leftovers, store in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheat in the oven at 350°F to maintain texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square (approx. 1/
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 45
- Saturated Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: garlic butter burger bake, easy dinner, comfort food, beef casserole, 30 minute meals, family dinner, ground beef recipes