Gordon Ramsay’s Backyard Burger is the classic done right: a juicy beef patty and melted American cheese on a toasted bun, with butter lettuce, tomato, dill pickles, and red onion. It is the straightforward cheeseburger the rest of his signature burgers build on, and the recipe below keeps it simple.
More Gordon Ramsay burgers: Hell’s Kitchen Burger and Farmhouse Burger.
Backyard Burger Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef (preferably 80/20 mix)
- 4 slices American Cheese
- 4 leaves – Butter Lettuce
- 1 medium sliced – Tomato
- 4 slices – Dill Pickles
- 1 small thinly sliced – Red Onion
- 4 Hamburger Buns
- To taste, Salt and Pepper
- Optional Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise
For grilling
- Butter or Oil
Instructions
Prepare Patties:
- Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions.
- Form each portion into a patty about ¾ inch thick.
- Season both sides of each patty with salt and pepper.
Preheat Grill:
- Preheat your grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat.
- Lightly oil the grill grates or pan.
Cook Burgers:
- Place the patties on the grill and cook for 4 minutes per side for medium doneness.
- A couple of minutes before the burgers are done, place a slice of American cheese on each patty and let it melt.
Prepare Buns:
- Butter the insides of the hamburger buns and toast them on the grill or skillet until lightly golden.
Assemble Burgers:
- On the bottom bun, place a lettuce leaf, followed by a slice of tomato, a few slices of red onion, and a couple of pickle slices.
- Place the cheese-topped burger patty on top.
- Add ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise if desired.
- Cap with the top bun.
Serve:
- Serve immediately with your choice of side dishes like fries or a salad.
Notes
Feast on flavors: Discover Gordon Ramsay’s Top Signature Burgers and find your new favorite.
Backyard Burger FAQs
The questions that come up most: what is on the burger, the best beef to use, how to cook the patty, and what to serve alongside.
How do you cook the patty?
Season the formed patties just before cooking and sear over high heat for a browned crust, flipping once. Cook ground beef to a safe internal 160°F, per the USDA.
What is on the Backyard Burger?
An 80/20 beef patty, American cheese, butter lettuce, tomato, dill pickles, and thinly sliced red onion on a soft toasted bun, with ketchup, mustard, or mayo to taste.
What beef is best for burgers?
An 80/20 ground chuck (80% lean, 20% fat) gives the juiciest patty; the fat keeps it moist and helps it brown. Handle it lightly so the patty stays tender.
What sides go with a Backyard Burger?
Keep it casual: fries, a crisp slaw, or grilled corn. It is a classic cookout burger, so simple sides let it shine.
About the Author
John Siracusa is the founder of Hell’s Kitchen Recipes. He focuses on technique-first, reproducible home cooking and researches recipes & kitchen equipment from published food science and professional chef methods since 2016.
