These quarter-pounders are lightened up with 90-percent lean beef and a mere half-ounce of Cheddar, and they’re served on wholesome whole wheat English muffins.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 40 min |
| Prep: | 15 min |
| Cook: | 25 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- Canola oil or nonstick grilling cooking spray, for oiling the grates
- 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 4 whole wheat English muffins, split
- 1 medium ripe tomato, cored and cut into 4 thick slices
- 1 pound 90-percent lean ground beef
- 2 ounces 50-percent reduced-fat sharp Cheddar, grated (about 1/2 cup)
- Pickles, for serving, optional
Instructions
- Heat a grill to medium-high direct heat and lightly oil the grates using a paper towel soaked in canola oil or nonstick grilling cooking spray.
- Spread a 16-inch-long piece of nonstick aluminum foil on a cutting board (or mist a piece of regular aluminum foil with nonstick cooking spray). Top with the onions, 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper and 1 tablespoon water. Bring two sides of the foil together, fold over twice to create a seal and then seal the remaining two ends. Put on the grill and cook for 12 minutes, flipping once. The onions should be tender with only a bit of charring. Carefully open the top of the foil to let all the steam out and continue to cook the onions, tossing, until browned and lightly charred, 3 minutes longer. Remove from the heat.
- While the onions cook, mix the ketchup and mustard together in a small bowl. Season with pepper and set aside.
- Lightly toast the English muffins on the grill and place one top and bottom on each of 4 plates. Spread some of the ketchup sauce on the bottom half of each muffin and top with a slice of tomato.
- Divide the beef into 4 patties about 4 inches in diameter and just under 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle with a total of 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place the burgers on the grill. Cook until the edges of the burgers are browning, 3 to 5 minutes, and then flip. Brush the burgers with the remaining ketchup sauce and evenly top with the shredded cheese. Cover the burgers with the grill lid or a large heatproof bowl and continue to cook until the cheese has melted and the burgers are still a bit pink on the inside, about 3 minutes more.
- Put one burger on top of the assembled muffin bottom and top with some of the grilled onions and the top of the muffin. Serve with pickles if desired.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 399 calorie |
| Total Fat | 15 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 6 grams |
| Cholesterol | 81 milligrams |
| Sodium | 815 milligrams |
| Carbohydrates | 33 grams |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.5 grams |
| Protein | 34 grams |
| Sugar | 9 grams |
Reviews
Didn’t make this yet but sounds good. For years I cooked onions like this when camping with scouts.
This really isn’t a recipe so much as a technique. Covering the burgers after topping them creates a steam chamber and the burgers stay really moist. I have always done the onions like this as a grilled steak topper, but I add Worcestershire sauce to the packet as well. They really are divine.
You really should use 80/20 ground beef for a juicier burger. That leaner meat makes it too dry. I liked the onion technique though. Gives you those nice soft cooked onions without having to cook in a lot of butter or oil like on the stove.
VERY TASTEY, the onions cooked on the grill in an aluminum envelope ? I invented the technic in honor of my father after many years of being in the gourmet food catering field, working with chefs in all the kitchens in the Richmond Virginia metro area. From 1star 1diamond to 5 star 5 diamond. I am grateful that my food God gave me the technic to cook very choice entree’s.I presently cook a 73/27 1/4 lb burger for $2.00 and a Nathan Hotdog for a dollar Monday and Wednesdays at noon on the south side of Richmond, on a pretty little choice grilling unit on a roll around cart. everyone love the tastey ones. It all came to me so easily, I wonder how it came to the people in your kitchen to create this recipe. contact me please.