This grilled cheese hamburger is full of bacon, a burger, and cheese! Making a ground beef grilled cheese is a budget-friendly and delicious way to enjoy burgers!
Ken, my husband, has loved grilled cheese ever since he was a little kid and I never knew there were so many grilled cheese variations until I met him.
We've tried out buffalo chicken grilled cheese, pizza grilled cheese, and even a mushroom grilled cheese!
But this hamburger grilled cheese is always a favorite!! Whether we dip it in our own onion ketchup, HP Sauce, or homemade steak sauce, they are always a hit.
Who can resist a crispy grilled cheese sandwich with bacon and a hamburger? You have to give these babies a try!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It takes grilled cheese and amps it up to next-level goodness!!
- Meat lovers will find love at first bite when eating this ultimate experience!
- There are so many possible variation and its ease of making is beyond no other!
Ingredients You Need
It only takes a handful of ingredients to make these delicious ground beef grilled cheese sandwiches. You'll find them all at your local grocery store.
If you are looking for some other topping ideas to include inside your grilled cheese look no further.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for exact amounts.
- Ground beef: I like to choose a middle of the line fat content for a flavorful, but not too fatty burger.
- Bacon: Choose your favorite cut and brand of bacon.
- Cheese: We love cheddar cheese slices for its super sharp, tang on a grilled cheese.
- Bread: Choose your favorite loaf!
- Fat: Butter and olive give these patty melt grilled cheese perfectly crisp outsides.
- Steak seasoning: To season the burger patties for your burger grilled cheese sandwich.
Substitutions and Variations
- Ground Beef: You can use ground pork, sausage, chicken or turkey, or a combination to create your burger patty.
- Bacon: Turkey bacon makes a healthy option or you can choose to skip the bacon.
- Cheese: Swap the cheddar for another flavor of cheese.
- No Steak Seasoning: Swap it for another favorite seasoning or simply use salt and pepper.
- Vegetarian or Vegan: Use your favorite ground meat substitute and veggie bacon.
- Stuff It: Add a cube of cheese inside the burger patty to give it that extra kick of cheesiness. You can also stuff the inside of the burger with other ingredients such as onions, mushrooms, or sundried tomatoes.
If you love these flavors, you may also enjoy our bacon mac and cheese burger or bacon cheeseburger pie.
How to Make Hamburger Grilled Cheese
These delicious double grilled cheese bacon burgers only take a few simple steps. The highlights are below. You can find the exact instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Cook the bacon until crispy.
- Mix the meat and spices together while the bacon cooks.
- After mixing, shape the mixture into two patties.
- Cook the burgers in a skillet until done.
TOP TIP: When shaping your burgers, use your thumb to make a deep impression in the center of the meat patty. This keeps it from puffing out so it will sit properly in your grilled cheese.
- Place buttered bread facedown on skillet.
- Top each slice with cheese and bacon. Cook until bread is golden brown.
- Place a burger on top, another slice of cheese, and another slice of bread. Flip and cook until golden.
- Slice your hamburger grilled cheese in half and enjoy!
Storage
Refrigerator: You can store it for up to 3 days as long as it's in an airtight container.
Freezer: You can store it for up to 6 weeks in the freezer as long as you place it in a flat, single-layer freezer bag.
To Reheat: If frozen, thaw a frozen grilled cheese, place it in the microwave for 60 seconds at 50% power, flip and then thaw for another 60 seconds.
To reheat unfrozen leftovers, cook in a skillet on the stovetop with a bit of butter or oil in the pan to crisp up the outside of it again being careful not to burn it. Cook just long enough to crisp up the bread and heat up the insides.
You can also microwave it for 90 seconds (although the bread will not turn out crispy with this method).
Can I make this recipe ahead? Yes, you ca. I recommend eating it freshly cooked as the bread is always nicer when freshly crisped.
What to Serve with Grilled Cheese Hamburger
All our favorite grilled cheese sides go great! Here are some of my favorites:
- Fries: Choose between Frozen Sweet Potato Fries In Air Fryer and Copycat Air Fried Taco Bell Nacho Fries, or your favorite french fry!
- Salads: Adding a salad makes a healthy side dish! I love this Classic Pasta Salad or this The Best Broccoli Salad.
- Other potato options! If fries aren't your thing, try out these Baked Parmesan Potato Halves or Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes.
- Add a sauce. Skip the boring old ketchup and mustard and add some Bacon Aioli, Spicy Mayo, Copycat Big Mac Sauce, or Honey Mustard Mayo.
Tips
- Avoid pre-sliced or shredded cheese. They contain additives that make the melting more difficult and in turn make for a grilled cheese of lesser quality. Your best bet is to buy block cheese and slice or shred it yourself.
- Cook long enough to melt the cheese before flipping. The melted cheese holds the bacon in place when you flip the bread over.
- Feel free to use extra cheese!! My son says there's no such of thing as too much cheese.
FAQ
Do you have questions about Grilled Cheese Hamburger with Bacon? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about it.
Yes, they are the perfect size for it and you also have the option of buying frozen chicken or turkey burgers or veggie burgers...pretty much any kind that suits your fancy.
The option of cheddar vs American is totally up to you so yes, you can use it...just keep in mind that the American will melt faster and has a different flavor to it.
Yes, once the sandwich is built, you can make it in a sprayed air fryer at 370 degrees for 10 minutes.
While the earliest known grilled cheese was invented in 1902, the hamburger came earlier, making it's first appearance in the late 1800's.
More Grilled Cheese Recipes
If you just love grilled cheese recipes then here are some others that you may also like to try.
Grilled Cheese Hamburger with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, or ground sausage
- 8 slices bacon cooked slices cut in half (optional)
- 8 slices cheese
- 8 slices bread
- ½ cup butter
- olive oil for cooking
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon burger seasoning or steak seasoning, to taste
Instructions
- Fry bacon slices until cooked. Drain on paper towel. Cut in half.
- Prepare your burger mixture. In a mixing bowl add your meat, salt, pepper and whichever spices you have decided to include. I usually use a heaping tablespoon of burger seasoning or steak seasoning. Mix thoroughly.
- Shape patties as thick or as thin as you want them. I try and make them the size of my bread.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and cook them until done. Set aside.
Assemble the Sandwich
- Do this one or two at a time, depending on the size of your pan. Butter one side of each slice of bread and place the butter sides down on an ungreased frying pan on medium heat.
- Top each slice of bread with a slice of cheese.
- Place the cut slices of bacon on one side or both once the cheese starts to melt into the slices of bread. Once this happens add a burger on top of one slice of cheese and wait until the bread has become golden brown.
- Then, flip the other slice on top of the burger. The cheese will melt onto the burger and will be ready to eat.
- Slice sandwich in half and serve.
Notes
- Avoid pre-sliced or shredded cheese. They contain additives that make the melting more difficult and in turn make for a grilled cheese of lesser quality. Your best bet is to buy block cheese and slice or shred it yourself.
- Cook long enough to melt the cheese before flipping. The melted cheese holds the bacon in place when you flip the bread over.
- Feel free to use extra cheese!! My son says there's no such of thing as too much cheese.
- Need topping ideas? Have a look at our long list of grilled cheese alternatives.
Nutrition
This post was originally published December 2015. It has been updated with new images and content.
Irene R says
In all my years of cooking, I never thought of this. Looks amazing and with a Husband who would eat only hamburgers for his whole life, This is a game-pleaser. Love your recipes. I make many of them all 5-star rating.
Karin and Ken says
I’m grateful for your kind words! I try my best. My husband is exact same way if it was possible lol Take care and enjoy the rest of your day! Karin
Sydney says
Talk about a redneck dinner! Or lunch. I just love this. They are so easy to make. You guys are right this is a cheap meal but it's definitely not cheap in flavor! So good. Evertime!!
Karin and Ken says
It’s a favorite around here! Glad you’re enjoying this easy recipe. All the best. Karin
Anonymous says
This is a hamburger melt, not a hamburger grilled cheese. There is no such thing as a hamburger grilled cheese because a grilled cheese cannot have anything besides cheese inside the bread.
Karin and Ken says
My grandmother and mother called it that my entire life. We stand corrected. All the best. Karin