Cheeseburger Skillet
All the comfort and indulgence of a cheeseburger, minus the bun and the mess. Savory beef, tangy sauce, melty cheese, and crispy edges — weeknight dinner with diner soul.
Ingredients
Cheeseburger Skillet Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef 80/20 preferred
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 small yellow onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 cup diced dill pickles or drained relish
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
- Add ground beef, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Cook until browned with crispy bits, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Push beef to one side of the skillet. Add diced onion and cook until soft and glossy, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook until brick-red and slightly caramelized, about 1 minute.
- Add ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Stir everything together and simmer for 5 minutes until saucy.
- Fold in diced pickles and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Lower heat, sprinkle cheeses evenly over the skillet, cover, and cook until melted and bubbly, about 3–4 minutes.
Notes
Serve with fries, roasted potatoes, over rice, or spooned into buns for sliders. For toddlers, scoop out before adding pickles or chop them very fine. Finish under the broiler for browned, bubbly cheese if desired.