The Ultimate Weber Kettle Grilled Juicy Lucy Burger: A Melted Cheese Masterpiece
Prepare yourself for a truly extraordinary burger experience with the legendary “Juicy Lucy.” This isn’t just any burger; it’s a dream come true for cheese lovers and grilling enthusiasts alike. While traditional burgers typically feature a slice of cheese melted on top of the patty, the Juicy Lucy revolutionizes this by encasing a core of molten cheese *within* two perfectly pressed burger patties. This ingenious technique ensures that with every single bite, you’re greeted by a glorious explosion of warm, gooey, melted cheese, perfectly complementing the rich, savory flavor of the burger. The unique combination of a perfectly charred exterior and the luscious, oozing interior creates an unparalleled flavor and texture sensation that will elevate your burger game to a whole new level.
Why You Should Master This Weber Kettle Grilled Juicy Lucy Hamburger
If you’re looking to impress your guests, elevate your backyard BBQ, or simply treat yourself to an unforgettable meal, the Weber Kettle Grilled Juicy Lucy is your answer. Here’s why this burger stands out from the crowd:
- An Unforgettable Fusion of Burger and Molten Cheese – The moment you bite into a Juicy Lucy, you’ll understand its legendary status. The initial char and rich, fatty flavor of the burger patty give way to an incredible gush of molten cheese that floods your mouth. This delightful contrast of textures and flavors – the smoky, savory beef, the luscious, creamy cheese, all nestled within a lightly toasted Brioche bun – creates an outstanding and deeply satisfying burger experience. To try a Juicy Lucy is to discover a new favorite and become an instant fan for life. It’s more than just a burger; it’s a culinary adventure.
- Six Simple, Accessible, and Flavorful Ingredients – You might think such a remarkable burger requires a laundry list of exotic ingredients, but the beauty of the Juicy Lucy lies in its simplicity. You only need six common and easy-to-find items: quality ground beef, your preferred cheese (Velveeta for that classic melt!), soft burger buns, dry onion soup mix, garlic powder, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. It truly doesn’t get much simpler than this, yet the incredible Juicy Lucy you’ll craft from these humble ingredients is nothing short of remarkable, offering a depth of flavor that’s both surprising and breathtaking.
- A Joyful and Unique Culinary Adventure – Cooking should be an experience, and preparing a Juicy Lucy is undeniably fun! From the tactile pleasure of mixing the ground meat with your hands to the satisfying act of smashing patties with a plate, artfully adding the melting cheese, and then meticulously pinching and molding the two patties together, every step is engaging. If you’re a home cook who relishes hands-on preparation and enjoys playing with your ingredients, then this Juicy Lucy recipe is tailor-made for you. It’s a fantastic way to unleash your inner chef and create something truly special.
Essential Ingredients For Your Weber Kettle Grilled Juicy Lucy Hamburger
This recipe provides measurements for a single, perfectly crafted Juicy Lucy burger. If you’re planning a feast or simply want more of this cheesy goodness, remember to multiply the ingredients accordingly for each additional burger you intend to make. Quality ingredients are key to a truly exceptional Juicy Lucy.
- 8 ounces, 80% lean, 20% fat, ground beef, divided in half (The fat content is crucial for juiciness and flavor!)
- ½ packet dry onion soup mix (Adds a savory depth and umami flavor)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (Enhances the beef’s natural richness)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (A secret weapon for a robust, tangy kick)
- 2 ounces Velveeta cheese (Known for its incredible melt, creating that signature ooze)
- 1 Brioche burger bun (For a soft, slightly sweet, and luxurious foundation)
Step-by-Step Directions For Grilling Your Juicy Lucy Hamburger on a Weber Kettle
Follow these detailed steps to achieve a perfectly grilled, wonderfully cheesy Juicy Lucy burger:
1. Prepare Your Weber Kettle for Indirect Grilling – First, fill your charcoal chimney fire starter with high-quality charcoal briquettes. Once the briquettes are glowing hot and covered in a light grey ash, carefully empty the chimney into the center of your Weber Kettle’s charcoal grate. Using long grilling tongs, gently move the hot charcoal to both sides of the Weber Kettle, creating two equal piles. This setup establishes distinct direct and indirect heat zones. To ensure sustained heat for the cooking process, add three additional charcoal briquettes to each pile, allowing them to ignite and contribute to the heat. This careful arrangement is vital for achieving both a beautiful char and thorough, even cooking without burning.
2. Prepare the Ground Meat and Form Patties – Allow your ground beef to come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before mixing; this helps it cook more evenly. In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef, the dry onion soup mix, garlic powder, and the Worcestershire sauce. Using your hands, gently but thoroughly mix the ingredients until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough burger. Divide the seasoned meat into two equal four-ounce round meatballs. To prevent sticking, place each meatball on a piece of plastic wrap on your cutting board. Then, with the back of a bread plate (a clever trick for uniform patties!), press down firmly on each meatball to form a thin, flat patty. Aim for a patty roughly the same size as your hamburger bun, ensuring enough surface area to completely encase the cheese.
3. Stuff and Seal Your Juicy Lucy – Take the Velveeta cheese and cut it into a two-ounce square. Using your fingers, gently press and mold the Velveeta cheese into a round shape that will fit snugly within your burger patty. Place this round cheese core directly in the center of one of the thin meat patties. Carefully position the second meat patty directly on top of the cheese-covered patty. Now, with gentle pressure, pinch and seal the edges of the two patties together all the way around, ensuring the cheese is completely enclosed. It’s crucial to create a tight seal to prevent any cheese from escaping during grilling. Once sealed, pick up the formed Juicy Lucy and gently mold it into a uniform, classic hamburger shape, about 1-inch thick, making sure the edges remain sealed.
4. Grill Your Juicy Lucy to Perfection – Carefully place the prepared Juicy Lucy directly over one of the piles of hot charcoal on your Weber Kettle grill grate. This initial direct grilling phase is essential for developing a beautiful, flavorful char on the outside of the burger. Grill for approximately three minutes per side, or until you achieve a desirable browned crust. Once both sides are seared, move the Juicy Lucy to the center of the grill grate, over the indirect heat zone. This is where the magic happens: the Velveeta cheese inside will have time to melt completely without the risk of the outside burning. Immediately place the lid on the Weber Kettle to create an oven-like environment, allowing the indirect heat to cook the burger through and melt the cheese evenly. Let the Juicy Lucy cook on the closed Weber Kettle for roughly 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your patty and your desired doneness. The internal temperature for medium-rare should be around 135-140°F.
5. Serve and Savor Your Delicious Juicy Lucy – Once your Juicy Lucy has reached your desired doneness and the cheese is perfectly molten, carefully remove it from the Weber Kettle using a BBQ spatula. Immediately place it between the halves of your toasted Brioche burger bun. Now comes the best part: personalize your masterpiece! While a traditional Juicy Lucy is often enjoyed simply with the cheese, feel free to add any and as many condiments and toppings as your heart desires. For the full experience of that incredible cheese reveal, cut your Juicy Lucy in half before taking that first glorious bite. Enjoy the sensational rush of flavor and texture!
Creative Variations and Smart Substitutions for Your Weber Kettle Grilled Juicy Lucy Hamburger
While the classic Juicy Lucy is a masterpiece in itself, there are many ways to customize and enhance this iconic burger to suit your personal taste and dietary preferences. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
Experiment with Other Ground Meats for Enhanced Flavor – The choice of ground meat significantly impacts the juiciness and flavor profile of your Juicy Lucy. It’s crucial to avoid using excessively lean ground beef, as a low fat content can cause the burger to dry out quickly and lose much of its inherent flavor. For an optimal Juicy Lucy, I strongly recommend sticking with 80% lean and 20% fat ground beef. However, for an even juicier and more complex flavor, consider incorporating other ground meats. Adding roughly 25% ground pork to your beef mixture can introduce a lovely richness and moisture. For a bold, herb-infused twist, you might even consider adding some bulk Italian sausage to the blend. The fennel and spices in the Italian sausage will create a truly unique and delicious Juicy Lucy that’s bursting with character.
Customize with Your Favorite Condiments and Toppings – As you may have noticed, this core recipe for the Juicy Lucy purposely omits any external condiments or toppings. This is largely because the traditional Juicy Lucy, originating in Minneapolis, is often served quite simply, sometimes with just raw or grilled onions upon request. The star of the show is meant to be the cheese-stuffed patty itself. However, there’s absolutely no rule against personalizing your burger! Feel empowered to add whatever condiments and toppings you love. Think creamy mayonnaise, classic ketchup, tangy mustard (or even a smoky BBQ sauce), crisp lettuce, ripe tomato slices, or crunchy pickles. Each addition can bring a new dimension of flavor and texture, making your Juicy Lucy uniquely yours.
Explore Different Cheeses and Embrace Abundance – The conventional cheese of choice for an authentic Juicy Lucy is often good old American cheese – yes, the kind that comes individually wrapped in plastic. While it melts decently, I’ve found that Velveeta cheese offers an even superior melt, creating that signature, ultra-oozy molten core, and often provides a richer flavor. But don’t limit yourself! The world of cheese is vast and full of possibilities. I’ve seen incredibly delicious Juicy Lucys prepared with robust blue cheese for a sharp, tangy kick, or with creamy mozzarella for a milder, stretchier melt. And here’s a pro tip for maximum indulgence: feel free to add as much cheese as you dare! The goal is for your Juicy Lucy to be on the verge of bursting with molten goodness. There is absolutely nothing wrong with an overflowing, incredibly cheesy burger!
Expert Tips and Handy Tricks for the Perfect Weber Kettle Grilled Juicy Lucy Hamburger
Elevate your grilling game and ensure your Juicy Lucy is nothing short of perfection with these insider tips:
Invest in a Weber Kettle Hinged Grilling Grate – This simple accessory is an absolute game-changer for any Weber Kettle owner. The hinged portion of the grill grate, located on both sides, can be easily lifted up, allowing you to add more charcoal briquettes or wood chips whenever needed. This eliminates the cumbersome task of having to lift off the entire hot grill grate every time you need to replenish your fuel, making the grilling process much smoother, safer, and more efficient. It’s a small investment that yields huge convenience.
Infuse Smoky Flavor with Soaked Wood Chips – For an added layer of complexity and depth, consider infusing your Juicy Lucy with a hint of smoky flavor. Before grilling, soak a handful of small wood chunks or wood chips (hickory, apple, or mesquite are popular choices) in water for at least 30 minutes. Once you’ve moved your Juicy Lucy to the indirect heat zone, simply place these soaked wood chips directly on top of your hot charcoal piles. The moisture in the chips will create a gentle smoke that will delicately permeate your burger, adding just a subtle hint of that irresistible smokey goodness without overpowering the rich beef and cheese flavors.
Knowing When Your Juicy Lucy is Perfectly Done – Once the Juicy Lucy is transferred to the indirect heat in the center of the grill and the lid is secured, the Velveeta cheese typically doesn’t take long to reach its perfectly molten state – usually around 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your patty. For absolute precision and food safety, always check the internal temperature of your burger with a reliable meat thermometer. For a juicy medium-rare, aim for a temperature of 135-140 degrees Fahrenheit. Another fantastic visual cue that your Juicy Lucy is ready is if you start to see any of that glorious, gooey cheese gently oozing out from the edges – that’s your undeniable sign that it’s cooked through and ready to be devoured!
Discover the Magic of a Brioche Burger Bun – Once you experience the luxurious embrace of a brioche bun with your Juicy Lucy (or any hamburger, for that matter), you’ll likely find it hard to go back to conventional hamburger buns. Brioche is a French bread known for its richness, made from a dough that’s generously enriched with butter and eggs. This results in an incredibly soft, tender texture and a subtly sweet taste that beautifully complements the savory, cheesy burger. For the ultimate experience, be sure to brush a small amount of olive oil or melted butter on the cut sides of both the top and bottom bun, and then briefly place them on the grill grate (over indirect heat) to toast them lightly. This adds a delicate crispness and enhances their already amazing flavor.
The Ingenious Bread Plate Patty Smashing Trick – This simple yet effective trick is not only practical but also incredibly fun to execute! You’ll be amazed to discover that the flat back of a standard bread plate is often the almost exact size and shape required for pressing a thin, uniform burger patty for your Juicy Lucy. It transforms the task of turning a round ball of seasoned ground meat into a perfectly thin patty into an incredibly simple and easy process. No special, expensive equipment is needed – just a bit of gentle hand pressure from you. Just remember not to press too hard, or you risk creating a dense, overly compacted “burger mush” rather than a tender patty.
Juicy Lucy Burger
Equipment
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1 Weber Kettle Grill
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Charcoal briquets
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1 Charcoal Chimney Firestarter
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1 BBQ Spatula
Ingredients
- 8 ounces, 80% lean, 20% fat, ground beef, divided in half
- ½ packet dry onion soup mix
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 ounces Velveeta cheese
- 1 Brioche burger bun
Instructions
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Set up your Weber Kettle for indirect smoking by filling your charcoal chimney with briquettes. Once ready, empty the chimney in the center of the grate. Move charcoal to both sides, creating two equal piles, then add three more briquettes to each pile.
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Bring ground meat to room temperature. Mix ground meat, dry onion soup mix, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce with your hands. Form two four-ounce round meatballs. Place each on plastic wrap and press with the back of a bread plate to form thin, flat patties, bun-sized.
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Cut Velveeta cheese into a two-ounce square. Press into a round shape and place in the center of one patty. Place the other patty on top of the cheese, pinching the edges firmly to seal. Gently mold into a hamburger shape.
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Place the Juicy Lucy over one charcoal pile for direct grilling, charring for about three minutes per side. Then, move it to the center of the grill grate for indirect grilling. Put the lid on the Weber Kettle and cook for roughly 10-15 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt completely and the burger to cook through.
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Remove the Juicy Lucy from the Weber Kettle and place it between toasted Brioche burger buns. Add desired condiments and toppings. For the full experience, cut your Juicy Lucy in half and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Equipment List
- Weber Kettle grill
- Charcoal briquets
- Charcoal chimney fire starter
- BBQ spatula
- Meat thermometer (highly recommended for accuracy)
- Bread plate (for smashing patties)
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (per serving)
- Calories: 562 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 83g
- Fat: 53g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 3g
- Cholesterol: 185mg
- Sodium: 2011mg
- Potassium: 1176mg
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 11g
- Vitamin A: 574IU
- Vitamin C: 4mg
- Calcium: 477mg
- Iron: 7mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.