Tulo

Copycat McDonald's Double Cheeseburger Recipe

A double cheeseburger cut in half showing two thin smashed beef patties, melted American cheese, diced onion, and pickle slices on a toasted bun.
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels

McDonald's burgers taste the way they do because the patties are thin, smashed hard onto a screaming-hot griddle for a deeply browned, lacy-edged crust, then finished with American cheese, which melts faster and more evenly than sharper cheeses. Diced raw onion and pickle add the sharp, tangy contrast that balances the fatty beef, and mustard swapped in for some of the ketchup gives that slightly tangy edge people associate with the flavor.

Prep
15 min
Cook
10 min
Total
25 min
Servings
4

Ingredients

Servings4
  • 1 lb ground beef, 80/20
  • 8 slices American cheese slices
  • 4 buns hamburger buns
  • 4 tsp yellow mustard
  • 16 slices dill pickle slices
  • 1/4 cup white onion, finely diced
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Nutrition per serving

Calories
559
Protein
32g
Carbs
28g
Fat
35g

Based on the recipe as written, one serving. Recalculates if you swap an ingredient above. An estimate only, exact values depend on the specific ingredients used.

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Instructions

  1. 1Divide the ground beef into 8 equal portions (about 2 ounces each) and loosely shape into balls. Don't pack or compact them, a loose ball smashes into a craggier, crispier patty.
  2. 2Heat a heavy cast iron skillet or griddle over high heat for at least 3 minutes, until a drop of water skitters and evaporates almost instantly.
  3. 3Set a beef ball on the hot surface, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and immediately press it flat with a stiff, wide spatula until it's about 1/8 inch thick and 4 inches across. Hold firm pressure for 10 to 15 seconds.
  4. 4Cook without moving the patties for 60 to 90 seconds, until a deep brown crust forms and the edges turn thin and lacy, then flip.
  5. 5Immediately lay a slice of cheese on each patty and cook 30 to 45 seconds more, until the cheese is fully melted and the beef is cooked through.
  6. 6Toast the cut sides of the buns on the griddle for 30 to 45 seconds, until golden.
  7. 7Spread mustard on the bottom bun, then stack two cheese-topped patties, a few pickle slices, and a spoonful of diced onion.
  8. 8Close with the top bun and serve immediately while the patties are still hot and the cheese is molten.

Tips & variations

  • Use fresh ground chuck rather than pre-formed frozen patties; fresh meat smashes into a thinner, crispier crust and doesn't steam as it cooks.
  • Keep a bowl of water nearby to dip the spatula between smashes, it keeps the beef from sticking and tearing.
  • For a Big Mac-style flavor without the extra bun layer, add a spoonful of mayonnaise mixed with a little extra pickle relish instead of straight mustard.
  • If the skillet isn't hot enough, the patties will steam and turn gray instead of browning; preheat longer rather than turning up a thin nonstick pan too high.

Storage & reheating

These are best eaten immediately off the griddle while the cheese is still melted. Leftover cooked patties keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in a hot dry skillet for 30 to 60 seconds per side rather than in the microwave, which turns them rubbery.

Tips from the Tulo kitchen

  • A cheap metal bacon press or even a second heavy skillet works fine in place of a dedicated smash spatula, as long as it's flat and heavy enough to hold pressure.
  • Dicing the onion very fine rather than slicing it lets it wilt slightly from the patty's residual heat, closer to the texture used on fast-food burgers than raw sliced rings.

FAQ

Is McDonald's 50-cent double cheeseburger deal still available?

McDonald's has run the 50-cent double cheeseburger (or hamburger) as a limited-time app-exclusive deal in past promotions rather than a permanent menu price, so availability depends on the current offer in the McDonald's app in a given market and week.

What makes a smash burger different from a regular burger patty?

A smash burger starts as a loosely packed ball of beef that gets flattened directly on a very hot cooking surface, which creates far more browned surface area and a craggier, crispier edge than a pre-shaped patty grilled or pan-fried whole.

Can I use cheddar instead of American cheese?

Yes, but the burger will taste sharper and the cheese won't melt as smoothly since cheddar lacks the emulsifying salts in processed American cheese; if using cheddar, cook it under a lid or dome for a few extra seconds to help it melt fully.

How many calories are in a homemade double cheeseburger like this?

With 4 ounces of 80/20 beef, two slices of American cheese, and a standard bun, one double cheeseburger runs roughly 600 to 650 calories before condiments, close to the calorie count of the fast-food version.

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