Southern Pimento Cheese Burger

Step 1

Combine the shredded cheddar, chopped roasted red peppers, and 2 tablespoons mayonnaise in a small bowl, stirring with a fork until it looks like a rough, chunky paste with no streaks of plain mayo remaining.

Step 2

Divide the ground beef into two equal portions, then gently shape each portion into a patty about 0.75 inches thick, with a slight indent in the center using your thumb — do not pack it tightly.

Step 3

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat for 1 minute until the surface is hot enough that a droplet of water sizzles and immediately evaporates.

Step 4

Place both beef patties in the skillet, spacing them 2 inches apart, and cook without moving them for 3 minutes until the bottom surface turns brown and pulls away easily from the pan.

Step 5

Flip each patty using a thin spatula, then sprinkle the top side with a pinch of salt and pepper and cook for another 2 minutes until the second side is brown.

Step 6

Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside the cooked patties on a clean plate.

Step 7

Spread 2 tablespoons of the pimento cheese mixture on the bottom half of each hamburger bun in an even layer.

Step 8

Place one cooked beef patty directly on top of the pimento cheese, then set the top bun on the patty and serve immediately while warm.