This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I trust. Thank you for your support.
This grilled cheese burger features a thick, juicy patty made with premium Wagyu ground beef, topped with melted American cheese, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato slices, and pickles, all nestled in a toasted sesame brioche bun.
This easy cheeseburger recipe serves four, contains 787 calories per serving, and comes together in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights, casual family dinners, or a relaxed weekend BBQ.
I’ve grilled countless burgers, from classic ground beef patties to premium custom blends, but there’s something undeniably special about a Wagyu burger.
Unlike leaner beef varieties, Wagyu’s fat melts at a comparatively lower temperature, infusing the meat with remarkable richness and juiciness as it cooks.
These fine streaks of intramuscular fat, known as marbling, create a buttery, umami-packed flavor that transforms a simple beef burger into something unforgettable.
Feel free to customize this recipe to suit your taste by swapping the American cheese for sharp cheddar or pepper jack if you like a little heat, adding jalapeños, or a fried egg on top for a gourmet twist.
✅ Take a moment to read through the whole post for the ingredient list, expert tips, and equipment suggestions. The full recipe is right below!
Key Ingredients for This Wagyu Beef Burger Recipe
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this Wagyu cheeseburger;
1. Wagyu Ground Beef
- Wagyu beef is renowned for its extensive marbling, which is the intramuscular fat that melts as it cooks, imparting a buttery texture, velvety mouthfeel, and decadently delicious flavor.
- Unlike regular ground beef, Wagyu cooks more quickly due to its higher fat content, resulting in an incredibly juicy and flavorful patty.
2. American Cheese
- American cheese is the quintessential choice for this grilled cheese burger.
- It’s celebrated for its superior meltability, creating that iconic, gooey cascade over the hot beef patty, and its classic creamy texture perfectly complements the rich beef.
3. Brioche Buns
- The soft, slightly sweet, and rich brioche bun serves as the ideal vehicle for this gourmet Wagyu beef burger.
- Its delicate texture provides a delightful contrast to the savory patty and crisp toppings, while its subtle sweetness enhances the overall flavor profile.
4. Thick Ketchup Relish
- This homemade relish is made with ketchup, finely chopped cherry peppers, pepperoncini, white onions, and garlic.
- It offers a crucial sweet and tangy counterpoint to the richness of the Wagyu and melted cheese.
5. Fresh Vegetables
- You’ll also want some fresh toppings like green leaf lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and dill pickles to build out the flavor and texture of your burger.
- The crisp green leaf lettuce and juicy tomato slices provide a refreshing crunch and natural acidity, while the tangy dill pickle slices cut through the richness of the meat and cheese.
Tools You’ll Need for This Cheeseburger Recipe
For this Wagyu grilled cheeseburger, these are essential kitchen gadgets that will ensure a smooth and successful cooking process;
- Outdoor Grill (Gas or Charcoal): While a charcoal grill can impart a smoky flavor, a gas grill often provides more consistent and easily controlled heat, which is particularly beneficial when cooking delicate Wagyu beef.
- Instant-Read Meat Thermometer: Essential for precise cooking and ensuring the Wagyu burger reaches the desired doneness without the risk of overcooking.
- Large Mixing Bowls: You’ll need these for gently combining and forming your Wagyu ground beef patties, as well as for preparing the thick ketchup relish.
- Long-Handled Tongs: Essential for safely flipping the burger patties on the hot grill grates and for handling the toasted buns and ensure even cooking.
- Sturdy Spatula: A reliable spatula is needed for transferring the formed patties to the grill and for carefully removing the cooked burgers.
- Sharp Chef’s Knife and Cutting Board: Fundamental tools for prepping all fresh vegetables, such as slicing tomatoes and lettuce, and for neatly splitting the brioche buns.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate quantities for all ingredients, particularly important for balancing the flavors in the relish.
Why You’ll Love This Grilled Cheese Burger
Here’s why you will always come back to this Wagyu burger;
- High Protein: Beef, especially a substantial Wagyu patty, is an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is vital for muscle repair and growth, satiety, and overall health.
- Rich in Iron: Beef is a significant source of iron, an essential mineral crucial for oxygen transport in the blood and preventing iron-deficiency anemia.
- Rich in Vitamins: American cheese provides Vitamins A and D, the brioche bun adds B vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin, and fresh veggies like lettuce and tomato offer Vitamin C to support eye health and boost immunity.
- Rich in Minerals: This cheese beef burger also provides important minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and zinc from the cheese, plus potassium from the fresh toppings, which support stronger bones and overall health.
- Highly Delicious: Wagyu beef offers a buttery texture, velvety mouthfeel, and rich, indulgent flavor thanks to its exceptional marbling.
What to Serve with a Grilled Cheese Burger
A great side dish for burgers strikes the perfect balance, complementing and contrasting the main dish to enhance the overall dining experience.
- Crispy Shoestring Fries: Thin-cut fries soak up melted cheese and mayo, adding a satisfying crunch.
- Sweet Potato Wedges: A slightly sweet complement that contrasts the smoky, savory burger flavors.
- Classic Coleslaw: Light, tangy cabbage salad cuts through richness and refreshes the palate.
- Onion Rings: Crunchy, beer-battered rings add a textural play that pairs perfectly with melted cheese.
- Salad: If you’re looking for something more substantial than just greens, consider a loaded baked potato salad, cucumber salad, or a pasta salad.
- Skewers: Grilled veggie skewers featuring squash, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms provide a nutritious, smoky alternative.
- Soups for Dipping: A warm bowl of tomato soup is a natural fit, but other hearty options like pumpkin soup or chicken noodle soup can also complement the cheese burger well.
Pro Tips for Making the Best Cheese Wagyu Burger
These chef tips will help you cook a perfectly juicy, flavorful Wagyu cheeseburger every time.
1. Use Room Temperature Beef
- Always bring your Wagyu ground beef to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before grilling.
- This ensures the meat cooks more evenly from edge to center, preventing an overdone exterior and undercooked center.
2. Handle the Meat Gently
- Wagyu beef is prized for its rich marbling and buttery texture, and rough handling can ruin that.
- When forming your patties, be as gentle as possible and avoid squeezing, kneading, or aggressively shaping the meat
- Lightly press it together until it holds to preserve the soft, tender quality that makes Wagyu so special.
3. Don’t Overpack the Patty
- Overpacking drives out air and disrupts the beef’s natural juiciness, resulting in a tougher texture.
- Let the patty retain a slightly loose structure enough to hold together on the grill, but not so tight that it feels rubbery once cooked.
4. Shape to the Right Thickness
- For a perfect sear and even cooking, shape each Wagyu patty to be about ¾ inch thick to about one inch thick.
- This allows the center to cook through without burning the outside.
- Too thick, and you risk an undercooked interior; too thin, and it may dry out quickly, so aim for a balanced thickness for that ideal juicy bite.
5. Add a Thumb Dimple in the Center
- Before grilling, press a small thumb-sized dimple into the center of each Wagyu patty.
- As the burger cooks, the proteins tighten and can cause the middle to puff up into a dome.
- The dimple counteracts this, helping the patty cook flat and evenly while keeping its shape and structure on the bun.
6. Use a Hot Grill
- Preheat your grill to a consistent medium-high heat, typically around 375 to 450°F.
- A properly heated grill is crucial for locking in juices and forming that signature caramelized crust on the outside of the burger.
7. Let the Patty Rest
- Once the patties are cooked, give them a couple of minutes to rest off the heat for the juices to redistribute throughout the patty instead of spilling out when you cut or bite into it.
- Just 2 to 3 minutes of resting can make the difference between a dry burger and a juicy, flavor-packed one.
8. Flip Only Once
- For the best texture and juiciest results, resist the urge to flip your Wagyu patty repeatedly.
- One good flip is all it needs, and let the bottom cook undisturbed over medium-high heat for about 3 to 4 minutes until it develops a rich golden-brown crust.
9. Don’t Press the Patty While Grilling
- Avoid the common mistake of pressing down on your patty with a spatula while grilling.
- This squeezes out the flavorful juices, leaving you with a dry patty.
- Let the meat cook undisturbed so it can form a beautiful crust and stay juicy inside.
Final Remarks
With its rich, buttery Wagyu ground beef patties, perfectly melted cheese, and those crispy veggies, this grilled cheese burger delivers a bold and satisfying flavor in every bite.
Customize your beef burger and swap in your favorite cheese, add a touch of heat with jalapeños or hot sauce, or experiment with different buns or toppings to suit your cravings.
Pair it with crispy sweet potato fries, a classic side of coleslaw, or even a light salad if you want something fresh on the side.
If you give this Wagyu burger a try, we’d love to hear how it turned out, so share your version or drop your thoughts in the comment section.
You’ll find the full recipe and step-by-step grilling instructions just below.
Best Grilled Cheese Burger with Wagyu Beef
Description
This easy cheeseburger recipe serves four and features juicy Wagyu ground beef, melted American cheese, crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes, pickles, and a toasted sesame brioche bun.
Ingredients
For the Wagyu Patties
For the Ketchup Relish
For Assembly
How to Make a Great Burger (Step-By-Step Instructions)
Prepare the Ketchup Relish
- In a mixing bowl, add ketchup, chopped cherry peppers, chopped pepperoncini, finely chopped white onion, and minced garlic.
- Stir everything together until well combined.
- Transfer the relish to an airtight container.
- Store it in the fridge until you're ready to use it.
- You can make this up to a week in advance, as the flavors get even better over time.
Form the Wagyu Patties
- Remove the Wagyu ground beef from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before forming the patties.
- Divide the beef into four equal portions (about 6 ounces each).
- Gently shape each portion into a patty about 1 inch thick.
- Don’t overwork or press the meat too much.
- Make a small indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent bulging.
- Season both sides of the patties with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Preheat the Grill
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (about 375 to 450°F or 190 to 232°C).
- Once hot, scrub the grates clean with a wire brush.
- Dip a folded paper towel in a bit of olive oil, grab it with tongs, and lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.
Grill the Wagyu Patties
- Gently place the wagyu patties on the hot grill.
- Grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare (130 o 135°F / 54 to 57°C).
- For medium, grill about 4 minutes per side (140 to 145°F / 60 to 63°C).
- Keep a close eye, Wagyu cooks quicker than regular beef because of its rich fat content.
- Don’t press down on the patties with a spatula; you’ll lose all those tasty juices.
Melt the Cheese
- In the last minute or two of grilling, add a slice of American cheese on each patty.
- Close the grill lid briefly for the cheese to melt evenly and become wonderfully gooey.
Toast the Buns
- While the cheese is melting, prepare your brioche buns.
- Lightly brush the cut sides of the buns with olive oil or melted butter.
- Place them cut-side down on the grill for about 30 to 60 seconds, or until they are lightly toasted and golden brown.
- Toasting prevents the buns from going soggy once stacked with the juicy patty and relish.
Rest the Patties
- Once the patties are done and the cheese is melted, transfer them to a clean plate or board.
- Let them rest for 2 minutes, uncovered.
- This short rest helps the juices settle evenly, keeping your burger juicy, not dry or messy.
Assemble the Cheese Burger
- Spread a generous spoonful of ketchup relish onto the bottom half of each toasted brioche bun.
- Place a crisp green lettuce leaf on the bun, followed by two slices of ripe tomato.
- Gently place the cheesy Wagyu patty right on top of the stacked vegetables.
- Arrange three dill pickle slices directly on top of the patty, then spoon another layer of ketchup relish over the pickles.
- Cap with the top bun and press lightly.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
Serving Size 1 cheeseburger
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 787kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 49.5g77%
- Saturated Fat 19.5g98%
- Trans Fat 1g
- Cholesterol 145mg49%
- Sodium 1355mg57%
- Potassium 420mg12%
- Total Carbohydrate 45.3g16%
- Dietary Fiber 2g8%
- Sugars 14.5g
- Protein 36.2g73%
- Vitamin A 889 IU
- Calcium 305 mg
- Iron 4.8 mg
- Vitamin D 92 IU
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
- Handle the Wagyu ground beef gently to maintain its tenderness.
- Ensure the grill is at medium-high heat for optimal searing without burning.
- Avoid pressing down on the patties to keep them juicy.
- Toast the burger buns to enhance texture and prevent sogginess.
- Melt the cheese in the final moments of grilling for perfect gooeyness.
- Don't overcook the Wagyu beef; aim for your desired level of doneness using a meat thermometer.
