Description
This Monster Burgers recipe is a fun and creative take on classic hamburgers, perfect for a spooky twist or playful meal. Featuring juicy 5-ounce beef patties cooked to perfection in a skillet and topped with olive and mozzarella ‘eyes’, sliced tomatoes, cheddar ‘teeth’, lettuce, and pickles arranged as a tongue, these burgers deliver both flavor and character. Ideal for a family dinner or themed party, these visually striking burgers wow with both taste and presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Patties
- 20 oz ground beef (80/20 blend recommended for juiciness)
- 1-2 teaspoons oil (for cooking)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
For the Monster Face Toppings
- 8 medium black olives (halved)
- 8 mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini, about 1-ounce or 28 grams each, patted dry)
- 8 tomato slices (from about 2 medium tomatoes, patted dry)
- 4 slices orange cheddar cheese
- 4 pieces green lettuce (rinsed and patted dry)
- 4 pickle slices
- 4 hamburger buns (gluten-free buns optional)
Instructions
- Form Patties: Divide the ground beef into four 5-ounce portions and shape each into a patty about 1 inch wider than your buns. Press your thumb into the center of each patty to create a small indent; this prevents the patties from puffing up unevenly during cooking. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Cook Patties: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add 1 to 2 teaspoons of oil. Once hot, place the patties in the skillet and cook until done, flipping only once. Depending on thickness and desired doneness, cook until the internal temperature reaches 160°F as recommended by USDA for safety, ensuring no pink remains.
- Prepare Eyes: Cut the olives in half. Place each half, star side up, on top of a mini mozzarella ball and secure them together with a toothpick to form the monster eyes.
- Prepare Tomato Slices: Slice tomatoes evenly but not too thick or thin, about 8 slices total. Lay on paper towels and gently pat dry to reduce moisture before assembling on burgers.
- Create Cheese Teeth: Cut triangles out of each cheddar slice to resemble monster teeth. Be careful not to remove too much cheese so the teeth can extend beyond the bun for a fun effect.
- Assemble the Burgers: Allow cooked patties to cool slightly to avoid melting the cheese too quickly. On the bottom half of each bun, place a piece of lettuce, then the burger patty. Next, arrange two tomato slices side-by-side, place a pickle slice in the center to mimic a tongue, add the cut cheese teeth pieces, and finally the top bun half.
- Add the Eyes: Insert the mozzarella and olive ‘eyes’ on top of each bun, using the toothpicks to hold them securely in place.
- Serve: Present your monster burgers immediately for best taste and appearance. Enjoy the playful and delicious meal!
Notes
- Patting the tomato slices and mozzarella balls dry prevents soggy burgers.
- The thumb indentation in patties helps keep burgers flat and cooks evenly.
- Cooking to an internal temperature of 160°F ensures food safety for ground beef.
- Allowing patties to cool slightly before assembling stops cheese from melting too much, preserving the monster face details.
- For gluten-free diets, substitute hamburger buns with gluten-free options.
- Customize toppings to your taste or dietary preferences while keeping the monster theme fun.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
