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The Best Cheeseburger Recipe

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Burger
One of my all time favourites. This is truly the best cheeseburger recipe ever.

If you’re looking for the best cheeseburger recipe in America, you might just find it at Holeman & Finch Public House in Atlanta Georgia.

As burgers go, it is quite basic but what it lacks in toppings it makes up for in quality. I visited Holman & Finch Public House a few months ago and was very impressed.

I’d like to say I got to eat one whole burger to myself but that wasn’t the case. My wife Caroline and I split it with two relatives from Toombs County Georgia. We got the last burger of the evening.

At Holeman & Finch they only make 24 burgers every day and those burgers are usually ordered well in advance of them being served at 10.00 pm. They don't make many but theirs is the best cheeseburger recipe I have found in some time so you could understand why they want it to remain special.

If you go on a Sunday, however they are served all day.

The secret to the spectacular flavour is in the grass fed chuck and brisket ground meat combo and also the freshly made burger buns.

I decided to recreate this masterpiece and home and now you can too. I promise you, this recipe is as close to the real thing as you’re going to get. In fact, I think my recipe is the best cheeseburger recipe going! Thanks Holeman and Finch!

If you are in the US, use Kraft American cheese slices just like they do at the restaurant. Here in the UK where Kraft slices are quite difficult to find, I used Deli Cheddar slices that worked spectacularly well.

I’ll be sharing my homemade burger bun recipe in my upcoming ebook “American Burger” but for now just try to find the freshest buns you can find. Yes, that is a freshly baked burger bun you see in that photo and it does make all the difference.

I used a combo of 50% chuck and 50% brisket. There was a 80% meat to 20% fat ratio and it tasted gorgeous. You could grind your own but I asked my butcher to do it which was a lot easier.

If you like this recipe, you might like to try some of these too...

Big Mac
5 Guys Burger
Whopper with cheese
In-n-Out Double Double burger
Lettuce wrap burger

Recipe

Holeman And Finch Cheeseburger CopyCat Recipe

Holeman And Finch Cheeseburger CopyCat Recipe

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 freshly made hamburger bun
  • 2 x ¼ pound (113g) burger patties
  • Salt and pepper
  • Butter for toasting the bun
  • 1 half handful of shredded red onion
  • 2 Kraft American Cheese slices or the cheese of you choice
  • Ketchup, French’s mustard, mayonnaise and dill pickle slices

Instructions

  1. Place a frying pan over high heat.
  2. Butter your bun halves lightly and toast in the pan. Set aside.
  3. Flatten your burger patties with a flat spatula until they are just slightly larger than the bun.
  4. Season generously with salt and pepper and place in the pan.
  5. Fry for four minutes until the patties are starting to cook through, then flip over.
  6. Cover one of the patties with the shredded red onion and then top each with a slice of cheese.
  7. Allow the cheese to melt and your burger will be ready. I do like mine a bit pink in the centre but feel free to cook for longer if you prefer.
  8. Cover the bottom bun with mayonnaise to taste and then top first with the patty with the onion and cheese and then the other.
  9. Place the top bun on the burger and serve with ketchup, mustard and pickles.
© Dan Toombs
Cuisine: American

I hope you enjoy making and eating the best cheeseburger recipe around. If you do try it, be sure to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Bob's Big Boy Double Decker

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The Bob's Big Boy Double Decker is a classic American diner icon you can easily make at home.

You know me... I love bold flavors, nostalgia, and food that makes people smile. So today we’re going a little Americana with a legendary burger that changed the game long before fast food went global: the Bob’s Big Boy Double Decker.

This isn’t just any burger. This is a true slice of diner history—and trust me, once you make it at home, you’ll never look at a drive-thru the same way again.

Bob’s Big Boy Double Decker burger, homemade.

A Little Big Boy History

The Bob’s Big Boy Double Decker first hit plates in the 1930s in California, when Bob Wian cut a bun in three, stacked two thin beef patties inside with lettuce, cheese, pickles, and their signature red relish sauce, and basically invented the double-decker burger concept.

Sound familiar? That’s because this burger inspired dozens of imitators—including a little-known thing called the Big Mac. But make no mistake—the Big Boy version came first, and flavour-wise, it still holds up though I did modernize it just a bit.

Why Make It at Home?

Most people don’t live near a Bob’s Big Boy anymore. But the good news is—you can easily recreate this classic in your own kitchen. Thin patties, layered buns, that zippy sauce—it’s comfort food at its best. No deep fryer, no fancy tools—just good ingredients and a pan.

Plus, you can tweak it just like I did. Want spicy Big Boy sauce? Do it. Homemade buns? Even better. We’re cooking here—not just recreating, but levelling up.

The original Bob's Big Boy Double Decker used thin meat patties and a piece of unmelted American cheese. I decided to go big with this Big Boy and the recipe below will get you an even better burger than the classic version.

Ingredients

There aren't a lot of ingredients in the original Bob's Big Boy Double Decker. I added an additional piece of cheese, used a mixture of ketchup on spicy hot sauce instead of Heinz chilli sauce and of course, I toasted the buns!

Ingredients for the recipe laid out on a counter top.
  • ground beef
  • sesame seed bun and one additional bottom bun sliced on both sides
  • mayonnaise
  • lettuce
  • processed American cheese
  • Heinz Ketchup
  • Franks hot sauce
  • Sweet Pickle Relish
  • Salt and pepper to taste

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

For best results toast the buns in butter until lightly browned. The original buns were not toasted but it does improve the flavor.

Frying the burger patties in a hot pan with cheese melting on one of them.
  1. Step 1: Fry the burger patties for about 2 minutes in a hot pan and then flip the patties over. Season generously with salt and pepper and top one of the patties with one to two slices of American cheese.
Spreading mayonnaise over the bottom and middle buns.
  1. Step 2: While the burger patties are cooking through, generously spread mayonnaise over the bottom and middle buns.
Adding lettuce and the burger with the cheese on it, placed cheese side down on the shredded lettuce.
  1. Step 3: Top the middle bun with the shredded lettuce and then add the patty with the melted cheese, cheese side down.
Topping the burger patty with the middle bun with mayonnaise.
  1. Step 4: Top this burger patty with the middle bun.
Adding the other burger patty and the relish on top of the center bun
  1. Step 5: To this add the second patty and top it with a good tablespoon or two of the spicy relish.
The finished homemade Bobs Big Boy Double Decker on a serving platter.
  1. Step 6: Place the bun on top and enjoy a little piece of American diner history.

Substitutions

There really aren't any substitutions because I made this as close to the original as possible while still attempting to make it better. That said, you could throw history out the window and have a bit of a play with your burger.

  • Sauces - I used similar sauces to the original. Go ahead and add mustard, seasoned mayonnaise like chipotle mayo or burger sauce. It's your burger so make it the way you want it.
  • Bun - I use my own homemade sesame seed buns. You might like to try another bun such as these homemade brioche buns.
  • Vegetarian - I have a few veggie burger recipes on the way. If you would rather use a vegetarian burger substitute... Why not?

Equipment

A good heavy bottomed frying pan: A good heavy pan will come in very handy for recreating the diner burger. Cast iron works well.

A thin metal spatula: Great for getting right under the crispy exterior of the char grilled burger patties.

Storage

Leftover burgers are never at their best. You could store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days. I don't recommend dong that though.

You could work ahead though and get everything prepared a day or two ahead of cooking if that is more convenient for you.

Top Tip

Get your pan flaming hot before adding the burger patties and press them down into the pan. This will help get a nice and tasty char on the meat just like you get at the best diners.

Final Thoughts

Recreating the Bob’s Big Boy Double Decker at home is about more than just a burger—it’s a nod to classic diner culture. This is a burger with history, heart, and heaps of flavour. You don’t need a flat-top grill or a neon sign—just quality beef, soft buns, and that magic sauce.

So if you're craving a burger that’s a bit retro, a bit messy, and a whole lot delicious, this one’s your ticket. Get your griddle hot, get your sauce ready, and bring a little Big Boy magic to your own kitchen.

FAQ

What is the best ground beef to use?

To be honest, I have no idea what meat was used in the original and most Bob's Big Boy restaurants are no longer around. I use a 70/30% beef to fat ratio with cuts of brisket, skirt and chuck all ground up together.

Why toast the buns?

Buttering and toasting your buns will give the burger a better flavour. It's the difference between white bread and toasted and buttered bread. Need I say more?

Can you add other ingredients to this burger?

Yes! I have kept things as close as I could to the original but at the end of the day, it's a burger. Add your toppings of choice.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Recipe

Bob’s Big Boy Double Decker burger, homemade.

How To Make A Bob's Big Boy Double Deck Cheeseburger

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • ¼ pound ground beef - Divided into two equal sized patties
  • 1 sesame seed bun and one additional bottom bun sliced on both sides
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • Shredded lettuce
  • 1 slice processed American cheese
  • 2 tablespoons Heinz Ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Franks hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Sweet Pickle Relish
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat a frying pan over high heat and toast your burger buns. Set aside.
  2. Place the burger patties in the pan and cook for about 3 minutes per side. Be sure to season both sides with salt and pepper.
  3. Meanwhile, spread mayonnaise over the bottom and centre bun.
  4. Top the bottom bun with the shredded lettuce and a slice of American cheese.
  5. When your patties are cooked through, place one on top of the cheese and then place the centre bun on top of the beef patty.
  6. Top the centre bun with the other patty.
  7. Mix the chilli sauce and pickle relish and then spoon it over the top, followed by the top bun.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 819Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 2060mgCarbohydrates: 72gFiber: 4gSugar: 22gProtein: 44g
© Dan Toombs
Cuisine: American / Category: Burger Recipes