July 4th is National BBQ day-no surprise there! What is on your BBQ menu? Cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans? Hot dogs, ribs, brisket, burgers?
Today I share my favorite burger recipe. It was a recipe I created in 2006, for Sutter Home Winery Build-a-Better-Burger contest. I jokingly titled it, “No Date Tonight Burger”. I named it for not only the obvious reason–I didn’t have a date (days before hubby), but also because I was craving my favorite steakhouse items–bacon blue cheese spinach salad, fried onion blossom, ribeye steak, and sautéed mushrooms, all paired with a nice glass of red wine. So I made a date with myself in the kitchen, combined all my steakhouse cravings and this recipe was born. It is my go-to burger recipe. Yes, it’s a version of a stuffed burger, but it was long before these were all the rage and before all the gadgets to create them had been invented. I sometimes substitute beer for wine or other steaks for the ribeye, but the basics are the same. My hubby’s favorite way to enjoy this burger is like a hamburger steak–no bun, topped with lots of mushroom gravy and a slice of cornbread for mopping the plate. I like it over a slice of garlic bread. For this edition I used leftover onion rolls from the freezer with sweet potato fries as a side, or you can try Cheesy Souffled Potatoes 
http://wp.me/p57UhS-vE or Loaded Mashed Potato Fries 
http://wp.me/p57UhS-FK
NO DATE TONIGHT STEAKHOUSE BURGER:
Here are some tips to accompany the recipe. The most important step is to have a very cold steak and an ice cold blade for food processor. (So process the spinach and fried onion rings first.) 
Freeze the blade for 30 minutes to an hour. The steak 
can also be put in the freezer, but I simply put it on a cold plate and put it back in the refrigerator after cutting it into cubes. 
Wrap bacon around blue cheese. 
Pulse steak with wine in food processor until coarsely ground. 
Add meat to onion and spinach mixture. Blend well with hands. Stuff burgers with cheese. Put an indentation in each burger before cooking. 
I love it how one steak can feed the family. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients
- For the burgers:
- 1 lb boneless ribeye steak
- 1 cup canned French fried onion rings (or leftover fried onion rings)
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cups fresh spinach, cleaned
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 5 slices cooked bacon
- 5 cubes of blue cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Hamburger Buns (I like onion rolls)
- For the sauce:
- 8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 2 TBSP butter
- 2 TBSP flour
- 8 oz beef broth
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
Instructions
- For the burgers: Cut the steak into cubes. Put in refrigerator until ready to use. In a food processor, mince onion rings, garlic, and spinach. Put into a bowl and set aside. Clean processor and freeze blade for 30 minutes. In the meantime, roll bacon around the cubes of blue cheese.
- Add the steak and wine to the processor and pulse until coarsely ground. Add to spinach mixture with Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix well with hands.
- Form the mixture into 10 meatballs. Push one cheese cube into a meatball and top with another meatball. Press gently to form a patty. Make sure cheese is fully covered. Put an indentation in each patty. Grill to desired doneness.
- For the sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add mushrooms and black pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in flour until mixture becomes thick. Slowly whisk in beef broth and 1/2 cup wine. Raise heat to medium high. Bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
- Top burgers with mushroom sauce.
Notes
Burgers can also be served hamburger steak style without the bun.
That’s it! Enjoy! I love the melted blue cheese in the center…which is why there is only one picture. Had to get to that hot gooey cheesy bite!
Put your TO COOK IS TO CREATE thinking cap on: What other veggies would be good in the burger? Carrots? Zucchini? Mushrooms? How about kale instead of spinach? Don’t like mushrooms? Use onions instead. What other meat and cheese combinations besides blue cheese and bacon? Ham and swiss? Roast beef and cheddar? Mozzarella and prosciutto?…doesn’t some of those fillings just make you think of other sauces to try? Like mozzarella and proscuito burger topped with marinara or the roast beef and cheddar topped with pimento cheese sauce?
FOOD FUN: Have a burger contest at your BBQ. Get together, grill, and celebrate America. If you have BBQ leftovers, especially baked beans, check out http://wp.me/p57UhS-M2 for BBQ Leftovers ideas and 10 Uses for Leftover Baked Beans.
Happy and Safe 4th of July to you, your family, and friends.
I would like to fine a reicpe for burgers from leftover grilled steak. Any ideas? Thank y o u.
Hi, Thanks for the question. I’ve had much luck using a box grater (large hole) for cooked steaks to turn it into “ground” type beef for sloppy joes or a loose meat sandwich. For a burger, you could use mashed potatoes as a binder. Hope this helps.
My mouth is already watering for one of your Steakhouse Burgers! Looks soooooo DELICIOUS! All of these yummy ingredients has to make it a winner. Can’t wait for the Fourth of July to get here….ready for my burger! 🙂