Dad's Stuffed Burgers

Some burgers are good, and then there are the ones that become family legends. For us, it’s my dad’s cheese-stuffed burgers. He’d mix the ground beef with Daily Ration, shape it into patties, and then sneak a hunk of cheese right into the center. You didn’t know it was there until that first bite, when the melted cheese came spilling out.

He always grilled them over charcoal, slow enough to keep them juicy, hot enough to add just the right amount of smoky char. No matter how many times we’ve made them since, that smell still takes me back to summer evenings in the backyard, everyone waiting around the grill with their buns ready.

These burgers aren’t fussy, but they don’t need to be. The combination of smoky seasoning, juicy beef, and gooey cheese is plenty. They’re the kind of recipe that makes you smile before you even take a bite, because you know exactly what’s coming: a little mess, a lot of flavor, and a meal worth remembering.