Prep Time:  10 mins
Cook Time:  25 mins
Total Time:  35 mins
Servings:  12

Tired of the same old burger toppings? This stuffed burger recipe from Chef Tony will give you a whole new outlook on patty possibilities. Stuffed with a mixture of shredded mozzarella, parmesan, and fresh basil, these burgers pack a delightful Italian flavor before being topped with basil-marinated tomatoes. We recommend pairing this stuffed 80/20 ground chuck with toasted Kaiser rolls for best results.

Ingredients

Ingredients for Stuffed Burgers

  • 4 lbs ground chuck (80/20)
  • 3/4 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
  • 3 Tbsp roughly chopped basil
  • 3 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 kaiser rolls or hamburger buns
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper

Ingredients for Topping

  • 3 Roma tomatoes
  • 3 Tbsp freshly chopped basil
  • 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Items You'll Need

Instructions

Instructions for Stuffed Hamburgers

  1. Begin by preheating your grill to 425 to 450 degrees, preferably with a hot side and a cooler side, by setting one side of your grills burners lower than the other (after preheating).
  2. Place ground chuck in a large mixing bowl, breaking-up loosely. Add salt, black and white pepper and lightly blend together.
  3. In a separate bowl, blend together the shredded Mozzarella, grated Parmesan cheese, extra virgin olive oil and fresh chopped basil.
    4. Mozzarella filling ingredients being mixed together
  4. Dice tomatoes and place in a colander, in the sink, or over a bowl; sprinkle with salt and allow them to mascerate for 10 to 15 minutes.
  5. Once mascerated, blend diced tomatoes, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside until hamburgers are cooked.
    6. Ingredients for the tomato basil topping being mixed up
  6. Begin scooping out a small handful of ground chuck and placing the loose balls on a baking sheet. Once you have all 12 balls portioned out (roughly the same amount in each), begin forming patties by lightly pressing them down with your hands. Be careful not to overwork or compress your patties. Once flat and round, use your thumb to create a well in the center of each patty.
  7. With a kitchen spoon, fill each of 6 wells with the Mozzarella mixture, lightly pressing in with the back of the spoon.
  8. Place the 6 empty patties on top of the 6 filled patties and lightly press together, crimping the edges of each with your finger tips. Once all patties are crimped, you are ready for the grill.
    9. Stuffed, crimped patties waiting to be grilled
  9. Grill the hamburgers for about 3 minutes on each side for medium and continue cooking a couple minutes per side if you prefer medium-well to well-done burgers.
  10. Toast the buns on the grill for 30 to 45 seconds, place patties on each of 6 buns and top with spoonfuls of the fresh marinated tomatoes and basil.
    11. Putting tomato basil topping on a finished Mozzarella Basil Stuffed Hamburgers