Blue Cheese & Apple Burger Recipe

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Blue Cheese & Apple Burger recipe is a juicy and gourmet recipe, which is made with tangy blue cheese and crisp apples. It’s a restaurant-quality dish, ready in about 30 minutes, plus chilling time.

Blue Cheese & Apple Burger Ingredients

750g quality minced chuck steak (about 30% fat)
1 soft round lettuce
1 punnet of cress
2 Braeburn or Cox apples
120g blue cheese
Olive oil
6 burger buns
American mustard
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

How To Make Blue Cheese & Apple Burger

Form and Chill the Patties: Divide the mince into 4 equal portions. Work each portion in your hands for a few minutes to form a smooth, round patty that is slightly larger than your bun. Place the patties on a tray, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge for at least one hour.
Prepare the Toppings: While the patties chill, prepare your toppings. Wash and dry the lettuce leaves, cut the cress, thinly slice the apples, and crumble the blue cheese.
Cook the Burgers: Heat a drizzle of oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the chilled burgers for about 4 minutes on each side for medium (pink in the middle), or longer if you prefer them well-done. Season the patties with black pepper as they cook.
Melt the Cheese: When the burgers are cooked to your liking, top each one with a generous amount of the crumbled blue cheese. Place the burgers under a hot grill (broiler) for a couple of minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and oozy.
Assemble and Serve: While the cheese melts, toast the cut sides of your burger buns under the grill or on a hot griddle. To build the burgers, layer the lettuce leaves and apple slices onto the bottom buns, followed by a good drizzle of mustard. Place the hot, cheesy burger on top, finish with a tuft of cress, and place the top bun on. Serve immediately.

Recipe Tips

How to get the juiciest burgers? The secret is using a good quality minced beef with a higher fat content, around 20-30%. The fat renders during cooking and keeps the burger incredibly moist. Also, be careful not to overwork the meat when forming the patties.
How to keep the patties from falling apart? Chilling the formed patties for at least an hour is the most important step. This helps the fat solidify and ensures the burgers hold their shape perfectly when they hit the hot pan.
What are the best apples for a burger? The recipe correctly suggests Braeburn or Cox apples. A crisp, slightly tart apple is ideal because it holds its shape, provides a refreshing crunch, and its flavor cuts through the richness of the beef and blue cheese.
Can I use a different cheese besides blue cheese? Yes. If you find blue cheese too strong, this burger would also be delicious with a sharp white cheddar, a creamy Gorgonzola (which is a milder blue), or even crumbled goat cheese.

What To Serve With Blue Cheese & Apple Burgers

These gourmet burgers are a centerpiece meal. They are perfectly paired with classic steakhouse or gastropub sides:

Crispy French fries or sweet potato fries
Thick-cut onion rings
A simple arugula salad with a lemon vinaigrette to balance the richness

How To Store Blue Cheese & Apple Burgers

Refrigerate: Cooked burger patties can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s best to store the toppings separately.
Reheat: For the best results, reheat the patties in a hot skillet for a couple of minutes per side. Avoid the microwave, which can make the meat rubbery.

Blue Cheese & Apple Burger Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1 burger
Calories: 750 kcal
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 42g
Fat: 45g
Saturated Fat: 20g
Sodium: 1200mg

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Why do you chill burger patties before cooking?

Chilling the patties for at least an hour does two crucial things: it solidifies the fat within the mince, which helps the burger stay juicier as it cooks, and it helps the patty hold its shape much better, preventing it from crumbling or falling apart in the pan.

What kind of blue cheese is best for burgers?

A creamy, bold blue cheese that melts well is ideal. Stilton is a fantastic classic choice. A milder Gorgonzola Dolce is great if you want a less pungent flavor, while a sharp Roquefort will provide the tangiest, most intense blue cheese experience.

Can I make these burgers on an outdoor grill?

Absolutely! They are perfect for the barbecue. Cook them over a medium-high direct heat for 4-6 minutes per side. For the final step, move them to a cooler part of the grill, top with the cheese, and close the lid for a minute or two to let it melt perfectly.

Try More Recipes: