"Grilled Cheese" Burgers

Ingredients

• Butter

  Unsalted

  4 tbsp or 57g

• Whole-wheat bread

  Commercially prepared

  16 slice or 448g

• American cheese

  Pasteurized process, low fat

  16 slice (3/4 oz) or 336g

• Ground beef

  80% lean meat / 20% fat, raw

  32 oz or 907g

• Salt

  Table

  1 dash or 0.4g

• Pepper

  Spices, black

  1 dash or 0.1g

• Ketchup

  4 tbsp or 60g

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread butter evenly on one side of each bread slice. Place the buttered side down in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown. Transfer the bread to a large sheet pan with the toasted side facing down and place 2 slices of American cheese on each piece.
2. Preheat the same cast iron pan over high heat. In a mixing bowl, add cold ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and divide into 1/4-pound burgers. Form into 1/2-inch thick, square-shaped patties. Cook the burgers in two batches, flipping after about 2 minutes, and cook for another 2 minutes or until the desired doneness. Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for 2 minutes.
3. While the burgers rest, place the sheet pan with bread in the oven until the cheese is just melted. Lightly blot the burgers with a paper towel, then place them on the toasted bread with cheese and top with a second piece of bread.
4. Return the grilled cheese burgers to the cast iron pan to warm the bread. Serve immediately while warm with ketchup, if desired.