Description
Create fun and delicious Monster Burgers perfect for a playful meal. Juicy beef patties are topped with creative monster faces made from olives, mozzarella, tomatoes, and triangular cheese teeth, making this recipe a hit for both kids and adults. Quick to prepare and cooked on the stovetop, these burgers combine flavor and whimsical presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Patties
- 20 oz ground beef (80/20 is best for juiciness)
- 1-2 teaspoons oil (for cooking)
Monster Face Toppings
- 8 medium black olives
- 8 mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini, ~1 oz or 28 grams each, patted dry)
- 8 tomato slices (from about 2 tomatoes, patted dry)
- 4 slices orange cheddar cheese
- 4 pickle slices
- 4 pieces green lettuce (rinsed and patted dry)
- 4 hamburger buns (gluten-free buns if desired)
Instructions
- Form the Patties: Divide the ground beef into four equal portions of 5 oz each. Shape them into patties about 1 inch wider than your buns. Press your thumb into the center of each patty to prevent them from puffing up during cooking. Season all sides with salt and pepper.
- Cook the Burgers: Preheat a skillet over medium heat and add 1-2 teaspoons of oil. Place the patties in the skillet and cook until done, flipping only once. Cooking time depends on thickness and preferred doneness, but USDA recommends an internal temperature of 160 °F for safety, resulting in a well-done burger with no pink inside.
- Prepare Monster Eyes: While burgers cook, cut each black olive in half. Press the half with the characteristic star-shaped face up onto each mini mozzarella ball, securing them together with a toothpick to create the monster’s eyes.
- Prepare Tomato and Cheese: Slice tomatoes evenly—not too thin or thick—and pat them dry with paper towels. Cut the orange cheddar slices into triangles to simulate monster teeth; be careful not to remove too much cheese so the teeth extend out from the bun.
- Assemble the Burgers: After burgers have cooled slightly (to prevent melting the cheese), place a piece of lettuce on each bottom bun. Top with a cooked patty, then arrange two tomato slices side by side, place a pickle slice in the middle to resemble a tongue, and add the triangular cheese teeth. Place the top bun on the stack.
- Add the Monster Eyes: Attach two assembled mozzarella and olive eyes on each top bun half using the toothpicks, completing the monster face look. Serve immediately and enjoy your Monster Burgers!
Notes
- Use 80/20 ground beef for juicy and flavorful burgers.
- Pat tomatoes and mozzarella balls dry to avoid soggy burgers.
- Do not overcook the patties to prevent dryness; cooking to 160°F ensures safety.
- You can substitute with gluten-free buns if needed for gluten intolerance.
- Be cautious when placing cheese teeth to maintain the monster look without losing too much cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: 530 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
