The Monster Cheese Burger is a deliciously enticing burger that’s perfect for the summer fun! It’s loaded with caramelized onions, homemade pepper jack cheese sauce (that’s super easy to make), fresh arugula, and a crunchy Parmesan cheese crisp, all on a butter-toasted bun.

Serve your burger with some homemade quick ketchup, sweet pickle relish, and Spicy Garlic Pickles for an amazing dinner!

A close up of the Monster Cheese Burger with another burger and fries with ketchup in the background, title on the upper left

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top down or flat lay shot of two Monster Cheese Burgers on a white platter with french fries and ketchup on wooden slats

Burger month

Welcome to burger month! Where a bunch of burger-minded bloggers have gotten together to share some amazing and yummy burgers, just for the love of them!

See, May is National Burger Month #NationalBurgerMonth

Two Monster Cheese Burgers on a white platter served with fries and ketchup

Use your favorite burger patty:

In these weird times where I’m never sure what I’ll find at the store (though it is getting much better), I decided that I wanted this burger to be really flexible so you’re able to use whatever you can.

So I don’t suggest any particular hamburger patties. Use or make your favorite!

Of course, I like vegetarian patties.

I love the ease of making them in the microwave on a busy night.

Sometimes I’ll make myself a veggie patty and my husband will grill a beef patty.

Well, this burger is perfect with either of those instances!

Here are some of my favorites hamburger patties:

Homemade vegetarian black bean patties: These are my favorite! And they can easily be made ahead and frozen for later use.

Want to just simply buy some at the store. My favorite vegetarian ones are the Morningstar spicy black bean patties.

Looking for some tips on how to make a great hamburger patty? Savory Experiments has you covered with 10 Tips for a better burger.

Want to try this burger with a healthy chicken patty? Take a look at this delicious Chipotle Chicken Burger.

Try making a juicy turkey burger as a light option as well.

Here’s a great sounding burger that’s made with beef and pork: the Jack Daniels Burger.

And a simple beef patty made into a Red White & Blue Cheese Burger. Or a spiced sirloin patty.

Burgers & fries

See those fries in the pictures? They are so good! We simply cut some potatoes into wedge shapes and cooked them in the air fryer.

Find the directions for Air Fryer Potatoes here.

How to make the burger

Caramelized onions for Monster Cheese Burger: on the left raw onions ready to be cooked, on the right cooked onions in the pan — Caramelize the onions: On the left, raw onions in the pan ready to be cooked. On the right, caramelized onions

Pepper jack cheese sauce in a pan with a spoon stirring it to be spooned onto Monster Cheese Burgers — Pepper jack cheese sauce is easy to make and requires only 3 common ingredients

Parmesan Cheese Crisps for Monster Cheese Burger: process shots: On top, freshly grated Parmesan cheese next to a hamburger bun for measuring the size. Under: the finished crispy cheese crisp — On top: I measured the size of the Parmesan crisp next to a hamburger bun before baking it. Under: the finished Parmesan crisp

Process shots for Monster Cheese Burger: on the left, the bun and the pattty, fries in the background — Top the butter toasted bun with the patty, and then with the caramelized onions

Monster Cheese Burger process shots: on the left, drizzle the pepper jack cheese sauce over the top; on the right: top with arugula — Drench the burger with pepper jack sauce, and top with arugula

process shots for Monster Cheese Burger: place the Parmesan cheese crisp on top and top with the butter toasted bun — Place the Parmesan cheese crisp on top, and crown it all with the butter toasted bun

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Looking down on the Monster Cheese Burger that's on a white platter and served with fries and ketchup

Recipe

Monster Cheese Burger

Debi

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Total Time 40

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings burger

Calories 277 kcal

Ingredients

Butter toasted buns:

Butter softened
Hamburger buns

Caramelized onions:

½ tablespoon light tasting oil of your choice
1 sweet yellow onion thinly sliced
pinch salt

Pepper jack cheese sauce:

8 ounces pepper jack cheese grated on large holes of a box grater
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 cup evaporated milk from 12 ounce can

Parmesan crisps:

4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese per burger

Assemble burgers:

Burger patties cooked with your preferred method (grilled, microwaved, skillet heated)
arugula

Instructions

Prepare buns:

Spread softened butter on the insides of the hamburger buns, and place buns butter side down in a hot skillet over medium heat. Cook until bun is golden and toasted. Remove buns from the pan.

Caramelize onions:

Place oil in a medium pan, and heat over medium heat. Once hot, add sliced onions, and stir. Place lid on pan, and cook for 5 minutes to allow the liquid to be released from the onion. Remove lid, and add a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring regularly, adding a little bit of water if the onions start to burn, for 15-20 minutes, or until nicely golden and soft. Remove from heat, and set aside.

Make pepper jack cheese sauce:

Place shredded cheese and cornstarch in a large bowl, and toss to combine.
Transfer coated cheese to a medium saucepan, and add evaporated milk.
Cook cheese and milk over low heat, stirring constantly until melted, bubbly, and thickened, about 5 minutes.
Mixture may look thin and grainy at first but will thicken and come together after heating. If desired, thin the cheese sauce with additional evaporated milk. There will be more cheese sauce than you need for a couple of burgers.

Make Parmesan cheese crisps:

Preheat oven to 400° F. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Using the small holes of a box grater, grate the Parmesan cheese.
With a tablespoon-measuring spoon, scoop 4 tablespoons of the grated Parmesan onto the prepared baking sheet. Leave at least ½-inch between each pile. Lightly press the mounds out until they are flat and approximately the size of the hamburger buns. Make as many crisps as burgers that you’re having.
Bake for 5-8 minutes. Remove from oven when edges just turn golden brown. Let cool completely on the baking sheet.

Assemble the burgers:

Place the bottom of the butter-toasted bun on the plate. Place the cooked patty on top of the bun. Spread the caramelized onions over the top of the patty. Drizzle the cheese sauce over the top of the onions. Add a handful of fresh arugula leaves to the top. Place the Parmesan cheese crisp on top of the arugula, and top with the butter-toasted bun.
Enjoy. Don’t forget the napkins!

Video

Notes

Make as many burgers as you like. The recipe card gives guides for each burger. The cheese sauce will make enough for a whole bunch of burgers, so you may have leftover. Use leftover cheese sauce for dipping your fries into!

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 10gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 348mgPotassium: 413mgFiber: 3gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 160IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 303mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Keyword burgers, cheese

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