Frico Burgers With Cheddar Crisps and Caramelized Onion Jam

Take your cheeseburgers to the next level with "frico" (cheese crisps!) and onion jam. The frico may look fancy, but it's as easy as baking a little pile of cheddar cheese until it becomes a circle of crispy, golden perfection. Add a tangle of easy-to-make caramelized onion jam, and you've never had a burger this good!

Plan about 30 minutes for prepping & cooking.

Here's what you'll need:

1 pound Ground Beef

1 cup Cheddar Cheese

2 Roma Tomatoes

1 Red Onion

2 Tbsp. Sherry vinegar (or balsamic or whatever vinegar you have on hand)

2 tsp. Sugar

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

4 Buns

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.

Wash the tomatoes and slice them into rounds.

Halve, peel, and thinly slice the red onion.

Shape the ground beef into four patties.

Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onion and cook, tossing, until it's soft, about 6-7 minutes. Stir in the 2 Tbsp. vinegar and 2 tsp. sugar. Simmer until the liquid is nearly evaporated, about 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat, or use a nonstick pan. Divide the cheddar into four even piles. Bake it in the oven until the cheese is melted in the middle and crispy on the edges (about 5-7 minutes).

If you don't have parchment or a nonstick pan, you'll be okay...just make sure to use a spatula to transfer the cheese crisps to a plate as soon as they come out of the oven.

Heat a large drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat in the same pan you used for the onions. Season the beef patties with salt and pepper, then add to the pan and cook to your desired level of doneness (about 3-6 minutes per side).

While the burger patties are cooking, carefully remove the cheddar frico (if you haven't already) and set them aside, and place the buns open-faced on that same pan. Toast in the oven until they're golden (about 3-4 minutes).

Place caramelized onion jam, tomato slices, a burger patty, and a cheddar frico inside of each bun.

Enjoy the wonderful flavors and the satisfaction that comes with preparing a delicious meal.