Go Get Stuffed Burgers

Happppppy New Year to ME! I'm ringing it in with ridiculously delicious stuffed cheeseburgers. Be jealous!

I've chosen the Mushroom and Onion Get Stuffed burgers, but I've listed a crud-ton of options for you.

Mushroom and Onion Get Stuffed Burger (also known as the French Get Stuffed Burger):

2 lbs ground meat (I like turkey...as always)
1 egg, beaten
1/4 c milk
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp ground garlic
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 c dry bread crumbs
1 large sweet onion
16 oz sliced mushrooms
1/2 tsp garlic powder
4 tbs light margarine
2 tsp red wine vinegar (or balsamic, or apple cider)
1/2 tsp salt
3 oz fat free cream cheese, cut in 1/2 oz cubes
More Worcestershire sauce
6 slices Swiss cheese (or Provolone)
6 hamburger buns (and spring for the good kind!), toasted (it makes a difference. I promise.)
additional toppings as desired

1. In a large mixing bowl combine egg, milk, Worcestershire (yeah, I just love typing it), garlic, pepper, and bread crumbs. Add meat and mix well with hands. Set aside, covered, in fridge for at least 1 hour.

2. For filling: Melt margarine in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and salt, stirring to coat. Arrange onions in single layer with spatula. Reduce heat to medium-low, just enough to keep onions sizzling. Stirring every 5 min, cook onions until light golden brown (you're carmelizing these babies -- thank me later). Add mushrooms and vinegar. Increase heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms have reduced in size and become soft. Remove from heat.

3. Spray large jelly roll pan with cooking spray. Divide meat in half. Divide each half into six equal portions. Form each portion into a patty (12 patties), leaving a tiny smidge in the bowl for "repairs" (you'll get to that later). Arrange six patties on jelly roll pan. Press thumb into center of each of these patties (but NOT all the way down to the pan) to form a hollow (like a pinch pot! Yaaaaay for 4th grade art class).

4. Place a cream cheese cube in each thumb-print-hollow. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of mushroom-onion filling on top of each cream cheese cube. Be sure to keep filling away from edges of burger patty and not to overfill (or underfill hee hee).

5. For each burger, place one of the remaining 6 patties on top and press edges to seal. Smooth out any "cracks" with your fingers, and place additional meat in thin areas if necessary (now you know why you left out some meat when you made the patties). "Baste" each patty with a small amount of Worcestershire sauce.

6. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Baste with Worcestershire sauce (again!!!!). Bake an additional 10 minutes. Broil 6-8 inches from heat 5 or so minutes. Top with cheese slice and broil an additional minute or so, just until cheese melts.

Serve on toasted buns with additional mushroom-onion filling and desired condiments, trappings, and decorations of choice.

Ohhhh yeah...you can grill these, too -- just make sure and baste with Worcestershire (you could totally play a drinking game with this recipe -- take a shot every time I type "Worcestershire." So much fun...Worcestershire). Worcestershire.

Variations:

Mexican Get Stuffed Burger:

Substitute cumin for the garlic powder when making the meat
Substitute cayenne pepper sauce for the Worcestershire throughout recipe
Saute the onions over medium-high heat just until translucent (no carmelization for YOU)
Substitute 4 cans diced green chiles for the mushrooms (or if you're daring, go for jalapenos)
Top with salsa or taco sauce, and Pepper-Jack or Colby-Jack (or just Monterey Jack)

Italian Get Stuffed Burger:

Substitute Italian dressing for the Worcestershire throughout the recipe
Saute the onions over medium-high heat just until translucent (no carmelization for YOU)
Substitute 15 oz diced tomatoes for the mushrooms
Substitute Mozzarella cheese for the cream cheese
Top with marinara sauce, provolone (or more mozzarella)


American Get Stuffed Burger:

Saute the onions over medium-high heat just until translucent (no carmelization for YOU)
Substitute diced crisp bacon for the mushrooms (or add it in addition to -- why not????)
Substitute cheddar or American for the cream cheese
Top with cheddar or American

Other stuff you can do to Get Stuffed:

Substitute any other cheese for the cream cheese. Great choices include feta, bleu cheese, or even Velveeta.

If you can put it on top of a burger, you can probably put it inside (except maybe pickles and lettuce...hmmmm). Pepperoni, black beans, olives, onion straws, sauerkraut (only don't invite me to dinner if you use that one).

Play around with meat mix-ins. Spices, sauces, even flavored breadcrumbs (or use cornmeal or crushed tortilla chips).