School holidays always seem to bring one big question into my house. What can I make that everyone will eat without spending a fortune? My children seem to be hungry from morning until bedtime. They are always running around, playing outside, or asking for another meal. That is exactly why my Budget Cheese Burger has become one of my favourite family meals.
A homemade cheese burger feels like a real treat. However, it costs much less than taking everyone to a fast food restaurant. Better still, I know exactly what goes into every burger. That gives me peace of mind, and the children still get the meal they were hoping for.
I like to prepare a large batch of burgers whenever I have a little spare time. Once they have cooled, I freeze them in portions. Then, on busy days, I simply take out what I need. Dinner appears on the table quickly, and nobody has to wait while I drive to collect a takeaway. That also means I save money on fuel as well as food. The cost of these amazing burgers are about 1/3 of the cost of my local fast food outlet.
Each burger sits inside a soft sesame bun with a slice of melted cheese. I usually add a little fresh lettuce and a few slices of tomato for extra crunch. Sometimes I include cucumber or a few onion rings for the adults. Because everything is made at home, everyone can build their own burger exactly how they like it.
Another reason I enjoy making these burgers is the flexibility. If one child dislikes onions, I simply leave them out. If another wants extra cheese, I can easily add another slice. That kind of choice is difficult when buying ready-made burgers, and it makes everyone much happier at mealtimes.
Preparing burgers in advance also makes life far less stressful. Unexpected visitors or hungry friends can arrive without causing a panic. Within minutes, a hot meal is ready to serve. As a result, I spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the school holidays with the children.
The homemade version also feels fresher than many shop-bought alternatives. I can adjust the seasoning, choose good-quality ingredients, and keep unnecessary extras to a minimum. That simple approach creates a burger full of flavour without making it complicated.
Best of all, the children love helping to put everything together. They enjoy choosing their toppings and building their own perfect burger. Mealtimes become fun instead of rushed, and everyone leaves the table with a smile.
If you are searching for a simple family meal that saves both money and time, this Budget Cheese Burger deserves a place in your freezer. It delivers great flavour, satisfies hungry children, and makes busy holiday days much easier. Sometimes the simplest meals really are the ones that families remember the most.
Budget Cheese Burger
Equipment
- Frying Pan or griddle pan
- Freezer bags or airtight containers
Ingredients
Burger Ingredients:
- 1 kg lean beef mince approximately 10–15% fat
- 1 small onion very finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 large egg
- 60 g breadcrumbs fresh
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil for cooking
Serving Ingredients:
- 8 large sesame seed burger buns
- 8 slices mature Cheddar cheese
- 8 leaves Lettuce
- 2 medium Tomatoes sliced
- Cucumber slices optional
- Onion Sliced optional
- Tomato ketchup
- Mayonnaise or Burger sauce
- Mustard optional
Instructions
- Place the beef mince into a large mixing bowl.1 kg lean beef mince
- Add the diced onion, garlic, egg, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, pepper, smoked paprika and parsley.1 small onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 large egg, 60 g breadcrumbs, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp dried parsley
- Mix everything together gently using clean hands until just combined. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the burgers firm.
- Divide the mixture into eight equal portions.
- Shape each portion into a burger around 2cm thick. Make a shallow indentation in the centre with your thumb to help prevent the burgers from puffing up during cooking.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan or griddle over a medium-high heat.1 tbsp vegetable oil
- Cook the burgers for 6–7 minutes on the first side.
- Turn them over and cook for another 5–6 minutes until fully cooked through and the juices run clear.
- During the final minute of cooking, place a slice of Cheddar on each burger and allow it to melt.8 slices mature Cheddar cheese
- While the cheese melts, lightly toast the sesame buns.8 large sesame seed burger buns
- Spread your chosen sauces onto the buns.Tomato ketchup, Mayonnaise
- Add lettuce, tomato and any other salad you enjoy.8 leaves Lettuce, 2 medium Tomatoes, Cucumber, Onion, Mustard
- Place the cheeseburger onto the bun, add the top half of the bun and serve immediately.
20 comments
Perfect
With 4 kids off school for the summer, recipes like these are a purse saver.
I really liked knowing exactly what went into the burgers. They tasted fresh and wholesome.
The burgers were juicy, full of flavour and so easy to customise for everyone. My children loved adding their own toppings.
These were a huge hit with the grandchildren. They enjoyed helping to build their own burgers.
I made a batch at the weekend and we’ve already enjoyed them twice this week. Much cheaper than ordering takeaway.
I served these with homemade wedges and salad. Everyone cleaned their plates.
This has become our go-to family dinner during the school holidays. The burgers freeze really well and taste fantastic.
I added sliced gherkins and a little burger sauce. They tasted just like a restaurant burger but at a fraction of the cost.
Perfect for busy evenings when everyone is hungry. Having frozen burgers ready made dinner so much easier.
I doubled the recipe and filled the freezer. It’s wonderful having homemade burgers ready whenever we need them.
Easy, delicious and freezer-friendly. This recipe has earned a permanent place in my meal planner.
A brilliant budget meal that doesn’t feel like a budget meal. Great flavour and very easy to prepare.
A fantastic family recipe that delivers every time. The burgers held together perfectly during cooking.
The whole family agreed these tasted better than our usual takeaway burgers. They were filling without costing a fortune.
These burgers cooked beautifully and the melted cheese made them extra tasty. I’ll definitely be making them again.
The recipe was straightforward to follow and gave excellent results. I’ll always keep a batch in the freezer now.
Such a simple recipe with everyday ingredients. It saved me both time and money.
The seasoning was spot on and the burgers stayed lovely and juicy. Even my fussy eater asked for seconds.
The toasted sesame buns and melted cheese made these feel like a real treat. Much nicer than shop-bought burgers.