Both of the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants near us have closed. Thankfully, I picked up a copy of Margaritaville: The Cookbook, so I can make some of my restaurant favorites at home. And that starts with making the signature burgers, Cheeseburgers in Paradise.
Delicious old-school burgers with a few twists that make them unique and oh-so-yummy. These Cheeseburgers in Paradise are what burgers are supposed to be: moist, seasoned well, and topped with a sauce (and some juices) that drips down your arms with every bite.
I do admit that I used slightly less cumin than the original recipe called for. Anita’s not a big fan of cumin. The seasoning was still out-of-this-world fantastic. I always keep some on hand in an air-tight container for those times when I’m throwing some burgers on the griddle, which is often.
You might think that the dressing looks a lot like Thousand Island dressing. The addition of lime really makes it special and different.
Cheeseburgers in Paradise
Ingredients
For the burgers
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef I prefer an 80/20 blend
- 1 tablespoon house seasoning blend see below
- 8 slices American cheese
- ½ cup Paradise Island dressing see below
- 4 buns split, lightly toasted
- 2 cups iceberg lettuce shredded
- 8 slices tomato
- slices dill pickle
For the Margaritaville house seasoning
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon cumin or slightly less, to taste
For the Paradise Island dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
For the Margaritaville house seasoning
- Combine all ingredients. Store any leftovers in an air-tight container.
For the Paradise Island dressing
- Whisk together all ingredients. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
For the burgers
- Divide and shape the beef into 4 equally-sized patties. Season liberally with the house seasoning.
- Cook as desired. I prefer to cook mine on a griddle over a hot grill, but you can also make them in a skillet.
- Top each patty with 2 slices of the cheese.
- Slather the buns with the dressing. Add the lettuce, patty, tomato, pickles and top bun.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are approximate.