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.
Burgers That’ll Make You Happy
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. The messier the better, I’ve always said.
The Perfect Burger Seasoning
I do admit that I used slightly less cumin than the original recipe called for. My wife’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. That reminds me, you’ll also want to try my Thousand Island BBQ smash burgers.
Now if only someone would set me up with a free week at the Margaritaville Resort in Gatinburg!
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 chips
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.
