America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Pastrami Cheeseburgers

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on March 2, 2016

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Pastrami Cheeseburgers

Ingredients

6 tablespoons mayonnaise 3 tablespoons ketchup 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish Salt and pepper 4 kaiser rolls, split and toasted1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 6 ounces thinly sliced deli pastrami 1 ½ cups sauerkraut, drained and pressed dry8 slices deli Swiss cheese, folded in half

Before You Begin

Our favorite sauerkraut is Eden Organic Sauerkraut.

Instructions

  1. Whisk mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, and ½ teaspoon pepper together in bowl. Spread sauce evenly on roll tops and bottoms; set aside. Gently shape beef into four 4-inch-diameter patties. Season each patty with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add patties to skillet and cook without moving patties for 2 minutes. Flip patties and cook for 1 minute. Transfer burgers to plate and tent with foil.
  3. Add pastrami to now-empty skillet and cook over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in sauerkraut and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; separate pastrami mixture into 4 portions (still in skillet), then top each portion with 2 slices of cheese. Cover and let sit until cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Transfer burgers to roll bottoms. Top each burger with 1 portion of pastrami mixture. Place roll tops on burgers. Serve.
Pastrami Cheeseburgers

Pastrami Cheeseburgers

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen
Save

Time

30 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

6 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
Salt and pepper
4 kaiser rolls, split and toasted
1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 ounces thinly sliced deli pastrami
1 ½ cups sauerkraut, drained and pressed dry
8 slices deli Swiss cheese, folded in half

Ingredients

6 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
Salt and pepper
4 kaiser rolls, split and toasted
1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 ounces thinly sliced deli pastrami
1 ½ cups sauerkraut, drained and pressed dry
8 slices deli Swiss cheese, folded in half

Ingredients

6 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
Salt and pepper
4 kaiser rolls, split and toasted
1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 ounces thinly sliced deli pastrami
1 ½ cups sauerkraut, drained and pressed dry
8 slices deli Swiss cheese, folded in half

Why This Recipe Works

Sauerkraut, pastrami, Swiss cheese, and a tangy sauce transform an ordinary burger into something special.

Before You Begin

Our favorite sauerkraut is Eden Organic Sauerkraut.

Instructions

  1. Whisk mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, and ½ teaspoon pepper together in bowl. Spread sauce evenly on roll tops and bottoms; set aside. Gently shape beef into four 4-inch-diameter patties. Season each patty with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add patties to skillet and cook without moving patties for 2 minutes. Flip patties and cook for 1 minute. Transfer burgers to plate and tent with foil.
  3. Add pastrami to now-empty skillet and cook over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in sauerkraut and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; separate pastrami mixture into 4 portions (still in skillet), then top each portion with 2 slices of cheese. Cover and let sit until cheese melts, about 2 minutes. Transfer burgers to roll bottoms. Top each burger with 1 portion of pastrami mixture. Place roll tops on burgers. Serve.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.