The Ultimate Burger Challenge | 3 BURGER Recipes You Need to Try - myles stephenson

If there’s one thing I’ll never get bored of, it’s burgers!

Simple, stacked, or seriously indulgent, you can’t beat them. For this challenge, I set out to create not just one, but three completely different burgers to see which one could earn the title of the ultimate burger.

I kept things simple with a quick smash burger, went classic with a Big Mac-inspired chuck patty, and then pushed the boat out with a luxury ribeye steak burger topped with Gouda and garlic aioli. Three burgers, three totally different vibes. The question is… which one would you back as the champion?

🔥 Recipe 1: The Ribeye Steak Burger with Caramelized Red Onion Chutney & Garlic Aioli

Ingredients

• 10 oz ribeye steak, coarsely ground (3/8-inch grind)

• 1 slice Gouda cheese

• 1 toasted brioche bun

• Caramelized red onion chutney

• Garlic aioli (see below)

• Salt and pepper

For the Garlic Aioli:

• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced

• Olive oil

• Salt and pepper

Method

1. Make Garlic Aioli

   • Mash garlic with a pinch of salt in a mortar and pestle.

   • Slowly drizzle in olive oil, stirring until it thickens.

   • Season with salt and pepper.

2. Cook the Patty

   • Form ribeye into a patty, season with salt and pepper.

   • Heat skillet or grill to high.

   • Cook for about 1.5 minutes per side (medium rare).

   • Add Gouda in the last 30 seconds to melt.

3. Assemble

   • Toast brioche bun until golden.

   • Spread garlic aioli on bottom bun.

   • Add patty with melted Gouda.

   • Top with caramelized onion chutney and the bun lid.

👉 Rich, decadent, and full of flavour.

🍔 Recipe 2: Chuck Burger with Big Mac Sauce, Bacon & American Cheese

Ingredients

• 8 oz chuck beef, ground into a patty

• 1 seeded bun, toasted

• 2 slices streaky bacon, grilled crispy

• 1 slice American cheese

• 2–3 gherkin slices

• Onion slices (raw or grilled)

• Salt and pepper

For the Big Mac Sauce:

• 3 tbsp mayonnaise

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp finely chopped gherkins

• ½ tsp pickle juice

• ½ tsp yellow mustard

Method

1. Make the Sauce

   • Mix mayo, paprika, gherkins, pickle juice, and mustard. Chill.

2. Grill the Bacon

   • Cook until crispy, set aside.

3. Cook the Patty

   • Season chuck with salt and pepper.

   • Grill 2–3 minutes per side.

   • Add cheese slice to melt.

4. Assemble

   • Spread sauce on bun base.

   • Add patty with cheese, bacon, onions, and gherkins.

   • Finish with the bun lid.

👉 Juicy, messy, and exactly what you want from a cheat-day burger.

⚡ Recipe 3: The Classic Smash Burger

Ingredients

• 1 pre-made burger patty (about 4 oz)

• 1 seeded bun, toasted

• 1 slice American cheese

• Yellow mustard

• Ketchup

• Salt & pepper

Method

1. Smash the Patty

   • Heat skillet until smoking hot.

   • Place patty on, smash flat with a spatula.

   • Season with salt & pepper.

   • Cook 1–2 minutes per side until crispy.

2. Melt the Cheese

   • Add cheese slice in last 30 seconds.

3. Assemble

   • Mustard on bottom bun, ketchup on top.

   • Place patty in between. Serve hot.

👉 Quick, crispy, and unbeatable when you just want something simple.

🏆 Which One Wins?

That’s the million-dollar question. For me, each of these burgers has its own place, the smash is perfect for a quick fix, the chuck burger is all about comfort and nostalgia, and the ribeye is a proper treat-night showstopper. WATCH THE VIDEO TO FIND THE ULTIMATE BURGER