Begin by placing the ground beef in a large bowl. Season it with salt and pepper. A dash of Worcestershire sauce and a spoonful of Dijon mustard rounds out the flavor. Now, gently mix with your hands until just combined. Be careful not to overwork the meat. Form the mixture into patties, making them slightly larger than your buns, as they will shrink during cooking.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Don’t rush this step! A well-heated skillet gives you that brilliant sear. If you hear the sizzle when the beef hits the pan, you’re doing it right.

Once the skillet is hot, carefully place the patties in the pan. Give them some space. You don’t want to overcrowd the skillet. Let them cook on one side without moving them for about 4-5 minutes.

Once a nice crust has formed, flip the burgers. Immediately top each patty with a slice of cheese. This will melt perfectly as the patty cooks during the last few minutes. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, depending on your desired doneness.

While the burgers finish cooking, take a separate smaller skillet. Add the melted butter and toast the burger buns until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. This adds a delightful crunch.

Now the fun part! Start with the bottom bun, add the patty with melted cheese, then layer on your favorite toppings. Add lettuce, tomato, pickles, and any other condiments to suit your taste. Finally, cap it off with the top bun.