You do not need a dozen toppings to practice making a good burger. This home-kitchen recipe is a starting point for four burgers. This is general home-cooking guidance, not a kitchen-tested Mad Mike’s restaurant recipe.
What you need
Use 1 pound of ground beef, four burger buns, salt and pepper to taste, and four slices of cheese if you want them. Prepare lettuce, tomato, pickles and your chosen sauce separately. You may also want a little butter for the cut faces of the buns.
Shape and prepare
Divide the beef into four equal portions. Shape gently into patties of even thickness without kneading heavily. Keep the beef refrigerated while you prepare the cold toppings and set out clean serving plates, utensils and a food thermometer.
Preheat a suitable skillet over controlled heat. Season the patties just before cooking, then cook with space between them. Turn as needed, adjusting the heat if the surface darkens too quickly. Check the center rather than following a fixed number of minutes.
Finish and assemble
Ground beef must reach 160°F under USDA guidance; see the temperature guide. Add cheese near the end if using it. Toast the bun faces separately, then arrange sauce and cold vegetables on the bottom bun, the cooked patty above them and the top bun last.
Serve promptly. Change one topping next time to learn what you prefer, or explore the Mad Mike’s menu when you want someone else to handle dinner.