Pastrami Burgers

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
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Updated on 01/10/22
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Sabrina S. Baksh/Regarding BBQ, Inc.
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Despite what you might think, this is a classic hamburger. Legend has it that this burger was invented in Utah. What could be better than a juicy burger, topped with fresh warm slices of pastrami, Swiss cheese, and a delicious creamy sauce.  If you haven't tried a pastrami burger, it's time to do so.

Ingredients

For the Pastrami Burger:

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 1/2 pound pastrami, sliced

  • 4 slices Swiss cheese

  • 1 clove garlic, minced, optional

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 4 large hamburger buns

  • 1 cup shredded lettuce

For Russian Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup ketchup

  • 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish

  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat grill for medium-high heat.

  3. In large bowl, combine ground beef, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.

  4. Form into 4 equal-sized patties and place onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. This will make it easier to transfer to the grill.

  5. When the grill is heated, place patties on grill grates. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side.

  6. Place 1/4 of the pastrami on each patty and top with Swiss cheese. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, or until patties are cooked through (165 F) and cheese has melted through. Promptly remove from grill.

  7. Quickly whip up the Russian dressing. In a small bowl, combine the mayo, ketchup, horseradish, and onion powder.

  8. To serve, add shredded lettuce to one half of hamburger bun, top with finished patty, and add a generous dollop of Russian dressing. 

Tips

  • Double or triple the recipe if you intend to serve a larger group. 
  • Russian dressing can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use. The mixture will stay good for up to three days after preparation.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
836 Calories
54g Fat
29g Carbs
56g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 836
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 54g 69%
Saturated Fat 18g 88%
Cholesterol 177mg 59%
Sodium 1459mg 63%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 10%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 56g
Vitamin C 2mg 11%
Calcium 377mg 29%
Iron 6mg 35%
Potassium 713mg 15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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