With food prices rising and fast food no longer the cheap option it once was, making satisfying, affordable meals at home has never been more important—or more rewarding. This Budget Cheeseburger recipe is proof that you don’t need a drive-thru or a double-digit receipt to enjoy a seriously juicy, melty, flavorful burger.
Made with simple pantry staples, this burger hits all the right notes: crispy seared beef, gooey American cheese, sweet-and-sour pickles, and a tangy homemade burger sauce—all for just $3.29 per serving, including a soft brioche bun (which if you make using my recipe is AMAZING, don’t feel bad about using store-bought buns though!)
💸 The Cost Breakdown – $3.29 Per Burger
Here’s how the budget shakes out per serving:
| Ingredient | Cost Per Serving |
| Ground Beef (3 oz patties x 2) | $2.10 |
| American Cheese | $0.42 |
| Burger Sauce | $0.15 |
| MSG Pickles | $0.25 |
| Sliced Onion | $0.05 |
| Brioche Bun | $0.32 |
| Total | $3.29 |
That’s less than a fast food cheeseburger—with better ingredients, better flavor, and no sad drive-thru lettuce.
✅ Why This Budget Cheeseburger Beats Takeout
A good burger is really just consists of high-quality ingredients that have been simply treated to bring out their best flavors. For me that means fatty ground beef that has been seared and seasoned well, a punchy burger sauce, some fresh and pickled toppings, and a pillowy bun. I’m not kidding when I say that I could eat this burger every single day. It’s just that good… and I LOVE BURGERS!
- Cheaper than fast food—with superior taste
- Customizable with whatever toppings you love
- Quick and easy—ready in about 30 minutes
🍔 Budget Cheeseburger Recipe – Better Than Fast Food for Just 3.29 a Serving
2
servings30
minutes5
minutesIngredients
- For the Burgers:
12 oz 12 medium ground beef (divided into 4 x 3 oz balls)
4 slices 4 American cheese
Salt and black pepper
½ white onion, thinly sliced and soaked in ice water
2 2 brioche buns
- For the Burger Sauce:
½ cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp 1 ketchup
1 tbsp 1 Dijon mustard
2 2 pickles, finely chopped
2 tsp 2 pickle brine
1 tsp 1 adobo sauce
½ tsp garlic powder
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- For the Pickles (makes extra):
200 g 200 cucumber, thinly sliced
200 g 200 rice vinegar
100 g 100 water
30 g 30 sugar
6 g 6 salt
2 g 2 MSG
Directions
- Make the Pickles
- In a pot, combine rice vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and MSG.
- Bring to a boil and pour over sliced cucumbers in a heatproof jar.
- Let sit for at least 30 minutes before using. Store leftovers in the fridge.
- Mix the Burger Sauce
- In a bowl, combine mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickles, pickle brine, garlic powder, and cayenne. Mix well and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Cook the Burgers
- Preheat a cast iron skillet over high heat.
- Form your ground beef into 4 x 3 oz balls.
- Add to the hot pan and smash down firmly using a spatula or heavy pan.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for 2–3 minutes until a deep brown crust forms. Flip and top with cheese.
- Cover for 30 seconds to melt the cheese.
- Assemble
- Toast your buns if desired. Spread burger sauce on both sides, add the patties (2 per burger), a handful of rinsed white onions, and homemade pickles. Serve immediately.
Final Thoughts
This homemade budget cheeseburger is everything a burger should be: crispy-edged, juicy, cheesy, tangy, and deeply satisfying. With a little planning and a few pantry staples, you can beat the fast food chains at their own game—for a fraction of the cost.
$3.29 per burger never tasted so good.
