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America's Melting Pot
Cheeseburger hero image coming soon
1920s-present - Lionel Sternberger of Pasadena and American diner and lunch-counter cooks
A classic griddled cheeseburger with American cheese, pickles, onion, ketchup, mustard, and a toasted bun.
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Difficulty
Easy
Prep time
15 minutes
Cook time
10 minutes
Total time
25 minutes
Servings
4 burgers
Region
Pasadena, California, diners, drive-ins, and lunch counters nationwide
Era introduced
1920s-present
Introduced by
Lionel Sternberger of Pasadena and American diner and lunch-counter cooks
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The cheeseburger is a small change that became a national default. Pasadena often credits Lionel Sternberger with putting American cheese on a hamburger at The Rite Spot in 1924, while Louisville, Denver, and other burger cities have their own claims about naming and popularizing it. This version keeps the lunch-counter style: thin beef patties, melted American cheese, toasted buns, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard.
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