Choosing the Meat

• Whether you choose to use premade patties or make your own, starting with quality ingredients is crucial to cooking flavorful burgers. Burgers can be made from just about any ground meat including beef, lamb, pork, chicken or turkey. Even though many people prefer less fatty meats, having some fat gives your patties better texture and flavor. For example, ground chuck that is 85 percent lean makes a juicy patty. Other lean options such as sirloin or ground round slash some fat and calories from your dish along with some of the moisture and flavor.

Forming the Patties

• At their most basic, burgers are made from patties of ground meat. Another option is to add extra ingredients such as sauteed onions and garlic, ketchup, mustard, fresh herbs and salt and pepper into the meat mixture before forming the patties. Divide the meat into equal portions so that the burgers cook evenly under the broiler. Form the burgers into rounded, disc-shaped patties that are slightly wider than the bun and 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. Make a dimple, or indentation in the center of each burger to keep the patty from becoming overly puffed up.

Broiling the Burgers

• Arrange the broiler rack so that the burgers will be about 6 inches from the heat source. Put the burgers on a broiling pan that's been lined with foil on the bottom. Alternatively, line a baking sheet with foil and then place a cooking rack on top of that. Broil the burgers for 8 to 10 minutes, turning them once to ensure even browning on both sides. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the meatiest part of the burger to check for doneness. The Foodsafety.gov website recommends cooking ground meat until it's internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit or 165 F, depending on the type of meat that you've used.

Adding Cheese

• Once the burgers are fully cooked, or are close to being fully cooked, remove the pan from the oven. Top each burger with a slice or two of sharp cheddar or your favorite type of cheese. Other options include Swiss, provolone, Havarti, pepper jack, mozzarella or blue cheese, just to name a few. After topping each burger with cheese, place the pan back under the broiler for another minute, or until the cheese has melted. Slide each broiled burger onto a bun and top with your favorite condiments and toppings such as sliced onion, lettuce, sliced avocado or sliced tomato.