This copycat Applebee’s O-M-Cheese Burger is stacked with crispy bacon, American cheese, spicy honey mustard, and served in a cheese “pool”.
I tried the new O-M-Cheese Burger at Applebee’s and immediately know I had to recreate it at home.
If you’re a fellow cheese lover like me, this burger absolutely hit the spot. But I keep hearing from others that sometimes you get that skillet full of melty queso and sometimes you don’t depending on the location. That’s exactly why I made this copycat version so you can get the full experience the way it’s supposed to be at home.
This version is rich, smoky, melty, and honestly better because you control the cheese level (and we are not holding back here).
If you love easy copycat restaurant recipes like this one, also try my Taco Bell Quesarito or Arby’s Beef and Cheddar Sliders.
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Recipe Snapshot
- Servings: 4 burgers
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Skill Level: Easy
- Best For: Weeknight dinners, game day meals, cheese lovers
Ingredients
Here’s what I used to recreate the skillet-style restaurant version at home.
For the burgers:
- Ground beef: I used 80/20 ground beef for the best flavor of you can use another percentage.
- Cheese slices: American cheese
- Seasonings: Salt and pepper to taste
- Brioche bun: Or you can use another kind of hamburger bun
For the Queso:
- Butter: Unsalted
- Heavy whipping cream: Any brand will work
- Shredded cheese: A blend of Monterey Jack and American cheese
- Seasonings: Garlic powder and cumin
Burger Toppings
- Applewood smoked bacon: I used thick-cut bacon)
- Spicy honey mustard: store bought or homemade
- Optional toppings: pickles, jalapeños, lettuce, extra shredded cheese on top
How to Make Applebee’s O-M-Cheese Burger
For the Burgers:
- Cook bacon in a cast iron skillet until crispy. Set aside on paper towels.
- Form ground beef into 4 equal patties. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Cook burgers in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for about 4-5 minutes per side.
- Add American cheese slices on top and allow them to melt. Set aside.
- Place the buns in the skillet and lightly toast them on the inside for a 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
For the Queso:
- In the same skillet, melt butter, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in heavy whipping cream.
- Add shredded blend of cheeses and stir until smooth and melted. Season with garlic powder and cumin.
- Keep the queso in the cast iron skillet.
For the Assemble:
- Assemble the cheeseburgers with bacon, mustard, and lettuce.
- Cut burgers in half and place burgers cut side down on top of the queso.
- Add fries on the side and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Spicy: Add jalapeños and pepper jack cheese
- BBQ: Swap honey mustard for BBQ sauce
- Loaded: Add sautéed onions and mushrooms
- Tex-Mex: Mix taco seasoning into queso and add pico de gallo
- Low Carb: Skip bun and serve skillet-style only
Recipe Tips for Best Results
⭐ Use 80/20 beef for juicy burgers
⭐ Shred your own cheese for smoother queso
⭐ Warm or toast your buns before serving
⭐ Use cast iron if possible - it keeps everything hot longer
⭐ Don’t overcook the burger (juicy center = better melt effect)
⭐ Use store bought queso if your in a hurry, just make sure to heat it up before serving
Storing Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Store burger patties minus the bun and queso separately in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat queso slowly on the stovetop or microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each time. Add a splash of milk if it thickens too much. Reheat burgers in microwave to desired temperature.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked burger patties only (not queso) in airtight freezer bags for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can! Store in the fridge and reheat before serving.
Absolutely! Grill add an even more smoky flavor.
No, but it really does make the flavor pop. Regular honey mustard works too.
Serve in a preheated cast-iron skillet with hot queso already inside. That’s the secret.
Recipe
Applebee’s O-M-Cheese Burger Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 slices American cheese
- 4 TBSP Butter
- 1 cup Heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup Shredded cheese blend Monterey Jack and White American cheese
- 1 TBSP Minced garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 slices applewood smoked bacon
- Spicy honey mustard optional
- 4 Brioche buns
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cumin
Instructions
For the Burgers:
- Cook bacon in a cast iron skillet until crispy. Set aside on paper towels.
- Form ground beef into 4 equal patties. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Cook burgers in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for about 4-5 minutes per side.
- Add American cheese slices on top and allow them to melt. Set aside.
- Place the buns in the skillet and lightly toast them on the inside for a 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
For the Queso:
- In the same skillet, melt butter, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in heavy whipping cream. Add shredded blend of cheeses and stir until smooth and melted. Season with garlic powder and cumin. Keep the queso in the cast iron skillet.
For the Assemble:
- Assemble the cheeseburgers with bacon, mustard, and lettuce.
- Cut burgers in half and place burgers cut side down on top of the queso.
- Add fries on the side and enjoy!
Notes
- Use 80/20 beef for juicy burgers
- Shred your own cheese for smoother queso
- Warm or toast your buns before serving
- Use cast iron if possible - it keeps everything hot longer
- Don’t overcook the burger (juicy center = better melt effect)
- Use store bought queso if your in a hurry, just make sure to heat it up before serving
Storing Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Store burger patties minus the bun and queso separately in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat queso slowly on the stovetop or microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each time. Add a splash of milk if it thickens too much. Reheat burgers in microwave to desired temperature.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked burger patties only (not queso) in airtight freezer bags for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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