A smoked juicy Lucy burger is a cheesy, messy, wear-a-bib, sort of burger that will make you smile from ear to ear when you taste it. Have plenty of moist towelettes on hand!
Form thin patties from the meat portions that are about the size of your buns or a little larger.
Separate American cheese slices into quarters and overlap four of them (a whole slice) on the top of the bottom patty.
Place the top patty over the cheese and crimp the edges to seal the burger closed.
Place the burgers in the fridge until ready to cook.
Set up smoker for cooking at about 225°F (107°C). If your smoker uses a water pan, fill it up.
Once the smoker is ready, place the juicy Lucy burgers directly on the grate or you can use a pan with a rack to reduce cleanup.
Smoke the burgers until they are almost done or around 140°F (60°C). Use a Thermapen to check the temperature but pull the probe out slowly and try to close the hole so the cheese does not escape.
Heat a griddle or iron skillet to high heat or about 500°F (260°C) ahead of time and once the burgers are ready, give them a sear for about 30 seconds on each side to bring them on up to temperature and brown the surface.
I also recommend toasting buttered buns while the burgers are finishing up.
Build your smoked juicy Lucy burgers according to how you like them but keep it simple so the cheese and meat can really be the center of attention.
Enjoy the cheesy goodness!
Notes
I recommend mayo on the bottom followed by shredded lettuce, a slice of tomato, the smoked juicy Lucy burger, a few pickles and the top bun.