What is a Loco Moco Cheeseburger, you ask? Well, you all know that the Loco Moco is a traditional Hawaiian Island meal which is enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and likely as a late night snack. You can find Loco Moco on most any menu when you are visiting the Hawaiian Islands.
Loco Moco brings together soft white rice, a seasoned and juicy hamburger patty, a luscious brown gravy, and a sunny side up egg into a savory and delicous meal.
There are many variations of the Loco Moco. Some of those variations include bacon, ham, Span, tofu, sausage, and more.
What we will be doing is taking the base ingredients of the traditional Loco Moco, adding a little Cheeseburger Guru twist, and creating the Loco Moco Cheeseburger.
If you like how this cheeseburger is inspired by the Islands, take a look at the Hawaiian Volcano Cheeseburger.
Key Components of the Loco Moco Cheeseburger
- Burger Patty - First and foremost, you have to use good quality ground beef. The burger patty should be nice and tender and full of flavor. Grinding your own beef would be a good choice. If that isn't an options, find some quality ground beef from a grocer that has a meat counter.
- Cheese - Your choice of cheese can make or break the Loco Moco Cheeseburger. Too light of flavor, the cheese will get lost. Too bold of flavor, it will overpower all of the other flavors.
- Rice - The rice needs to keep its shape and holds up to the gravy. You don't want the rice to fall apart and land on your plate before you get a chance to finish your Loco Moco Cheeseburger. Choose a short-grain rice that is nice and sticky.
- Gravy - Nice, rich, full of flavor along with chunks of mushrooms and onions. The gravy brings a lot to the table on this one.
- The Bun - Firm and yet pillowy soft bun. We need something that soaks up the gravy and doesn't fall apart. We definitely don't want this to become a knife and fork meal.
Recommended Tools
- Lodge Cast Iron Skillet – https://amzn.to/3UE80bZ
- Tramontina Tri-Ply Stainless Cookware Set – https://amzn.to/4jmgbnd
- Henckels kitchen cutlery set – https://amzn.to/3YFTGAY
- Measuring Spoons (Stainless) – https://amzn.to/3ZcixOE
- Cutting Board (Maple) – https://amzn.to/3ASqNtt
- Mixing Spoons – https://amzn.to/4fNazkn
- Patty Paper Squares – https://amzn.to/40EkuED
- Deli Containters with Lids – https://amzn.to/4iu4w5b
Ingredients for the Loco Moco Cheeseburger
- 1/2 medium onion, peeled and diced
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced garlic
- 6 oz 80/20 ground beef
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 8 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 egg
- 1 cup cooked calrose rice (sticky rice)
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- Salt
- Fresh cracked pepper
- Garlic powder
- Burger bun
- Havarti cheese
Directions for making the Loco Moco Cheeseburger
Cook Your Rice
You will need about 1 cup of rice for the Loco Moco Cheeseburger. Calrose rice is the preferred rice. Calrose is soft and stick and will keep together while preparing and eating your Loco Moco Cheeseburger.
Cook your Calrose rice according to the directions, using a rice cooker or a pan on the stove. Keep the rice warm until ready.
Prepare the Gravy
The gravy in this recipe uses mushrooms and onions to give the gravy a chuncky texture.
Start by dicing your onions, slicing your mushrooms, and dicing the garlic.
In a saucepan, add your oil and onions and sautee the onions until the start to become transparent.
Add your mushrooms and garlic and saute until the mushsrooms start to soften.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add the flour and cook for about two minutes to remove the raw flour flavor.
Add your beef stock, soy sauce, and worchestershire sauce and bring to a boil.
As the gravy begins to boil, it will begin to thicken. If you want your gravy thicker, simmer and reduce for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Cook the Burger
Bring a cast iron skillet up to temparature. Add some oil or butter and toast your bun (inside and outside).
Shape your hamburger patty and season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Place the burger patty, seasoned side down, in a preheated cast iron skillet. Allow to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. While burger patting is cooking, season the patty again with salt, pepper, and garlic.
Using a spatula, flip the burger patty and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes to your desired level of doneness. Add the slice of havarti cheese while the burger is cooking. Remove the burger from the skillet and allow to rest.
While the burger is resting, use a small non-stick skillet to cook the egg for the Loco Moco. Melt butter in the skillet. Add the egg. Season with salt and pepper. Loco Moco is traditionally served with an egg that is sunny side up.
Assemble the Loco Moco Cheeseburger
Assemble your Loco Moco Cheeseburger by placing the burger patty and cheese on top of the bottom bun.
Add a generous portion of rice on top of the burger patty and cheese.
On top of the rice add your mushroom and onion gravy...as much as you want.
Place your sunny side up egg on top of the gravy.
Garnish with sliced green onions.
Crown with the top bun.
Grab a napkin or two and enjoy your Loco Moco Cheeseburger.