Smoky Blue Cheese Burgers

With a focus on fine meats and seafood, and how to cook them, our series “A Cut Above" will guide you to become the ultimate grill master. Grill up these blue cheese burgers for a weekend treat, gourmet BBQ, or Father's Day surprise.

Whether you're getting ready to grill for a backyard party or cooking up a special Father's Day dinner, Wagyu beef patties topped with a special smoky blue cheese are a delicious twist on your classic barbecue favorite.

With pre-made burgers, you cut down on prep time. While they're on the grill, you just need to toast the buns, stir together the blue cheese sauce, and get your favorite fixings ready.

You can defrost these beef patties overnight in the fridge, and then only take about 10 minutes to cook if they're completely thawed. The beauty of Wagyu beef is that it's nicely marbled with fat, keeping the burger juicy no matter how you cook it. Any type of bun, like sesame seed (my favorite) or brioche, will work. The only thing you need to do while the burgers cook is sprinkle salt and pepper on each side -and be generous with your seasoning. Use a meat thermometer to cook to your desired doneness — 120-125° for rare, 130-135° for medium-rare, 150-155° for medium-well, and 160-165° for well done.

To make the smoky blue cheese sauce, start with a block of Rogue Creamery's Smokey Blue Cheese. You'll need the whole block (about 3.5 ounces) to make enough sauce for 4-5 burgers. Crumble the blue cheese with a fork, and add a touch of mayonnaise to help it cling together. I like to thin it out with a splash of heavy cream, and a touch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to accentuate the flavors.

The sauce can easily be doubled (or tripled) for a larger party or to use as a dip for your side dishes, like fries or veggies. It's also great with potato chips.