Ingredients

1.5 lb ground sausage

3tbsp onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, grated

1tbsp paprika, preferably smoked

2 tsp rubbed sage

2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (or less to taste)

2 tsp fennel seed

1tbsp EVOO

4 slices of Swiss cheese (8 slices if square)

4 sliced rolls

¼ cup burger sauce (recipe is above in “Introduction”)

Preparation

  1. Rub a small amount of vegetable oil on a double-burner grill pan and turn on both burners to med-high, or outdoor grill to high.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl combine sausage, onion, garlic, seasonings and oil. Using your hands, mix all ingredients together until thoroughly combined, with no hidden pockets of seasoning.
  3. Divide the sausage mixture into four equal parts and form four patties.
  4. When grill pan is extremely hot, evenly space out the four patties and grill for 4 minutes on each side or until golden browned and starting to char on the grill lines. Only move the patties when ready to flip. If you move them before they are browned well, they will stick and may break apart on you. Cooking time will vary based on the heat of your stovetop and the thickness of the patties. The internal temperature should be 160 degrees.
  5. About 1 minutes prior to removing the patties from the grill, top each with a folded piece of Swiss cheese (or two slices if square).
  6. Serve open-faced on a roll with 1tbsp burger sauce spooned over each patty.