HOME COOKING: Carl's Jr Charcoaled Burger Restaurant Recipes You Can Do At Home - Carl's Jr's Famous Star - Carl's Jr. Chicken Club - Prime Recipes

In an era when so-called value menus are attempting to lure customers with dollar-priced snacks and bite-sized burgers, Carl's Jr. is proving that taste and quality never go out of style.

With the creation of its ultimate premium burger, the Prime Rib Six Dollar Burger, Carl's Jr. set a new standard for quality fast-food and re-defined value in comparison to similar items available at fancy sit-down restaurants thoughout West Coast communities.

 The new high-end burger is the latest in the Carl's Jr. string of "meat-as-a-condiment" menu items, which have included the Pastrami Six Dollar Burger and the Philly Cheesesteak Six Dollar Burger. The newest meat-on-meat creation is sure to satisfy even the hungriest of prime rib lovers.

The Prime Rib Six Dollar Burger consists of a charbroiled, 100 percent Black Angus beef patty topped with thinly-sliced prime rib, melted Swiss cheese, grilled onions and horseradish sauce all on a toasted Ciabatta roll - and all for about the price of a gallon of gasoline.

With enough spice to challenge even a jalapeño-lover's taste buds, the Jalapeño Chicken Sandwich is also topped with Carl's Jr.'s zesty, signature Santa Fe sauce and Pepperjack cheese, so it's sure to leave stomachs satisfied and eyes glistening.

By combining the spicy success of the Jalapeño Burger and Jalapeño Six Dollar Burger with the juicy flavor of its marinated and charbroiled chicken breast sandwiches, Carl's Jr. extends its history of product innovation in the quick-service restaurant industry. Carl's Jr Charcoaled Burger Restaurant has united fast-food with real home-cooked taste. Among their most popular items are:

1. Parmesan Chicken Sandwich - A Crispy Chicken Fillet with Melted Cheese and Marinara Sauce on a Seeded Bun.

2. The Big Carl - Two charbroiled beef patties, our classic sauce, two slices of American cheese, and lettuce all on a toasted sesame seed bun.

3. Green Burrito Taco Salad - Seasoned Ground Beef with Refried Beans, Jack and Cheddar Cheeses, Lettuce, Fresh Salsa, Hot Sauce and Sou.r Cream in a Crispy Flour Tortilla Bowl.

4. Chili Cheese Fries - Natural Cut French Fries smothered in Chili and Shredded, Melted Jack and Cheddar Cheeses.

>>>And here are their most popular items - complete recipes so you can make 'em at home!

--Carl's Jr's Famous Star--

1/4 pound ground chuck

1 large sesame-seed bun

Kraft mayonnaise

Heinz ketchup

Heinz hamburger relish (the red stuff)

Vlasic hamburger slices

tomato, white onion, lettuce

Pre-Prepare your Condiments:

Mix 1 Tablespoon ketchup with 1/2 Tablespoon relish, set aside. Chop the lettuce...you'll need a handful per burger.

Thinly slice the tomato and onion. You'll need 1-2 tomato slices, and 3-4 rings of fresh onion. (These amounts are for each Famous Star.

Divide one pound of ground chuck ito 4 equal portions. On waxed paper, form each portion into 5 inch round patties. Freeze for at least an hour.

Keep any spares frozen until needed. Obviously you'll do this in advance. When cooking time draws near, toast the faces of the bun (top and bottom) on a 375 electric griddle. They should be an even tan color.

1. Preheat either an outdoor gas barbecue, or an indoor electric one. After it is pre-heated, place a still-frozen beef patty on the grill, pressing down firmly for 4-5 seconds. (This will get you the grill marks) Salt liberally. Cook for 3 minutes (gas) or 5-6 minutes (electric). Eyeball it---if it looks ready to turn, turn it.

2. While the beef is cooking, dress your bun as follows: Top Half: Your pre-mixed special sauce (ketchup and relish) 1/2 Tablespoon mayonnaise Bottom Half: 1/2 Tablespoon mayonnaise 3 pickle slices 1 handful of chopped iceberg lettuce 1-2 tomato slices 3-4 fresh rings of onion.

3. Turn the beef patty over, press down firmly with a spatula for 3-4 seconds, and salt liberally. (Don't be afraid to have a few flames "kiss." the burger...they are charbroiled.

4. Place the cooked beef patty on the dressed bottom bun, add the top. Carl's Jr's Famous Star 88 Want to make a Carl's Jr All-Star ? After placing the beef on the bottom bun, add a slice of real Amercian cheese on top of the patty, then 2 slices of cooked bacon before placing the top bun on. (Criss-cross the bacon in an X pattern)

--Carl's Jr. Chicken Club--

 2 Whole chicken breasts, Boned and halved

1 Cup Teriyaki marinade (Lawry's Is best)

4 Whole-wheat hamburger buns

8 Slice Bacon

1/4 Cup Mayonnaise

1 Cup Alfalfa sprouts, loosely

Packed

4 Lettuce leaves

4 Large Tomato slices

4 Slice Kraft Swiss Cheese Singles

Marinate the chicken in the teriyaki marinade in a shallow bowl for 30 minutes. Preheat a clean barbecue to medium grilling heat.

Brown the faces of each bun in a frying pan on the stove. Keep the pan hot. Cook the bacon in the pan until crisp, then set aside.

Grill the chicken breasts 5 to 8 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Spread about 1/2 tablespoon of mayonnaise on the face of each bun, top and bottom. Divide the sprouts into 4 portions and mound on each bottom bun.

On the sprouts, stack a lettuce leaf, then a slice of tomato. Place one chicken breast half on each of the sandwiches, a top the tomato. Next, stack a slice of Swiss cheese on the chicken, and then the 2 pieces of bacon, crossed over each other.

Top off the sandwich with the top bun. Microwave for 15 seconds on high. Makes 4 sandwiches.

Bon Appetit!

A Graduate of the Holland College Culinary Course, Brian Alan Burhoe has cooked in Atlantic Coast restaurants for over 30 years. He is a member of the Canadian Culinary Federation. Brian's articles reflect his interests in food service, dreamstudy, imaginative literature and our best friends -- our dogs.

His Home Page is A CULINARY MYSTERY TOUR - A Literary Chef. His articles have been reprinted on numerous Blogs and culinary websites, including the popular WUVING.com.

 In 2008, Carl's Jr. introduced its "Fake Restaurant" ad campaign. By using actors and props, Carl's Jr. created a formal gourmet burger restaurant to demonstrate--via supposedly hidden cameras--people enjoying the burgers and the fact they will happily pay $14-16 for a Carl's Jr. Six Dollar Burger, which actually is priced at only around $3.99 plus tax.