Do you want to up your burger game for special occasions? Take a page from the mid-westerners’ book and add butter to your patties. Seriously, it takes an ordinary hamburger over the top. Fat is flavor; butter is fat; you do the math.

To take butter burgers to the next level, try using compound butter instead. I decided to add my favorite garlic butter to burgers one night, and my God, they were good! Paired with my favorite Roasted Tomato & Garlic Spread, they tasted like meatball subs, only they weren’t as messy to eat. Win!

The sky is the limit when it comes to compound butters, so you could introduce a slew of different flavors to your burgers using this method. Be creative and enjoy!

1.5 lbs ground beef, divided into 8 equal portions

Garlic & Herb Butter, chilled and sliced into 8 thin pats

Salt & pepper, to taste

4 slices of Provolone Cheese

4 hamburger rolls

4 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened to room temperature

Roasted Tomato & Garlic Spread

Arugula or baby spinach, to taste

1. Set up your grill or grill pan to high heat.

2. Gently press each portion of ground beef into equally sized, thin patties.

3. Place a pat of butter on top of 4 burger patties.

4. Top each butter-adorned patty with a remaining ground beef patty, creating 4 burgers. Using your fingers, gently press the layers of the stacked patties together around the edges to seal. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

5. Oil your grill or grill pan. Place your burgers over direct heat and grill, covered, for 2-3 minutes, depending on your preferences on doneness.

6. Flip your burgers over and place the 4 remaining pats of butter on top of each burger. Cover with your grill lid, or tent with a piece of foil if you are using a grill pan, and allow the meat to cook for another 2 minutes.

7. Place a slice of provolone cheese on top of each burger. Clover and cook the burgers for 1 minute more to melt the cheese.

8. Remove the burgers from the grill and allow them to rest for about 5 minutes.

9. While the burgers are resting, spread the cut sides of your burger rolls with the softened butter or margarine. Place the rolls, cut-side down, onto the grill or grill pan and toast for 1 minute. Remove them to a serving platter. This can also be done by placing the rolls, cut-side up on a baking sheet, and broiled in the oven for 1 minute.

10. Pile a handful of arugula or baby spinach onto the bottom half of each roll.

11. Smear the top half of each roll with the Roasted Tomato & Garlic Spread, to taste.

12. Place the burgers on top of the greens, then cap them with spread-bedecked tops. Serve immediately.

Serves 4