Drive-In Nut Burger I & II

Before every burger joint tried to reinvent the wheel with truffle aioli and brioche buns, drive-ins were doing something way more fun. They were putting peanuts on burgers.

Version I is the classic: a grilled patty loaded with salted peanuts, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and Thousand Island dressing. The crunch of the peanuts against the juicy patty is the whole reason this burger became a cult favorite.

Version II goes even bolder. Swap the peanuts for a thick smear of chunky peanut butter and trade the Thousand Island for Russian dressing. It sounds wild, but the salty-sweet-savory combo is genuinely addictive.

Chef Tips

• Toast the buns on the grill or in a hot skillet. A soft, steamed bun falls apart under all these toppings, but a toasted one holds strong.
• For Version I, press the salted peanuts into the cheese while it’s still melted so they stick instead of rolling off.
• Use chunky peanut butter for Version II. Creamy works in a pinch, but the chunks give you that same satisfying crunch factor.