A cheeseburger is a hamburger topped with melted cheese. The classic version starts with a cooked ground beef patty on a bun, but instead of stopping there, a slice of cheese (usually cheddar or American) is placed on top of the hot patty so it melts and becomes gooey and delicious.

The cheeseburger was invented in the United States sometime in the 1920s or 1930s. Several restaurants claim to have added cheese to a hamburger first, but what matters is that Americans fell in love with the combination. Today, cheeseburgers are one of the most popular foods in America and around the world, served everywhere from backyard grills to fast-food restaurants to fancy burger joints.

People customize their cheeseburgers with toppings like lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard. Some add bacon to make a bacon cheeseburger. The word can also describe the meal: a cheeseburger and fries is a classic American combo that's become recognized worldwide.