The Clogger Burger from The Simpsons
Krusty Burger introduced The Clogger with full knowledge of what it would do to Springfield's arteries. Three beef patties, multiple cheese varieties, bacon, and sauce that exists purely to enable the rest. This is the burger that sent Bart to fat camp.
Named for what it does to cardiovascular systems, The Clogger represents peak Krusty Burger engineering. Maximum satisfaction, maximum consequences.
Quick Facts
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Difficulty: Medium
- Servings: 4 burgers
- Regret Timeline: 2-4 hours post-consumption
Ingredients
For the Patties: - 900g ground beef (80/20 blend) - Salt and pepper - 2 tbsp butter
For the Stack: - 12 slices bacon (3 per burger) - 8 slices American cheese - 4 slices cheddar cheese - 4 slices pepper jack cheese (optional, for variety) - 4 large sesame seed buns
For the Clogger Sauce: - 1/2 cup mayonnaise - 2 tbsp ketchup - 1 tbsp yellow mustard - 1 tsp pickle juice - 1/2 tsp garlic powder - 1/2 tsp paprika
Method
Make the Sauce:
Mix mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, garlic powder, and paprika in a bowl. Whisk until combined. Set aside. This is your arterial lubricant.
Cook the Bacon:
Lay bacon strips in a cold pan. Cook over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until crispy. About 8-10 minutes. Remove to paper towels. Keep the bacon fat.
Form the Patties:
Divide ground beef into 12 equal portions. Shape into thin patties, slightly wider than your buns. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Thin patties are essential. You're stacking three of them. Thick patties would create a burger too tall to eat.
Cook the Patties:
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high. Add butter to the bacon fat. Cook patties in batches, 2-3 minutes per side for medium.
Add cheese during the last 30 seconds. Cover briefly to melt. Each burger needs three cheese slices minimum.
The Stack:
Toast buns in the pan briefly. Spread Clogger sauce on both halves.
Layer in this order: bottom bun, sauce, patty with cheese, bacon, second patty with cheese, bacon, third patty with cheese, bacon, more sauce, top bun.
Press down gently. The stack should compress but not explode.
The Physics of Eating It
The Clogger presents logistical challenges. Your mouth can only open so wide.
Option one: Compress firmly and commit to an ambitious bite.
Option two: Deconstruct slightly, eating it in segments.
Option three: Accept your fate and use a fork and knife. Krusty would judge you, but Krusty made this monster.
Variations
The Double Clogger: Just two patties. Still excessive, slightly more manageable.
The Quadruple Bypass: Four patties. Only for those who've made peace with their cardiologist.
The Breakfast Clogger: Replace one patty with a fried egg. It's 11am somewhere.
The Veggie Clogger: Plant-based patties exist. The guilt is different, but present.
Tips
Room temperature beef forms better patties. Take it out of the fridge 20 minutes before cooking.
Don't press patties while cooking. Pressing squeezes out juice.
American cheese melts best. The processed nature is a feature here, not a bug.
Toast the buns in butter. It adds structural integrity they'll need.
The Episode
The Clogger appears in "The Heartbroke Kid" (Season 16, Episode 17). Springfield Elementary installs Krusty Burger vending machines, and Bart gains significant weight from eating Cloggers daily.
The episode explores childhood obesity through the lens of corporate fast food marketing to kids. The Clogger is the primary villain, a burger designed to create repeat customers through overwhelming satisfaction.
Bart eventually goes to a weight loss camp. The Clogger's reputation lives on.
The moral: Everything in moderation, including moderation. But maybe especially Cloggers.
More Krusty Burger: Try the original Krusty Burger for something slightly less extreme, or the Ribwich for a different flavor of fast food excess.
