Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger Copycat Recipe at Home
Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger copycat: two seasoned patties, American and Swiss cheese, ketchup, mustard and mayo on a buttered bun, in 25 minutes.
This Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger copycat makes 2 burgers in about 25 minutes: two salt-and-pepper beef patties per bun, American and Swiss cheese melted on top, ketchup, yellow mustard and mayo, all in a buttered, toasted soft bun. Jack in the Box lists those components but keeps its recipe to itself, so this is my home reproduction, not the official formula. Where I had to guess, like patty weight or where the cheese goes, I say so. My take: the Ultimate is the most honest burger on the chain’s menu. No lettuce, no secret sauce, just beef, cheese and condiments, and that’s exactly why it’s easy to rebuild at home.
What’s on the Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger?
The Ultimate Cheeseburger has two 100% beef patties, melted American and Swiss-style cheeses, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise on a buttery bakery bun. Jack in the Box describes the beef as “seasoned as it grills” on its official burger menu, and Tasting Table lists the same build.
The chain’s nutrition tables go one level deeper. I could only find the June 2025 edition on a third-party menu site, and it lists Split Top Bun, Mustard, Ketchup, Mayo, American Cheese, Jumbo Beef Patty (x2), Swiss-Style Cheese and Butter. That’s it. No lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles or secret sauce.
- Bun: split-top bun, buttered and toasted
- Beef: two “Jumbo” 100% beef patties, seasoned on the grill
- Cheese: American plus Swiss-style
- Sauces: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise
- No vegetables in the standard build
How many slices of cheese are on the Ultimate Cheeseburger?
The Ultimate Cheeseburger has carried three slices of cheese since 2016, according to the history kept by the brand’s fans. The Jack in the Box fan wiki is the only source for that number, though, and it doesn’t say how the slices split. The chain itself says only “American & Swiss style cheeses.” I go with two slices of American and one of Swiss per burger. American melts fastest, so every patty gets one. The Swiss goes on the top patty only, where its nutty edge comes through instead of being buried under the beef.
Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger calories and nutrition
A Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger has 820 calories in a 266 g (about 9.4 oz) sandwich, with 49 g of fat, 1,780 mg of sodium and 50 g of protein. These are US-market figures as of October 2026 from MyFoodDiary and FatSecret. Jack in the Box shows the same 820 calories on its own site.
| Nutrient (per sandwich, 266 g) | Ultimate Cheeseburger |
|---|---|
| Calories | 820 kcal |
| Total fat | 49 g |
| Saturated fat | 21 g |
| Trans fat | 3 g |
| Cholesterol | 145 mg |
| Sodium | 1,780 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 44 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugars | 7 g |
| Protein | 50 g |
The Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger is the same burger plus hickory-smoked bacon: 910 calories for 284 g, per the official product page and FatSecret.
A real Jack in the Box Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger, bought in Seattle in 2008: the same double-patty, two-cheese base plus hickory-smoked bacon (910 calories, 284 g). (Photo: Ryan McFarland (zieak), CC BY 2.0, via Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/78552401@N00/2365948694), 500×375)
Bar chart: Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger vs. Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger, calories (820 vs. 910 kcal) and weight (266 g / 9.4 oz vs. 284 g / 10 oz), US figures as of October 2026. (Chart: Burger Breton, data from FatSecret (https://mobile.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/jack-in-the-box/bacon-ultimate-cheeseburger) and Jack in the Box (https://www.jackinthebox.com/menu/product-details?productId=8); original chart, to be drawn)
Ingredients for 2 Ultimate Cheeseburgers
For 2 burgers you need about 14 oz (400 g) of 80/20 ground beef, shaped into four patties, plus 6 slices of cheese, three sauces, two soft buns and a tablespoon of butter. Jack in the Box doesn’t publish its patty weight. I worked these amounts backward from the 266 g weight of the whole sandwich, so treat them as my estimate.
- 14 oz (400 g) ground beef, 80/20, divided into 4 patties of 3.4–3.7 oz (95–105 g) each
- 4 slices American cheese
- 2 slices Swiss cheese (deli-sliced or processed Swiss slices)
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tsp ketchup
- 2 tsp mild yellow mustard
- 2 soft burger buns, split-top if you can find them
- 1 tbsp (15 g) unsalted butter, softened
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
How I estimated the patty weight
Each burger should hold about 4 oz (110–120 g) of cooked beef. Here’s my math. Take the official 266 g sandwich and subtract roughly 75 g for the bun, 55 g for three slices of cheese and 25 g for the sauces. That leaves about 110–120 g of meat. Thin patties on a very hot griddle lose a lot of fat and water, and I assume about 40%. That puts the raw beef at 6.7–7.4 oz (190–210 g) per burger, so two raw patties of about 100 g (3.5 oz) each.
Don’t read these as quarter-pound patties. Jack in the Box’s Double Jack, part of its 2016 menu makeover, does use two quarter-pound (113 g raw) patties, according to Meat+Poultry, and so does the Big Smashed Jack launched in 2025. The weight of the “Jumbo Beef Patty” in the Ultimate, on the other hand, has never been published.
Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger recipe: step by step
Sear thin, seasoned patties hot and fast on a griddle or cast-iron skillet, melt the cheese under a lid, then stack everything on a buttered, toasted bun. The heat and timings below are my home settings. Jack in the Box doesn’t publish its equipment or cook times.
1. Shape the patties
Divide the beef into four balls of 3.5 oz (100 g). Press each one into a thin patty a little wider than your bun, since it will shrink in the pan. Keep the patties cold until the pan is ready.
2. Toast the buttered buns
Spread the butter on the cut faces of the buns. Toast them cut-side down on a griddle or cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 45 to 60 seconds, until golden, then set them aside.
3. Sear and season the patties
Heat a griddle or cast-iron skillet to 390–445 °F (200–230 °C). Lay the patties in and season them with salt and pepper right in the pan, which is my reading of the chain’s beef “seasoned as it grills.” Leave them alone for 2 to 3 minutes, until a brown crust forms.
Pressing thin beef patties on a hot flat-top, the closest home setup to a fast-food griddle: sear at 390–445 °F, season in the pan, then flip and add the cheese. (Photo: Cullen Roberts, Unsplash License (https://unsplash.com/photos/person-pressing-burger-patties-on-grill-K5iPiJL6CDo). Step grid (buns toasting in butter, cheese melting under a lid, assembly) still needs original photos)
4. Flip, add cheese and cover
Flip the patties and immediately lay a slice of American cheese on each one, then a slice of Swiss on two of them. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the second side, covering the pan with a lid or a metal bowl for the last 30 seconds to melt the cheese. The center should reach 160 °F (71 °C), the USDA safe minimum for ground beef.
5. Sauce the buns
Spread 1 tbsp of mayonnaise on each top bun. Spread 1 tsp of ketchup and 1 tsp of mustard on each bottom bun.
6. Stack and serve
On each bottom bun, place the American-only patty first, then the patty with American and Swiss on top. Close the burger and serve it right away, while the cheese is still molten.
How close this copycat gets to the original
This copycat follows the official build to the letter: two beef patties seasoned on the grill, American plus Swiss-style cheese, ketchup, mustard and mayo, and a buttered bun. I left out lettuce, onion and any secret sauce because the original has none. Adding them would make a different burger. Everything here rides on well-salted beef, the creamy-nutty cheese pair and the condiments, so don’t skimp on any of them.
I made one deliberate change. Tasting Table ranked the Ultimate 7th of 13 Jack in the Box burgers in August 2026. It called the burger “quite literally loaded with cheese” but “a little dry” and suggested asking for extra sauce packets. I agree with the fix, so my version uses a full tablespoon of mayo per burger and 80/20 beef pulled off the heat at 160 °F. If you want it closer to the drier original, cut the mayo in half.
Original vs. homemade: comparison table
The original and this homemade version share every component. They differ in cooking equipment, patty weight and juiciness, and in the homemade column those are my estimates and choices.
| Jack in the Box original (US, Oct 2026) | Homemade copycat | |
|---|---|---|
| Beef | 2 “Jumbo” 100% beef patties, weight not published | 2 × 3.5 oz (100 g) raw 80/20 patties (estimate) |
| Seasoning | “Seasoned as it grills,” blend not published | Salt and pepper in the pan |
| Cheese | American and Swiss-style; 3 slices per fan archives | 2 American + 1 Swiss |
| Sauces | Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise | Same, with a generous tbsp of mayo |
| Bun | Buttered split-top “buttery bakery bun” | Soft bun, buttered and toasted |
| Cooking | Restaurant equipment, not published | Griddle or cast iron at 390–445 °F |
| Weight / calories | 266 g, 820 kcal | Not measured |
| Price | About $6.99–$7.79 | Cost of your groceries |
Tips: the bun, the cheese and the griddle
The pan matters most. If it isn’t hot enough to crust the patties in under three minutes, the beef steams and no amount of cheese will save it. The bun and the cheese come next.
Choosing a buttered, toasted split-top bun
Jack in the Box describes its bun only as a “buttery bakery bun,” and its nutrition tables list a split-top bun with butter. The recipe and the supplier are unknown. At home, any soft, lightly sweet white burger bun works. Butter and toast the cut faces so the bun holds up to the juices. Skip brioche: it’s too rich next to three slices of cheese and a tablespoon of mayo.
Double cheeseburger with American and Swiss cheese
Use real sliced American cheese for the melt and a thin slice of Swiss for flavor. Thick aged Swiss melts slowly and can stay rubbery under a 30-second dome. Deli-thin or processed Swiss slices behave much more like a fast-food Swiss-style cheese.
Can you make it on a grill or a flat-top?
Yes. A flat-top or plancha is the closest home setup: the patties brown evenly and the cheese melts under a dome. On an outdoor grill, set a cast-iron pan or griddle over the grates, because thin patties tend to fall apart directly over the flames.
A short history of the Ultimate Cheeseburger
The Ultimate Cheeseburger has been on the Jack in the Box menu since 1987, according to the history kept by the brand’s fans on the Jack in the Box wiki, and it has been reworked several times since. For the bigger picture, see our history of the hamburger.
- 1987: launch, per fan archives.
- 1999: the Meaty Cheesy Boys, a parody boy band, star in an Ultimate Cheeseburger ad and perform at the Billboard Music Awards. A CD called “Plugged” is sold in restaurants in 2001 (The Takeout).
- 2002: per the fan wiki, onion mayo and ketchup replace the mayonnaise, and the cheese drops from three slices to two.
- June 12, 2014: the Jalapeño Ranch Ultimate and the BBQ Ultimate (barbecue sauce, caramelized onions) launch as limited versions (Jack in the Box investor release). Both have since been dropped.
- 2016: the whole burger lineup gets buttered split-top buns and real mayonnaise (Meat+Poultry, March 21, 2016). Per the fan wiki, the Ultimate gets its third slice of cheese back and loses its sesame bun.
- 2025: the Ultimate is included in a 50%-off Jack Pack member deal from February 24 to March 30. The Big Smashed Jack launches the same February, and the Ultimate stays on the menu (Verdict Foodservice).
Timeline of the Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger: 1987 launch, 1999 Meaty Cheesy Boys ad, 2002 onion mayo and two cheese slices, 2014 Jalapeño Ranch and BBQ versions, 2016 buttered split-top bun and third slice, 2025 Jack Pack 50%-off deal. (Timeline: Burger Breton, from the Jack in the Box fan wiki, The Takeout, Jack in the Box investor release (2014), Meat+Poultry (2016) and Verdict Foodservice (2025); original diagram, to be drawn)
The Jalapeño Ranch Ultimate Cheeseburger, a limited version launched June 12, 2014 with jalapeños and ranch sauce and since discontinued. (Photo: theimpulsivebuy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jack\_in\_the\_Box\_Jalapeno\_Ranch\_Ultimate\_Cheeseburger\_(14529821683).jpg), 625×432)
How much does an Ultimate Cheeseburger cost?
In October 2026, a Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger costs about $6.99 to $7.79 on its own in the US, and combos start around $9.99. These figures come from unofficial price trackers (thepricer, Six Storeys), and prices vary by franchisee, city and ordering channel. For how that compares with other chains’ deals, read our breakdown of the 2026 burger value wars.
Where you can eat the original
Jack in the Box had 2,136 restaurants as of September 28, 2025, mostly in the western and southern US: California had 924 and Texas 548, according to the company’s FY2025 10-K filing. The same filing counts 3 restaurants in Mexico, 2 in Guam and none in Europe. If you’re in North Texas, our guide to the best burgers in Dallas covers the local independents worth a detour too.
Where to eat the original: Jack in the Box had 2,136 restaurants on September 28, 2025, with 924 in California, 548 in Texas, 659 in other US states, 3 in Mexico, 2 in Guam and none in Europe. (Chart: Burger Breton, data from the Jack in the Box FY2025 Form 10-K (SEC filing); original chart, to be drawn)
A Jack in the Box restaurant in Lebec, California, the state with the most locations (924) and the place to order a real Ultimate Cheeseburger. (Photo: TaurusEmerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jack\_in\_the\_Box\_Lebec,\_California.jpg), 3854×2377)
More fast-food copycat burger recipes
If you like double-patty chain burgers, these copycats use the same griddle method. They’re all on our burger recipes hub.
- Ultimate Double Whopper copycat: another “Ultimate,” flame-grilled with two patties
- Whataburger Triple Meat copycat: a Texas chain, also American cheese on a hot griddle
- Whataburger Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger copycat
- Sonic Jalapeño Double Cheeseburger copycat: close in spirit to the discontinued Jalapeño Ranch Ultimate
- Five Guys cheeseburger copycat
FAQ
Is this the official Jack in the Box Ultimate Cheeseburger recipe?
No. It’s a homemade copycat. The components match the official description, but the patty weights, the cheese split and the cooking times are my estimates, because Jack in the Box doesn’t publish its recipe.
What sauce is on the Ultimate Cheeseburger?
Ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. The standard Ultimate Cheeseburger has no secret sauce.
What’s the difference between the Ultimate Cheeseburger and the Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger?
The Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger is the same burger with hickory-smoked bacon added: 910 calories for 284 g, compared with 820 calories for 266 g.
What’s the difference between the Ultimate Cheeseburger, the Double Jack and the Big Smashed Jack?
The Ultimate is a double cheeseburger with American and Swiss-style cheese and three sauces, and its official patty weight isn’t published. The Double Jack (2016) and the Big Smashed Jack (2025) both use two quarter-pound patties, smashed in the case of the Big Smashed Jack. The Big Smashed Jack didn’t replace the Ultimate.
Is the Ultimate Cheeseburger still on the menu?
Yes. It was on the US menu in 2025, when it was part of a 50%-off Jack Pack deal, and Jack in the Box’s site still listed it in October 2026.
Are there Jack in the Box restaurants in Europe?
No. According to its FY2025 10-K, Jack in the Box operates only in the US, Mexico (3 restaurants) and Guam (2 restaurants).
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