Star-Spangled Burgers

2 pounds ground beef

1 large red bell pepper, diced

2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 (4 ounce) packages crumbled blue cheese

8 hamburger buns

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.

Mix ground beef, red pepper, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl; divide and form into 16 patties. Place 1 ounce blue cheese in the center atop each of 8 of the patties. Top each cheese-topped patty with an unadorned patty, pressing the sides together so the cheese doesn t fall out.

Cook on the preheated grill until the burgers are cooked to your desired degree of doneness, 7 to 10 minutes per side for well done. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the meat should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).