Butter Burger with Caramelized Onions and American Cheese Recipe
A rich and flavorful Butter Burger recipe featuring juicy ground beef patties cooked in butter, topped with melted American cheese, sweet sautéed onions, and served on toasted homemade buns with a generous spread of butter for a decadent burger experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Burger and Toppings
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt (divided)
- ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 slices American cheese
- 4 homemade burger buns (toasted)
Butter and Onion Mixture
- 12 tablespoons salted butter (softened and divided, 1¼ sticks)
- 1 medium sweet onion (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Melt Butter and Cook Onions: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the chopped sweet onion, 1 tablespoon of water, and ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt. Cover the skillet and cook the onions for about 5 minutes until tender.
- Caramelize Onions: Remove the lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking the onions, stirring occasionally, for an additional 3 minutes until they are translucent and just starting to brown. Transfer the onions to a plate and divide into 4 equal portions. Set aside.
- Form the Patties: Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions. Gently shape each portion into a patty about 4½ inches wide and ½ inch thick. Season both sides of each patty with the remaining ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper. Refrigerate the patties for 15-30 minutes to firm up.
- Prepare the Buns: Spread 2 tablespoons of softened butter on the top half of each toasted burger bun. Set aside.
- Cook the Patties: Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet used for the onions until it begins to smoke. Carefully transfer the patties to the hot skillet and cook for 3 minutes undisturbed to form a crust.
- Flip and Add Cheese: Flip each patty and cook for 1 more minute. Place one slice of American cheese on each patty and continue cooking for about 20-30 seconds until the cheese melts.
- Assemble the Burgers: Place each cooked patty onto the bottom half of the toasted buns. Top each patty with a quarter portion of the sautéed onions. Finish by placing the buttered bun tops over the onions. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Using softened butter for spreading ensures it melts nicely into the buns.
- Do not press down on the patties while cooking to keep them juicy.
- Cooking the onions with a bit of water helps soften them without burning.
- Letting the patties chill before cooking helps maintain their shape and promotes even cooking.
- This recipe works best with freshly toasted buns and freshly ground beef for optimal flavor.
Keywords: butter burger, cheeseburger, sautéed onions, homemade burger buns, American cheese, skillet burger
