Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers

Excite your taste buds with this easy Oklahoma onion burgers recipe featuring juicy beef, caramelized onions, and a delectable secret sauce.

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Once you try these Oklahoma onion burgers, you’ll never want to try another burger again! A classic American dish hailing from Oklahoma, this burger is incredibly juicy and tender. The patties are cooked directly on top of sliced onions, giving your burger tons of flavor and beautifully caramelizing the onions. Topped with cheese and a delicious secret sauce, this burger is big on flavor!

Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers Ingredients 

You’ll need:

For the Hamburger:

• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1 yellow onion, sliced into thin-cut half-moon shapes
• Sliced American cheese
• ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil
• Salt and pepper
• Cooked bacon, optional
• Pickle chips, optional
• Hamburger buns

For the Secret Burger Sauce:

• ¼ cup of mayonnaise
• ⅛ cup of ketchup
• ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon of ground red pepper 
• ⅛ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of yellow mustard
• ½ teaspoon of dill pickle juice
• ⅛ teaspoon of ground black pepper

Substitutions and Additions 

GROUND BEEF: You can use any type of ground beef, or other meats if you prefer. Lamb, venison, pork, and turkey would make delicious onion burgers as well. 

SLICED AMERICAN CHEESE: You can substitute American cheese for another kind, like sharp cheddar. 

BACON: Bacon is amazing, and it’ll taste incredible on this Oklahoma onion burger. 

TOPPINGS:  Like any burger, you can top this onion burger with your favorite toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. There’s no wrong way to enjoy this flavorful dish. 

How to Make This Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers Recipe 

STEP ONE: Begin by making the secret sauce by combining all of the ingredients together in a small bowl, then set aside. 

STEP TWO: Heat a large skillet with vegetable oil over medium heat, then add the onion and stir. 

STEP THREE: Divide the ground beef into four equal parts, rolling each piece into a ball and then flattening it with your hands. Season each side with salt and pepper. 

STEP FOUR: Place the hamburger patties directly on top of the onions in the pan, applying pressure with your spatula to press the onions into the hamburger. 

STEP FIVE: Cook the burgers until browned on one side, then flip and continue cooking until browned on both sides, then remove from the pan. 

PRO TIP: If you want your cheese to be melted onto the burger, put a slice of cheese onto the browned side right after flipping it. The heat on the burger from the pan will melt the cheese perfectly. 

PRO TIP: If you want to ensure your burger is cooked through, use a thermometer and push it into the center of the burger. The temperature will reach 165° when the burger is well done. 

STEP SIX: Build the burgers with the bottom bun, burger and onions, a slice of cheese, secret sauce, and the top bun.

PRO TIP: These burgers taste great on a toasted bun!

STEP SEVEN: Add any additional toppings you like.

STEP EIGHT: Serve and enjoy!

How To Serve 

This satisfying burger is fantastic on its own, and even better when served with amazing sides. I like serving these burgers with grilled potatoes and cucumber salad. 

Storage 

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftover burger patties in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy for up to 1 day after making them. 

IN THE FREEZER: These burgers freeze very well and make for great meals in the future. To ensure they stay fresh, wrap each burger in foil or plastic wrap once fully cooked, then place them into an airtight container or freezer bag. They can be frozen and enjoyed for up to three months.

REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS: To reheat from frozen, defrost the burger patties in the fridge overnight. Once defrosted, place them on a microwaveable plate and reheat them in the microwave until warmed through. 

The ultimate juicy burger, this Oklahoma onion burger is so simple to make but full of flavor! Tender ground beef and caramelized onions are a winning combination made even better with melty cheese and a delectable secret sauce.  

FAQ:

Q? Is an Oklahoma onion burger and an Oklahoma-style burger the same thing?

A: They’re the same thing with a slightly different name! Each of these features that delicious onion element not found in your typical burger. 

Q? How do I cut onions for an Oklahoma onion burger?

A: For this recipe, you want the onions to be thin, crescent moon-shaped slices. This allows them to caramelize beautifully in the pan and stick to the beef patty. 

Q? Can I use sweet onions in this recipe?

A: Using a yellow onion in this recipe will pack the biggest flavor punch as they are stronger onions. As they cook, the onion flavor will slightly dissipate but still maintain a lot of amazing flavor. If you want a milder onion flavor in your burger, sweet onions work well, too. 

Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers

Excite your taste buds with this easy Oklahoma onion burgers recipe featuring juicy beef, caramelized onions, and a delectable secret sauce.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

Hamburger

• ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 yellow onion sliced into thin-cut half-moon shapes
• 1 pound ground beef
• hamburger buns
• American cheese sliced
• salt and pepper
• bacon cooked (optional)
• pickle chips optional

Burger Sauce

• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• ⅛ cup ketchup
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon ground red pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon yellow mustard
• ½ teaspoon dill pickle juice
• ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

 

• In a small bowl, combine all secret ingredient burger sauce ingredients. Use a small whisk to combine. Set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, add vegetable oil and onions. Stir to coat onions in oil.
• Divide ground beef into 4 equal parts. Roll each part into a ball and then use your hands to flatten into a patty. Season both sides of hamburger patties with salt and pepper.
• Place the hamburger patties directly on top of the onions. Push down with your spatula to press the hamburgers and onions together.
• Let cook until browned on one side. Flip over and let cook until browned on the other side.
• Remove the hamburger and onions from the skillet and place on the bottom buns.
• Add a slice of American cheese, and spread the secret ingredient burger sauce on the top bun. Add the optional bacon and pickles if using them.
• Serve and enjoy!

Notes

If you choose to mix the meat with your bare hands, I highly recommend using disposable gloves. That way, you reduce the risk of cross-contamination, and it’s a lot less messy.

Handle the meat as little as you possibly can. The more you work the meat, the tougher it will get.

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