Here’s a classic Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger recipe — juicy, crispy-edged, and packed with sweet caramelized onion flavor 🍔👇
🌟 Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
🧅 Ingredients:
- 1 large yellow onion, very thinly sliced (use a mandoline if possible)
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend for best flavor)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 4 hamburger buns (preferably soft potato or brioche)
- 4 slices American cheese (or cheddar, if preferred)
- Butter (for toasting buns)
- Optional toppings: pickles, mustard, ketchup
🍳 Instructions:
- Prep the Onions:
- Slice onions paper-thin and pat them slightly dry with paper towels.
- Form the ground beef into 4 loose balls (don’t compact them). Season with salt and pepper.
- Smash & Cook:
- Heat a large cast iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat until hot.
- Add a little oil or butter. Place one beef ball on the skillet, top it with a generous handful of onions, and smash it flat using a sturdy spatula (about ¼-inch thick).
- Let it cook 3–4 minutes without moving — onions will start to caramelize and steam the burger from underneath.
- Flip:
- Carefully flip the burger (onions now on the bottom). Press lightly and cook another 2–3 minutes until the onions are browned and the burger is cooked through.
- Add Cheese:
- Place a slice of cheese on each patty while still hot so it melts beautifully.
- Toast Buns:
- Spread butter on the buns and toast them in the same skillet until golden.
- Assemble:
- Place the patty (onion side up) on the bottom bun, add your favorite condiments (classic combo: mustard and pickles), and top with the bun.
❤️ Pro Tips:
- Use very thin onions — they caramelize quickly and fuse into the beef.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if needed.
- The steam from the onions keeps the patty juicy inside and crispy outside.
