Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger

Regional Burgers are what makes the American food scene so great. Not only is America known for inventing and perfecting the Hamburger; one of the worlds great fast-food dishes, but there are so many amazing varieties depending on what part of the country you are in. From the famous Juicy Lucy from Minneapolis to the Smash Burgers made famous in California, there’s something for everyone. In this recipe we show you how to make the famous Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger. Rich in Onion flavor and famous for its simplicity, this delightful Burger is one of the best and easiest to make at home!

The secret to any great burger is the quality of the Ground Beef

This really is the critical factor in defining the greatness of a burger. If you are using good quality, high fat content Ground Beef the burger is going to be simply amazing. 95% of the hard work is done if you are using good quality Beef, and you can seriously taste the difference. The beautiful, authentic flavors of great Beef shine through, making any burger, including our Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger a tasty treat to enjoy

Using Ground Beef with a high fat content is key. As we all know, fat equals flavor, and that couldn’t be more prevalent when it comes to Burgers. Aim for about a 70/30 percent Meat to Fat ratio with your Beef, and try to get your hands on some good quality Beef

Sure, you can go for some super-fine Wagyu Beef, but that’s likely going to break the bank, and doesn’t necessarily equate to great flavor. We recommend Ground Chuck Beef for the best result. You’ll enjoy the naturally high fat content of this Shoulder cut, and the flavor is rich and Beefy

Many grocery stores will now highlight the fat content in their ground meat. This helps a lot, however if they don’t, you can always ask the butcher to make some fresh Ground Beef for you. Just tell them what you want and let them work their magic! That’s what we were able to do with the wonderful folks at Sardes Quality Meats

How to make an Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger

This recipe is so easy to make, and the results are tremendous. A wonderfully flavored Burger with beautifully Caramelized Onions, melty Cheese, and of course, that delicious Beef. The Burger is made like a classic Smash Burger, with the Beef Patties pressed down with a flat object while in the pan, creating that ‘smashed’ look

The difference between a regular Smash Burger and an Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger is that the Burger is drenched in thinly grated Onion before it’s smashed. Roll the Beef that’s somewhere in between the size of a Golf Ball and a Tennis Ball then place it onto a large frying pan that’s smoking hot). Then, grab a handful of Onions and pour them over the top. Then, smash the whole thing down with a spatula so it’s flat on the pan surface

The Onions will go all over the place, but a load of them will be pressed into the Beef as it’s all smashed down. Simply round up the remaining Onions and place them back on top of the Burger and give it another press down. Season it well with Salt and cook it for a few minutes until the underside is charred

Carefully flip the burger over and try to scoop back in those stray Onions so they’re connected to the Burger, even placing them on top of the flipped side works. After a few more minutes the Burger is ready!

Cheese on an Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger? Yes please!

The jury is out on whether adding cheese to an Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger is truly authentic. Well, in our opinion if you want to add Cheese to your Burgers then go right ahead! Chances are your not in Oklahoma, and cooking these at home so who cares!

Once the Burger has been flipped the first time, immediately place a slice of American Cheese (the only Cheese you should ever use in Burgers), on top of the Patty. I like to use the Cheese as a gauge to how well cooked the Meat is. Once the Cheese has melted all over the Burger, it’s done

Personally, I don’t think you need to cover the Burger with anything to help the cheese melt. I know some Burger recipes and restaurants do this as the Steaming process is meant to help cook the Burger and Melt the Cheese. I don’t think this is needed, as the Cheese will melt on its own, and the Burger has been pressed down so it will cook through without the need to steam. This way, you’ll retain that wonderful crust on the outside of the Burger

Finish the cooking by placing the Burger Bun on top of the patty in the pan

This is a nice little trick you pick up along the way. Add the top of your Burger Bun (preferably a Potato Roll but other popular types like Brioche are fine) on top of the Burger while its finishing cooking in the pan. The residual steam from the cooking will give the Burger a lovely texture, and the Cheese on top will stick to the bun

After about 1 minute the whole thing is done! If you’re adding sauce to your Burger (which we always recommend!), add it to the bottom bun. Then, slide the Burger along with all those wonderful Onions out of the pan and straight onto the Bottom of the Burger

Scoop up any remaining Onions that are left in the pan and serve them along with the Burger. You’ll get all kinds of different colors and textures from the Fried Onions, which is what makes an Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger so unique. It truly celebrates the flavors of Caramelized Onions and the amazing versatility of a perfectly cooked Burger

Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger Recipe

Ingredients

• 20 oz / 560 grams Ground Beef (30% Fat)
• 2 Large Yellow Onions
• 4 Slices of American Cheese
• 4 Burger Buns (Potato Rolls or Brioche)
• Salt
• Ketchup and Mustard (optional)
  
  

Equipment needed: Mandoline

Instructions

1. Peel and finely slice the Onions using a sharp knife or (preferably) a Mandoline then set aside
2. Form the Ground Beef into 4 equal sized 5 oz. balls. Compress them slightly using your hands, moving them from hand to hand
3. Heat a large frying pan over high heat. Once smoking hot, place the Burger in the pan and then liberally pour over ¼ of the sliced Onions. Press down on the Burger using a flat object like a spatula or the back of a frying pan. Make sure you press as much of the Onions into the Burger as possible
4. Scrape any loose Onions back on top of the Burger and press them in slightly. Season well with Salt and cook for 4 minutes until dark brown and crispy on the underside
5. Flip the Burger and again fold any loose Onions on top of the Patty. Season again then place Cheese on top. Cook for 2 minutes until the Cheese melts, then place the top of the Burger bun on top
6. Cook for 1 more minute then remove it all using a large spatula and place it onto the Burger Bottom (optionally sauced with Ketchup and Mustard) and serve hot
   
   

Recipe Notes

• This recipe produces 4 Burgers
• You will not need to add any Butter or Oil to the pan given the high fat content of the Beef
• You can cook multiple burgers in one pan but avoid overcrowding it. I recommend cooking 2 at a time
  
  

We hope you enjoy our version of an amazing Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger. Our personal preference is the addition of Cheese, Mustard, Ketchup and a couple of Pickle Slices to our Burger. You can make yours however you want, so long as you shower that Burger Bun with as much Onion as you can, it’s going to taste amazing!

We’ve got loads of tasty Burger recipes here at Dinnertime Somewhere. Here’s a few of our favorites:

• French Onion Burger
• Wendy’s Baconator Cheeseburger
• Homemade Smash Burgers
• Authentic Juicy Lucy Burger
  
  

Happy Cooking!