This irresistible Butter Burger with our Cowboy Butter as a secret ingredient will blow your mind! This is the ultimate comfort food burger.
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Today's recipe has a special place in my heart. It is the juiciest, most flavorful burger I have ever had. Hands down, this is my favorite recipe. While I love making BBQ Bacon-Jack Stuffed Burger, it just doesn't compare to this unbelievable butter burger.
There were two things I craved both times when I was pregnant, homemade mac and cheese and burgers. Of course, this was usually in the middle of the night. Mr. Juggling Act started asking me, "What can I get you that we already have?"
It's said that butter burgers were most likely first made in Wisconsin where they were often topped with cheese curds. In fact, you might be familiar with Culver's ButterBurger, but I like my homemade butter burger recipe better! (Say that five times fast!!)
Now I always have Cowboy Butter in the freezer along with ground beef! (I stock up on good cheeses when they're on sale, too.) I am always prepared to make a really good meal. Trust me, using compound butter will as so much extra flavor to your burger patty. It's essential for the perfect burger, in my humble opinion!
What is in a butter burger?
If you guessed butter, you'd be right. In fact, Cowboy Butter is my SECRET Ingredient! This is going to take these burgers right over the top. You probably know I love to put Cowboy Butter on everything from wings to whole roasted chicken. My favorite might be on grilled steak. Oh. My. Gosh. There's just so much flavor in this stuff and it's so simple to make.
The burger is cooked in butter, the rolls are buttered, and the caramelized onions are - you guessed it - cooked in butter. These little tricks make the juiciest burger you've ever tried!
Ingredients
- Cowboy Butter
- onion
- ground beef
- deli-sliced American cheese
- cheddar cheese - I used Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- buns - I like using onion rolls
For a list of some of my favorite items to use when cooking, and why I chose them, please visit my Kitchen Resource page.
Instructions
- Start with cold hard Cowboy Butter. Cut four thin round slices.
- Using the burger press, add ground beef to the bottom and create a lip around the edge.
- Next, add one slice of the butter to the center of the beef.
- Add additional ground beef and use the top of the press to form the patty.
- Remove and repeat to form all four patties.
- Allow the burgers to rest 10 minutes before cooking.
- While the burgers rest, add the onions with 1 tablespoon of water and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet.
- Cover the onions and cook over medium heat until they are tender. Remove from the skillet and
- In the same skillet you cooked the onions, melt 2 tablespoons of Cowboy Butter over medium-high heat.
- Then, season the patties with freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt.
- Add the patties to the skillet and cook until desired doneness (see below).
Equipment
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To make these burgers, you'll need at least one large skillet. I like to use one non-stick skillet and also a large cast-iron skillet.
I absolutely love my burger press which helps make evenly-sized burgers. You can make this recipe without it, of course, but it is definitely super helpful.
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How long do I cook burgers?
Again, I'll look to the expert here. Bobby Flay recommends the following cook times:
- Rare: 6 minutes
- Medium rare: 7 minutes
- Medium: 8 minutes
- Medium-well: 9 minutes
- Well-done: 11 minutes
Serving Suggestions
Place each burger onto a roll and add the tender onions on top of the burgers. Serve the butter burgers with fries or a salad, and maybe a delicious Pineapple Cocktail.
You might also like to serve them on a big charcuterie board - or Burger Board! It's a great way to have all your burger stuff in one spot and people and add their own toppings.
Burger Toppings
Add your favorite toppings such as Cherry BBQ Sauce, Spicy Ketchup, Avocado Ranch Dressing, Honey Mustard, Lettuce, Tomato, and/or Pickles.
Variations
Of course, this burger can be made with regular butter or any sort of savory compound butter like our garlic chive butter or steak butter.
Similar Recipes
Whether it's for a weekend cookout, to celebrate National Burger Day, or just because, here are some of our other favorite burger recipes we know you'll love:
- bacon cheeseburger sliders - mini burgers perfect for game day
- butter burger - juicy burgers stuffed with flavored butter
- cowboy burger - huge burgers with bbq sauce, onion rings, and bacon
You won't believe how amazing these burgers are! If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars!
Butter Burgers
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Ingredients
- ½ cup Cowboy Butter
- 2 lbs 85% lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 4 rolls - I like onion rolls for this burger
- salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Start with cold hard Cowboy Butter. Cut four thin round slices, about 1 generous teaspoon each.½ cup Cowboy Butter
- Using the burger press, add about ⅛th of the ground beef to the bottom and create a lip around the edge.2 lbs 85% lean ground beef
- Add additional ground beef and use the top of the press to form the patty.
- Remove and repeat to form all four ½lb patties.
- Then, season the patties with freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt.salt and black pepper
- Cover the onions and cook over medium heat until they are tender. Remove from the skillet and set aside.1 medium onion, sliced, ½ cup Cowboy Butter
- In the same skillet you cooked the onions, melt 2 tablespoons of Cowboy Butter over medium-high heat.
- Butter the rolls and cook them in a seperate skillet until they are golden brown.
- Add the patties to the skillet and cook until desired doneness, topping with a slice of cheese just before the burgers are done.4 rolls - I like onion rolls for this burger
- Place the burgers on the toasted buns and serve immediately.
Equipment
- Burger Press optional but super helpful
Notes
Cooking Times
- Rare: 6 minutes
- Medium rare: 7 minutes
- Medium: 8 minutes
- Medium-well: 9 minutes
- Well-done: 11 minutes
Nutrition
Meal Planning
Want to add this recipe to your meal plan? Download our free printable meal plan here.
This recipe is included in Meal Plan 29 along with:
- pork carnitas
- BBQ chicken tostadas
- shredded beef enchiladas
- orange peach smoothies
- chicken tacos
- lasagna soup
- sweet potato quiche
... and more!
Be sure to check out all our meal plan ideas here.
Kellt fromWildflour's Cottage Kitchen says
I WANT. This BURGER!!! Omg....I'm a butter NUT, and would die over this!! 🙂 Looks absolutely mouthwatering!
Ang Paris says
Thank you so much! It's SO good 🙂
Kate | Life of a Ginger says
Oh wow! That sounds amazing. Butter is my favorite food group, lol!
Ang Paris says
It's so yummy - really good on grilled steaks, too!
Thanks for stopping by Kate 🙂
Matt says
Only one word needed “Delicious”
Valentina | The Baking Fairy says
Adding this herbed butter to a burger sounds like the best idea ever!
Kathleen says
Girl, this burger has my name written all over it!! Looks amazing and I look forward to trying this recipe.
Ang Paris says
Thank you so much Kathleen 🙂
I hope you get to try this soon!
Linda says
I have made your butter for steaks and I bet it's awesome for this burger too. Can't wait to try them.
Ulrike Minteer says
How do you make this cowboy butter ?
Or can I buy it at a store ?
Ang Paris says
Hi! The recipe for the Cowboy Butter is linked in the recipe card above. Enjoy!
Christie says
That butter in the middle makes these burger insanely delicous! So much moisture and flavor.
Ang Paris says
It is totally incredible! Thanks for visiting Christie 🙂
JAMES EDINGER says
where can you purchase cowboy butter or a recipe where can make it.
Ang Paris says
Hi James, here is the link for Cowboy Butter 🙂
https://old.jugglingactmama.com/cowboy-butter/