Description
These BBQ Burgers are juicy, smoky, and piled high with sharp cheddar, lettuce, and crispy homemade fried onion strings—all on buttery toasted buns. A mouthwatering option for summer grilling or a weekend indulgence.
Ingredients
1½ lb 80/20 lean ground beef chuck
1 slice white sandwich bread, crust removed and cut into ¼-inch pieces
⅓ cup BBQ sauce
3 garlic cloves, minced or 1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp each: chili powder, dried oregano, salt
½ tsp black pepper
4 hamburger buns
4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Tomato slices, lettuce leaves, extra BBQ sauce for serving
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cups buttermilk
1 egg
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
½ tsp each: salt and pepper
Vegetable or canola oil, for frying
Instructions
- Combine bread, BBQ sauce, garlic, and seasonings in a bowl; mash into a paste. Add beef and mix gently. Form into 4 patties with a shallow center dent. Chill 15 minutes.
- Whisk buttermilk and egg; soak onions 15–60 minutes. Heat 2 inches oil to 375°F. Mix flour, panko, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Dredge onions, then fry in batches 1–2 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
- Stovetop: Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high. Sear patties 3–4 minutes per side. Flip, reduce heat, brush BBQ sauce, cover and cook 2–5 minutes. Add cheese in final minutes.
Grill: Grill 3–5 minutes per side, brushing BBQ sauce after flipping. Add cheese just before done. - Toast buns with butter on a grill or skillet until golden.
- Assemble: Layer lettuce, patties, tomato, BBQ sauce, and onion strings. Top with bun and serve.
Notes
- Use blue cheese or pepper Jack for variation.
- Make mini sliders for parties.
- Add a fried egg for brunch-style burgers.
- Store patties and onion strings separately.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling or Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: 630
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
