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Butter Burgers are amazingly delicious and our favorite burger recipe! These butter-soaked burgers are not for the health-conscious, but they are for anyone who enjoys REALLY GOOD FOOD. This Wisconsin Butter Burger recipe will have you drooling before you even bite into the juicy, cheesy, buttery goodness. And it wouldn’t be complete without a good dose of onion!
Table of Contents
Butter Burger Recipe
Butter Burgers are an indulgent dream. A buttery burger topped with cheese and onions, made on the stove top for a delicious dinner.
I’m going to start off by saying a few obvious things: Butter Burgers are made with lots and lots of butter; they are incredibly flavorful and delicious; and they are not healthy.
The Wisconsin Butter Burger Recipe is everything you dream of when you’re on a diet, and it’s well worth the indulgence. Meat patties cooked in butter, onions cooked in butter, and buns slathered with more butter.
You can’t forget the cheese. These burgers are so juicy and flavorful, and you just have to give in to the butter!
These burgers are made on the stove top, so no need for a grill. They are seared to perfection in butter to give them a nice crispy edge. Make a few of these and serve them with crispy fries for a fun and tasty meal.
You won’t find a better burger recipe on the internet!
This Wisconsin Butter Burger recipe will have you drooling. So much butter and so much flavor. Don’t be afraid to indulge in this delicious burger!
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Wisconsin Butter Burgers (History)
Butter Burgers are a Wisconsin classic. It should be no surprise that a state known for its dairy products would pile them on to a burger. Every part of this dish is cooked in butter, hence the name.
The meat and onions are cooked in butter, but you can’t skip adding it straight onto the bun too.There’s not point in resisting this indulgent burger; your taste buds will absolutely love you!
Serving Suggestions
We have so many favorite side dishes to are absolutely delicious with these butter burgers. Be sure to try with our Burger Sauce and Fry Sauce! YUM!
Side Dishes for Butter Burgers
Side Dishes
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Side Dishes
BBQ Baked Beans with Bacon (Skillet Baked Bean Casserole)
Butter burgers are made on the stove top, so no need for a grill. The best part is that everything is cooked in the same pan, so you don’t need to dirty up a bunch of dishes.
You want the flavor of the butter and onion still on the skillet as you cook the meat patties. It gets crispy and cooks in the flavor of the onions. YUM!
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
Melt butter in a skillet and cook onions until tender, translucent, and starting to brown
Divide beef into 4 equal size portions and work into patties, then refrigerate them for 15-30 minutes
Spread 2 tablespoons of butter onto each bun
Using the same skillet you used to cook the onions; cook beef patties for 3 minutes, then flip & cook 1 more minute
Add a slice of cheese to each burger & cook until melted
Lay the patties on the buns and top with onions
Watch the video and See the recipe card for full details & instructions
What is in a butter burger?
This recipe is made up of a pan-seared buttery burger patty, a slice of cheese, onions cooked in butter, and a soft bun covered in butter. It’s true to its name with all the butter!
All the Burgers
Guide to Cooking Burgers at Home
See all of our favorite burger recipes plus tips and tricks for cooking the ultimate burger at home.
See Burger Guide
This Wisconsin Butter Burger recipe is beyond delicious, and perfect for lunch or dinner. Serve them up with crispy fries (and fry sauce) and just embrace the butter!
You won’t regret the enjoyment you get from eating this tasty burger recipe.
More Burger Recipes
We LOVE this Butter Burger Recipe, but we also have so many other favorites we hope you try!
Butter Burgers are amazingly delicious and our favorite burger recipe! These butter-soaked burgers are not for the health-conscious, but they are for anyone who enjoys REALLY GOOD FOOD.
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.
In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion, water and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cover and cook, until tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and remove lid. Continue to cook until onions are translucent and just beginning to brown, about 3 more minutes. Transfer onions to a plate, and divide into 4 equal portions; set onions aside until ready to use.
Divide beef into 4 equal sized portions and gently shape each into a 4½x½-inch patty. Sprinkle both sides of the patties with salt and pepper. Refrigerate the patties 15-30 minutes.
Spread each bun top with 2 tablespoons butter; set aside.
Heat oil in the same skillet used for the onions until the oil begins to smoke. Use a spatula to transfer the patties to the skillet and cook 3 minutes (without moving them). Flip the patties and cook 1 more minute. Place 1 cheese slice over each patty and continue to cook until cheese is melted, about 20-30 seconds more.
Transfer patties to the bun bottoms and place ¼ of the sautéed onions on each patty. Top each with the buttered bun tops and serve immediately.
Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made!Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
1. Be sure to cook the onions in butter and water and then brown them.
2. Don’t skimp on buttering the bun tops. Yes, 2 tablespoons per bun top to be considered Wisconsin Butter Burgers.
3. Be sure to cook the patties a full 3 minutes before flipping them. These burgers need a good sear to get the flavorful dark brown crust.
Butter burgers are hamburgers topped with butter, either directly on the patty, or on the bun. Likely invented in Wisconsin, they remain popular in some northern parts of the midwestern United States, and are the principal item of Wisconsin-based fast food restaurant Culver's.
A little bit of pressure seals the beef, keeping moisture in and giving your burger that signature steak taste. Not only does it add flavor and more texture to every bite, it's what makes a ButterBurger a ButterBurger. Your food doesn't touch the grill until after you order.
Culver's uses fresh, never frozen beef, and the pressing and searing technique locks in the juices and therefore the flavor. Pressing the beef also ensures it is the right thickness to cook evenly on the grill. "That's where that great steak flavor comes from." The beef is seasoned with a salt and pepper mixture.
What makes a Culver's Butter Burger? Each sandwich starts with a fresh beef patty made from sirloin, chuck, and plate cuts that sits atop a buttered and toasted bun. The original comes with ketchup, mustard, red onion, and pickles, but you can customize yours however you'd like!
Culver's is currently available in 26 states, but not California. The closest location to San Francisco is about 580 miles, or 9 hours away, in Bullhead City, AZ. According to the Culver's website, California is listed as a “Future Market” currently not available for franchising.
Culver's co-founders Craig and Lea Culver, and Craig's parents George and Ruth Culver built their restaurant business by following this principle. But there is a story to tell on how this all came to be, one that starts on the banks of the Wisconsin River in a southern Wisconsin town called Sauk City.
We use only fresh, never frozen beef, seared on a grill after you order. Topped with real American cheese made in Wisconsin and served on a lightly buttered, toasted bun.
Adding bread and milk to the beef creates burgers that are juicy and tender even when well-done. (In fact, we recommend this method only for burgers that will be cooked to medium-well or well-done.)
While the burger patty provides a juicy and meaty bite, the peanut butter adds a luxurious, velvety feel to every mouthful. It's like a symphony of textures, with the peanut butter's silkiness blending with the burger's robustness and creating a delightful contrast that keeps you craving more.
Did you know adding butter to your burger patties makes tender, juicier burgers? To make the classic butter burger, you must mix your ground beef with grated frozen butter before grilling or cooking. Don't forget to butter your hamburger buns and toast for extra flavor and crispiness.
What a lot of folks don't know is why it's called a ButterBurger. We call our ButterBurgers “ButterBurgers,” not because they've been cooked, marinated, dunked, fried or drizzled with butter but because we lightly butter the crown of the bun for an extra touch of goodness.
Arby's supplier delivers the beef blend formed into 6.4-ounce patties and already prepared sous vide-style. At each location, the patties are then reheated in the fryer for less than 2 minutes. “The fryer gives them a nice crispy edge and retains the flavor and juiciness of the beef,” said Truelove.
Place frozen BUBBA burger® patties onto the hot grill and cook 4 to 6 minutes on each side. Cook until the juices rise to the top but don't press them. Flip your BUBBA burgers and cook until the internal temperature reaches 160°F for beef BUBBA burger® varieties or 165°F for turkey and veggie BUBBA burger® varieties.
We call our ButterBurgers “ButterBurgers,” not because they've been cooked, marinated, dunked, fried or drizzled with butter but because we lightly butter the crown of the bun for an extra touch of goodness. (Where else would you expect such a delicious idea than from the dairy state?)
A burger is a patty of ground beef grilled and placed between two halves of a bun. Slices of raw onion, lettuce, bacon, mayonnaise, and other ingredients add flavor. Burgers are considered an American food but are popular around the world. In Japan, teriyaki burgers are popular.
For instance, the binding materials used for the fillings in the two recipes are different. Sandwiches typically have two flatbread slices, while burgers use a sliced bun to accommodate the filling.
A small selection of house made patties and toppings that is completely unique to their establishment. In some cases, restaurants offer it as a LTO or limited time offer, but there are many benefits and ways your business can capitalize on a signature burger for your restaurant.
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Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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