Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger is easy, juicy and delicious to make. The key to this Fried Burger is the thinly sliced grilled onions. Combined with the ground beef makes a perfectly cooked burger.
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The Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger is know for one of the best American burgers. The thin patty is grilled and the fried with grilled onions. As the meat and onions cook together the meat juice cover the onions for an amazing patty.
These Fried Onion Burgers are easy to grill and simple ingredients. We love cooking these on our Blackstone Griddle.
This Onion Burger was easy to re-create and now we can have them any day of the week. For a twist on this delicious burger, make this Juicy Lucy Burger, Jack Daniels Burger or Bacon Blue Cheese Burger.
What is an Onion Burger?
An onion burger is a juicy burger with onion. It was created during the Depression Era. Because Onions were cheap they were smashed into a burger to make the meat go further. They were called Depression burgers.
What is an Oklahoma Burger?
A finely ground burger patty that is smashed on a griddle. It is topped with thinly sliced onions then cheese to make the ultimate onion burger that taste amazing.
Where did the Fried Onion Burger Come From?
The Onion Burger was invented by Ross Davis in the 1920’s at the Hamburger Inn in Ardmore, OK. During the Depression Era, onions were cheap and hamburger meat was expensive.
Ingredients
- Lean Ground Beef
- Large Yellow Onion
- Garlic Salt or Garlic Powder
- Black Pepper
- American Cheese
- Hamburger Buns
- Butter
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
Variation Ideas
- Onion – Use white onion instead of yellow onion.
- Bacon – Top the burger with Bacon.
- Change the Meat – Use a different meat like venison or ground turkey.
- Cheese – Change the cheese to cheddar cheese or Monterrey jack cheese.
- Toppings – This burger is even better with your favorite toppings. Add ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, lettuce and slice tomatoes.
How to Make Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers
Step 1 – Prepare the Hamburger Balls – Divide the beef into 4 balls that are approximately 4 oz each. Place them in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook them.
Step 2 – Prepare your Griddle – Preheat a griddle Blackstone grill over medium high heat (approximately 400 degrees F). Place butter buns on hot griddle. Then set aside.
Step 3 – Prepare the Onions then evenly place the sliced onions into 4 piles on the griddle.
Step 4 – Add the Beef to the onions – Place the beef balls on top of each onion pile. Then top each one with a piece on parchment paper and then firmly press down to smash the beef into a thin patty with either a burger press or a large spatula and then discard the parchment paper.
Step 5 – Cook the patties for 2-4 minutes until the juices in the beef start to raise to the top and the color starts to change. Then scrape under the patty to get under all the onions and carefully flip the patty.
Step 6 – Add the Cheese –Then place a slice of cheese on each of the patties to melt.
Step 7 – Make your burgers – Then it’s time to assemble your burgers.
Step 8 – Carefully remove the patties from the griddle once the cheese is melted and place the bun on top of hamburger. Top with your bottom bun with your favorite burger sauce.
Step 9 – Serve and Enjoy – Then the fried caramelized onions burgers are ready to enjoy!
Oklahoma Fried Onion Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 lb pound Ground Beef 80/20
- 1 Large Yellow Onion Thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 4 slices American Cheese
- 4 Hamburger Buns
- 1 Tbsp Butter Melted
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Instructions
- Divide 1 lb ground beef 80/20 into 4 balls that are approximately 4 ounces each. Place them in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook them.
- Preheat a Blackstone grill over medium high heat (approximately 400 degrees F).
- Brush 1 tablespoon melted butter on the 4 hamburger buns. Place the buns on the griddle for 2 minutes to toast them, then set them aside while you prepare the beef.
- Evenly place 1 large yellow onion that has been thinly sliced into 4 piles on the griddle. Place the beef balls on top of each onion pile. Then top each one with a piece of parchment paper and firmly press down to smash the beef into a thin patty with either a burger press or a large spatula. Discard the parchment paper. Season the patties with ½ teaspoon garlic salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- Cook the patties for 2 to 4 minutes until the juices in the beef start to rise to the top and the color starts to change. Scrape under each patty to get under all the onions and flip the patty. Once flipped, smash down each patty again with the burger press or spatula so that the juices from the patties drip down into the onions for more flavor. Cook for 1 more minute. Then place 4 slices American cheese on the patties to melt.
- Then it’s time to assemble your burgers. Carefully remove the patties from the griddle once the cheese is melted and place them on the buttered buns.
- Then the fried onions burgers are ready to enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Onion Burger Tips
- When preparing the balls with the beef, do not pack them together. Loosely roll them into balls so that they are easier to smash.
- You can use 90/10 or 93/7 for this recipe to lower the fat content in this recipe, but we think that the 80/20 gives the best flavor to this recipe.
- Oil – Use Vegetable oil to prepare the griddle.
What to Serve with Burgers
These burgers are best served with your favorite grilled side dishes. But these are some of our other favorites.
Make sure to also top your burger with this Smash Burger Sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best onions to use for this recipe is yellow onions or white onions.
Start with a sharp knife and a cutting board. Then cut onion in half. Then cut the ends off the onion, then peel the skin off of the oven. Cut the onion into half moons about ⅜ inch thick and pull apart the onions into pieces.
Yes, you can make on the stovetop in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. This skillet is best because it provides the same texture as cooking on the Blackstone Griddle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It is best to store the burgers separately from the buns and toppings so it doesn’t get soggy.
More Blackstone Burger Recipes
- Blackstone Teriyaki Burger Recipe
- Blackstone Copycat In-N-Out Burger
- Pub Burger Recipe
- Blackstone Mushroom Swiss Burger Recipe
- Blackstone BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger
- Blackstone Bacon Cheeseburger Recipe
- Blackstone Smash Burger Recipe
We love to hear from you. If you make this fried onion burger recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
I was with you until you flipped the burgers and said to once again flatten burger so it would drip into onions. Aren’t onions now on top? How can juice drip down into onions?
I will fixe that. That is a mistake. You still flip and push down, but the juice will soak into the onions more as it is cooking.