These are the BEST Burgers! Made with a mix of ground beef and ground pork, caramelized onions, balsamic vinegar, chili powder and MORE that makes them so much more flavorful than other burgers!
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I just don’t know if there’s anything better than a great burger in the summertime!
Sure, we love these Turkey Burgers and these Hawaiian Chicken Burgers are always a hit, but sometimes you just need a classic homemade beef burger.
However you load it up, a side of these Air Fryer French Fries and a classic milkshake are necessary additions 😉
But back to the burger.
I’ve never eaten another burger that packs in this much flavor!
We love to serve them with this easy Brioche Bun recipe or Homemade Burger Buns, with a side of Easy Potato Salad and Easy Homemade Pink Lemonade!
What makes this burger recipe extra special?
I borrowed the caramelized onion and balsamic vinegar ideas from The Pioneer Woman, but I added my own flavors and I really think these are BETTER than your average burger.
Caramelizing things adds flavor, we all know this!
But how often do we see cooked onions, garlic, spices added to burgers? I had never seen it before.
Toasting the garlic and spices with the onions before adding it to the burgers is key — it wakes them up and brings out the flavors so much more intensely!
Be sure to brush with your favorite barbecue sauce (if desired) and top them as you like: cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, ketchup, mustard, relish — whatever suits your fancy! For me? I’m a plain Jane: just ketchup and pickles!
Can I make these dairy free? Egg free? Gluten free?
- Swap the butter for oil for a dairy free burger.
- If you’re looking to make these gluten free, try subbing the bread crumbs for gluten free bread crumbs, or finely crushed gluten free potato or tortilla chips.
- The egg does help to bind the burgers, but if you need to make them egg free, you can swap the egg for a couple tablespoons (2-3) of barbecue sauce.
How to make burger patties:
There are lots of different ways to shape burger patties, including small kitchen tools that do the work for you!
These are great if you want uniform patties, but my kitchen is already loaded with knick knacks I don’t use, so I’d rather not add another to the mix!
The easiest way to get uniform burgers is to smooth your burger mix in the bowl so it is flat on top.
Then use your hands to draw a line in the burger mix to mark a half, then the other way to mark a quarter. Then divide each quarter in half to make 8 even burgers.
You want your burgers to hold together, but you also don’t want to overwork them so that they become tough.
I like to make mine a little thicker at the edges and a little thinner through the middle, since the edges will cook more quickly and this way my burgers are perfectly cooked and juicy all the way through.
How to store burger patties:
When I’m going through the effort of making homemade burgers, I almost always make extra so I can freeze some.
I like to flash freeze so I can grab just one or two from the freezer if I need.
To do this, lay your burger patties on a sheet pan and freeze for 2 hours or until firm. Then place your frozen burger patties in a large freezer bag and store in the freezer.
This way, you can easily grab however many you need without having them stuck together.
Variations on this burger recipe:
- You can use ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, ground beef or any combination of ground meats!
- Don’t have red onion? Any onion will do! I like to use sweet onions for the best flavor.
- Swap out the ground pork for Italian sausage for an extra kick!
The Best Burgers
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium red onion finely diced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lb lean ground pork
- 1 lb extra lean ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup fine seasoned bread crumbs see above for gluten free options
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- Barbecue sauce for basting and toppings as desired
Instructions
- In a medium pan, melt butter over medium heat and add onions, stirring until coated. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5-8 minutes, until tender and translucent.
- Add brown sugar and continue cooking for another 8-10 minutes, until caramelized.
- Add garlic, chili powder, salt and pepper and cook over medium heat 1 minute. Remove from heat, scrape into a bowl and refrigerate until room temperature (if you’re making this ahead, be sure to cover the dish after the onions have cooled to store for longer periods of time).
- In a large bowl, combine pork, beef, egg, bread crumbs, vinegar worcestershire sauce and cooled onion mixture and mix just until combined — don’t overmix.
- Shape into 8 patties for ¼ pound burgers (feel free to make them bigger or smaller according to your preferences).
- *Recommended: place on a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. You can also place in the freezer for 1-2 hours. This isn't necessary but really helps the flavors meld together and helps the burgers stay together when cooked.
- In a pan or on a grill, cook burgers for about 4-5 minutes per side on medium-high heat until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. Serve as desired with buns, garnishes, sauces, etc.
Nutrition Information
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Suzy says
The best burgers! So easy to make and so tasty!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Suzy!
Jen says
I’m always up for a burger for dinner! Thanks for the tip about freezing them. I’d love to have them handy to grab all year long.
Ashley Fehr says
Yes! Such a great quick dinner!
Beth says
Yum! These look so delicious and tasty! I can’t wait to make these for my family!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Beth!
Justine says
You had me at balsamic vinegar and caramelized onions. Noms!
Ashley Fehr says
So much flavor!
Brian Burgess says
positively in luv with ya .. I’ve done this before almost exactly as yours .. and even tho in Asia .. they all LUV it .. omg
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Brian 🙂
Mitchell says
I was really getting tired of my burger recipe and needed a change and Omg, they are so delicious! I will definitely be making these again 🙂 thanks!!
The Recipe Rebel says
Hi Mitchell! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Alice Carroll says
Wow, I really like how you incorporated caramelized onions in this recipe. Ever since I was a kid, I always avoided eating onions because of how pungent they are but eventually learned to eat the ones that came in burgers and onion rings. I hope I can find a good burger restaurant that has an option for caramelized onions because I haven’t tried something like that before.
https://www.brewskysbroiler.com/
Ashley Fehr says
They really add such great flavor!
Stephanie says
Yum! I have some caramelized onions in the freezer. How much would you add to the burger mixture – 1/2 cup? Your burgers look like absolute winners!
Ashley Fehr says
I have never thought to freeze them before — that is brilliant! I would add a 1/2 cup for sure!
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! I just e-mailed you the Chorizo recipe. 🙂
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Lol, Preach girl!! And stand in your truth! 😉 Love your attitude, Ashley! And I LOVE these burgers! Total flavor bomb of juicy, meaty deliciousness up in here! I want to take a big ole bit outta my screen! We have been grilling all the things on the weekends and I am toe-ts adding these bad boys to the list – Burgers it’s what’s for dinnah! Pinned! Cheers, girlfriend!
Margaret Ann @ MAK and Her Cheese says
I’m always looking for new ways to mix up the burger game, and these sound wonderful! Thanks for the recipe!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
Okay I’m sorry but butter in the middle of a burger patty sounds disgusting… haha
I’m glad you created your own riff on her recipe and came out with these beautiful burgers.
Ashley Fehr says
Haha! Thanks Nicole!
Jen | Baked by an Introvert says
We just made burgers the other day and now I’m wanting them again. These sound so flavorful. Like they really are the best!!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jen! We loooove homemade burgers in the summer!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
I never made my own burgers, but I REALLY want to make these! Adding all those caramelized goodies sounds so delicious. The butter thing sounds good in theory…but weird in reality! I’ll stick to your version, please 😉
Ashley Fehr says
Right?! I’m glad I tried it but definitely won’t be trying it again! Thanks Rachel!
Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says
Is it bad that I want a big bite with my morning coffee. These burgers do look like the best burgers!. 🙂 The caramelized onions sound so good in the burgers too. Yum!!
Ashley Fehr says
Haha! I could go for one now, too!
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! These sound pretty darn good to me! Nothing beats a great burger! I’m a pickle, mustard and onion person myself. I make Chorizo with ground pork and sometimes mix it with beef for burgers.
Ashley Fehr says
Oh, now that sounds incredible! I need to try making homemade chorizo with our ground pork (we’ve got lots of it!). What do you all put in it? I tried one of your chili recipes the other day and it was a big hit!
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! I will get you the chorizo recipe, it’s from another blogger ,Kevin. It is so easy and so good! PS my English teachers told me the same thing! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Dorothy!
Melanie | Gather for Bread says
They do look like the best burgers EVER! Yum.
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Oh my goodness! These burgers really do sound amazing. Love that you used a mixture of beef and pork and the balsamic must give the most amazing flavor!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Christin!
Julie Evink says
Did you just one up the Pioneer Woman Miss Ashley?! Hehe. These look amazing!
Ashley Fehr says
Haha! Don’t tell her, okay?? I’m sure they are amazing when SHE makes them, but for me? Not a fan! Lol
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
I can see why you call these the best burgers, they sound incredible! Love adding caramelized onion to burgers!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jessica! I don’t usually take the time to do it but it makes SUCH a difference!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Ok that does sound really weird to put butter in the middle of a burger! Sounds interesting, but I’m glad you tested it out. I’ve been craving burgers a lot lately since grilling season is just about here. I could really go for one of these burgers today. Love that you used ground beef and pork!