Description
Juicy french onion burgers blend classic French bistro flavors with classic American grilling techniques. Caramelized onions, melted gruyère cheese, and a savory beef patty create a mouthwatering experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 4 slices Gruyere cheese (or Swiss)
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional, for depth)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 burger buns, toasted
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add yellow onions, salt, sugar, and thyme. Stir continuously for 25-30 minutes until deep golden brown. Deglaze with balsamic vinegar in the final moments for added complexity. Set aside.
- Prepare Mustard Sauce: Whisk mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice until smooth. Refrigerate to intensify flavors.
- Prepare Patties: Shape ground beef into four uniform patties, avoiding excessive handling. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Sear Burgers: Heat skillet or grill pan until smoking hot. Place patties on surface, creating a caramelized crust. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side to achieve medium doneness.
- Finish and Assemble: During the final cooking minute, top each patty with cheese, allowing it to melt luxuriously. Transfer to soft buns spread with prepared mustard sauce. Garnish with caramelized onions, creating a harmonious flavor profile.
Notes
- Caramelize Onions Perfectly: Patience is key when developing rich, deep flavors. Low and slow cooking prevents burning and ensures a sweet, golden result. Stir frequently and watch the heat carefully.
- Meat Handling Technique: Mix ground beef gently and minimally to keep burgers tender. Overworking causes tough, dense patties. Create a slight dimple in the center to prevent bulging during cooking.
- Cheese Melting Hack: Cover the skillet with a lid during the final minute of cooking to help cheese melt evenly and smoothly. This creates a perfect blanket of melted goodness across the burger.
- Sauce Balance Trick: Adjust the mustard sauce to taste by incrementally adding lemon juice and Dijon. Taste as you go to achieve the ideal tangy-creamy consistency that complements the rich burger flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg