There’s just something extra special about biting into a juicy burger that’s been kissed by the flames of the grill. Add in irresistible French onion flavors, and you’ve got yourself a true summertime cult classic. Enter: the humble yet utterly craveable French Onion Burger.
This unassuming backyard grilling recipe has been a staple in my family for generations, and for good reason. It transforms a simple ground beef patty into something transcendent with just a couple smart ingredient upgrades. We’re talking savory, umami depth from a packet of dry onion soup mix and a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Minimal effort, maximum payoff in decadent French onion flavor!
The real magic in these burgers lies in their irresistible simplicity. With just 25 minutes and those three signature ingredients, you’ll have a platterful of the juiciest, most robustly flavored burgers ready for dressing up or devouring unadorned. They’re a guaranteed hit at any backyard gathering, but also easy enough for casual weeknight grilling.
While you could simply slap these French onion-spiced patties on a bun and call it done, they also provide the perfect foundational canvas for fun toppings and condiments. At our house, we love to go all-out by sandwiching them in pillowy soft brioche buns with melty cheese, crispy bacon, tangy dijonnaise, and a towering pile of rich, buttery caramelized onions. It’s French onion soup burger bliss in every sumptuous bite!
Even with those minor upgrades, these burgers still come together with such ease compared to most sauce-laden, ultra-decadent patties. The real heavy lifting is done simply by incorporating that savvy flavor-boosting onion soup mix straight into the meat itself. No extensive burger blending, sauteeing veggies or simmering sauces required!
The key is using 85% lean ground beef, which provides just enough fat for juicy, beefy indulgence while still being lean enough to avoid grillside flare-ups. Then it’s just a quick mix with that onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, and touch of salt. Go easy on the mixing to avoid overworked patties.
When it comes to grilling, I always suggest giving the burgers a minute head start before adding any toppings. Those first couple toasty, char-kissed minutes help develop the picture-perfect grilled burger crust. Then you can go ahead and add cheese for melty coverage if you like. Easy breezy!
In under 30 minutes, you’ll have a whole grillful of patties infused with those irresistible savory French onion notes. Meaty, umami depth from the Worcestershire sauce with aromatic, caramelized allium notes from the onion soup mix. It’s as nostalgic and comforting as it is satisfying and flavorful.
So do yourself a favor and nab that iconic yellow canister of onion soup mix from the grocery store. Those little seasoning packets are the surprise MVPs behind these incredibly tasty, soul-satisfyingly good French onion burgers. They’ll be the star of all your backyard grilling get-togethers this season!
French Onion Burgers
Ingredients:
- 1 1/3 lbs 85% lean ground beef
- 1 envelope dry onion soup mix
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- Burger buns, cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, condiments as desired
Instructions:
- In a bowl, gently mix together the ground beef, onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce and salt until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Gently form the mixture into 4 equal sized patties, about 1-inch thick. Use your thumb to make a small indent in the center of each patty.
- Prepare your grill for direct, medium-high heat grilling around 450-500°F.
- Grill the French onion burgers for 3 minutes per side for medium doneness, adding cheese in the final minute if desired.
- Transfer burgers to buns and add your favorite toppings like crispy bacon, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, dijonnaise, etc.
That’s it! The easiest yet most robustly flavored, nostalgic grilled burgers in just 25 minutes. Pair them with a cold beer, some grilled veggies and good friends for the ultimate backyard burger experience. Enjoy!
