Rich and Flavorful: Blue Cheese Hamburger with Caramelized Onion
These blue cheese burgers with caramelized onions are so delicious. Juicy, flavorful patties are topped with creamy melted blue cheese and sweet, deeply browned onions, all tucked inside a soft brioche bun. Whether you’re grilling for a casual weekend cookout or craving burger night at home, this recipe delivers bold flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Big flavor- Blue cheese and caramelized onions are a match made in heaven.
- Simple ingredients- No fancy equipment or shopping list required.
- Make-ahead friendly– The caramelized onions and the burger patties can be prepped in advance.
- Grill or stovetop– Cook your burgers however you like.
How to Make Blue Cheese Burgers with Caramelized Onions
Ingredients Needed
For the Onions:
- Butter
- Onions, sliced
- Salt
For the Burgers:
- Ground beef (I prefer lean ground beef, but use whatever you prefer)
- Worcestershire sauce
- Montreal Steak Seasoning
- Blue cheese (I usually buy the best I can find. I have found that slices of blue cheese from a wedge melt better than the “pre-crumbled” packages of blue cheese)
- Hamburger buns (I recommend brioche if you can find them)
Putting it All Together
The first step is to make the caramelized onions. This is a process that takes some time and cannot be rushed. The good news is that you can cook up the onions ahead of time, and reheat them before serving. (Just pop them in the microwave for a few seconds.)
After the onions are done, it’s time for the burgers. You can mix the seasonings into the ground beef and shape the patties ahead of time so they’re ready on a tray in the fridge. When it’s time to cook, just take them out and pop them on the grill.
Tips & Notes
- Brioche buns make a beautiful base for this burger—light, fluffy, and slightly sweet.
- Make-ahead onions: Caramelize them earlier in the day (or even the day before) and reheat when you’re ready to serve. The onions take quite a bit of time to cook, and it’s a process that cannot and should not be rushed.
- No grill? No problem. A skillet on the stovetop works just as well. (I recommend using a cast iron skillet.)
- Burger-flipping tip: Wait until juices pool on the top before flipping. I try to flip just once for a juicy result.
- For safe internal temperatures and burger doneness guidelines, check out this Burger Temperature Guide from The Spruce Eats.
What to Serve With Blue Cheese Burgers
Pair these burgers with grilled corn on the cob or my Skillet Corn with Garlic and Thyme, or serve them alongside roasted potato wedges. Add a crisp green salad or coleslaw for balance. For drinks, a cold beer or refreshing glass of iced tea works beautifully—but if you’re a wine lover, a bold red zinfandel is a great match.
Blue Cheese Burgers with Caramelized Onions
Ingredients
For the Onions:
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 2 Onions, sliced
- ¼ tsp Salt
For the Burgers:
- 1⅓ pound Ground beef
- 2½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp Montreal Steak Seasoning
- 3 ounces Blue Cheese
- 4 Hamburger buns, Brioche recommended
Instructions
Prepare the Caramelized Onions (Can be made ahead)
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat
- Add sliced onions and cook for 5 minutes, until softened
- Sprinkle with salt and mix well
- Reduce heat to low and continue cooking for 60-80 minutes, stirring frequently, until deep golden brown. (See note below)
For the Burgers:
- Preheat grill to 400℉ (Or heat a skillet over medium-high heat)
- In a large bowl, combine ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, and steak seasoning. Mix well
- Form into 4 hamburger patties
- Place on preheated grill (or skillet) and cook over medium/ medium high heat until desired doneness is achieved. (See notes below)
- Add blue cheese to each burger patty during the last 1–2 minutes of cooking, just until melted.
Serving instructions
- Place patties on toasted buns
- Top with a generous spoonful of caramelized onions.
- Add condiments such as mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, or ketchup, if desired.
Notes
- Buns: Brioche buns work beautifully for this recipe—light, fluffy, and slightly sweet.
- Make-ahead Tip: Onions can be caramelized in advance and reheated in the microwave before serving.
- Caramelizing onions: Stovetops and types of pans vary greatly. If onions are beginning to burn, reduce the heat. If they are not turning brown, raise the heat slightly. Keep a close watch on the onions during cooking so that any adjustments may be made.
- No Grill? A skillet on the stovetop is a great alternative. (I recommend cast iron)
- Cooking Tip: Wait until juices pool on top of the patties before flipping. For juicy burgers, try to flip only once.
- Doneness: Cooking time will vary depending on how you like your burger. I prefer mine well done.
- For safe internal temperatures and burger doneness guidelines, check out this Burger Temperature Guide from The Spruce Eats.
Let’s Stay Connected
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turns out! Send me a message or leave a comment below.
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