These Butter Burgers are amazingly delicious and just so happen to be my favorite burger recipe! A butter-soaked burger is not for the health-conscious, but it is for anyone who enjoys really good food! It should be no surprise that a state known for its dairy products (Wisconsin, represent!) would pile them onto a burger. Every part of this dish is cooked in butter, hence the name. This Wisconsin butter burger recipe had me drooling before I even bit into the juicy, cheesy, buttery goodness!
This post may include affiliate links that earn us a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you.
I’m going to start off by saying a few obvious things: butter burgers are made with lots and lots of butter; they are incredibly flavorful and delicious; and they are not healthy. This recipe is everything I dream of when I’m on a diet, and it’s well worth the indulgence. It is made up of a pan-seared buttery burger patty, a slice of cheese, onions cooked in butter, and a soft bun covered in butter. It’s true to its name with all the butter!
What’s in a Wisconsin Butter Burger Recipe?
- Butter: Salted butter is what makes every component of this recipe shine with a rich buttery flavor. I like to use high-quality European-style butter for the richest flavor.
- Onion: Sweet onion is my favorite for these burgers since it really shines when cooked in butter.
- Ground Beef: 90% lean ground beef is the best choice for these burgers since so much extra fat is being added.
- Hamburger Buns: A buttery brioche bun is the obvious choice here to keep that buttery flavor at the forefront.
- Cheese: American cheese has a mild and buttery flavor that beautifully complements these burgers, but any kind of melting cheese will work here.
Tips for Success
- Be sure to cook the onions in butter and water and then brown them.
- Don’t skimp on buttering the bun tops. Yes, 2 tablespoons per bun top to be considered Wisconsin Butter Burgers.
- Be sure to cook the patties a full 3 minutes before flipping them. These burgers need a good sear to get the flavorful dark brown crust.
All the Burgers
Guide to Cooking Burgers at Home
See all of our favorite burger recipes plus tips and tricks for cooking the ultimate burger at home.
See Burger Guide
Serving Suggestions
I have so many favorite side dishes that are absolutely delicious with these butter burgers. Of course, french fries are the classic choice, but I also love fried pickles! Be sure to try serve it with my burger sauce and fry sauce to cut all that buttery goodness with a bit of tang!
5-Star Review
“I love this recipe so much. Took it a step further and fried the buns in the same pan for an ever more buttery treat. Great recipe!” -Tanya MacInnis
Butter Burger Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons salted butter softened and divided (1¼ sticks)
- 1 medium sweet onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns toasted
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 4 slices American cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, water, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Cover and cook, until tender, about 5 minutes.10 tablespoons salted butter, 1 medium sweet onion, 1 tablespoon water, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and remove the lid. Continue to cook until onions are translucent and just beginning to brown, about 3 more minutes. Transfer the onions to a plate, and divide into 4 equal portions; set aside until ready to use.
- Divide beef into 4 equal-sized portions and gently shape each into a 4½x½-inch patty. Sprinkle both sides of the patties with salt and pepper. Refrigerate the patties for 15-30 minutes.1 pound 90% lean ground beef, ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Spread each bun top with 2 tablespoons of butter; set aside.4 hamburger buns
- Heat the oil in the same skillet used for the onions until it begins to smoke. Use a spatula to transfer the patties to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes (without moving them).1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- Flip the patties and cook for 1 more minute. Place 1 cheese slice over each patty and continue to cook until the cheese is melted, about 20-30 seconds more.4 slices American cheese
- Transfer patties to the bun bottoms and place ¼ of the sautéed onions on each patty. Top each with the buttered bun tops and serve immediately.
Video
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make a Butter Burger Step by Step
Cook the Onions: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of salted butter over medium heat. Add the 1 chopped sweet onion, 1 tablespoon of water, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Cover and cook, until tender, about 5 minutes.
Divide the Onions: Reduce the heat to medium-low and remove the lid. Continue to cook until onions are translucent and just beginning to brown, about 3 more minutes. Transfer the onions to a plate, and divide into 4 equal portions; set aside until ready to use.
Portion the Patties: Divide 1 pound of 90% lean ground beef into 4 equal-sized portions and gently shape each into a 4½x½-inch patty. Sprinkle both sides of the patties with ½ teaspoon of salt and ¾ teaspoon of black pepper. Refrigerate the patties for 15-30 minutes.
Butter the Buns: Spread 4 hamburger bun tops with 2 tablespoons of butter; set aside.
Cook the Burgers: Heat 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil in the same skillet used for the onions until it begins to smoke. Use a spatula to transfer the patties to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes (without moving them).
Melt the Cheese: Flip the patties and cook for 1 more minute. Place 1 American cheese slice over each patty and continue to cook until the cheese is melted, about 20-30 seconds more.
Assemble the Burgers: Transfer patties to the bun bottoms and place ¼ of the sautéed onions on each patty. Top each with the buttered bun tops and serve immediately.
dividing the meat 4 ways makes for a thick patty. is 3 minutes, flip for 1 more enough so that the inside gets cooked?
Yes it definitely works if you use that amount of beef. But if you prefer a more well done burger you can cook for longer.
All the photos show that the buns are toasted but in the video you did not toast the buns? Personally I love the crunch of a toasty bun. Will be making these for dinner tonight. Thanks for the recipe.
Yes we make them both ways depending on time. If you prefer toasted, they’re great that way :)
My husband has been making us butter burger for over 49 years.
No hate mail here. They are delicious!
I like the way you think! <3
Sorry I’m playing the devils advocate here, you say to use 90% lean beef for your burgers yet you slather on the butter. Although we all enjoy good tasting food and want to avoid extra calories or fat content — fat (in moderation) from meats does add flavour to your food. At this time this recipe doesn’t interest me, but those of you who are curious enjoy!
Its more about the type of meat we like for cooking than the calories/fat content. You can use whatever percentage you prefer. Hope you love the recipe!
Do you drain the skillet after cooking the onions and before adding the oil for the beef?
Oh, now that’s funny that you woke up on your 30th birthday and realized you didn’t know how to cook! My father taught me how to cook when I was eight, and how to bake when I was nine because, as he stated it, “You don’t want to wake up on your 30th birthday and realize you never learned to cook a single thing!” Mom hated cooking, so was glad to “give” me the kitchen most of the time, with an occasional foray of meal making on her part.
These burgers sound delicious, and there’s a fast food place called “Culver’s” that makes a pretty good butter burger, but I imagine your recipe is better, so I’m going to try it :-)
What kind of buns did you use?
We just used buns from our grocers bakery!
Your website has toon many ads. Took me way too long to get to your recipe. Looks good, but won’t be pinning because I don’t want to wait forever for it to surface when I want to make it.
Hi Karla- unfortunately ads are a necessary evil on the site due to how much it costs for me to run it at this time. I want to keep the site free for anyone who wants to view it, so ads are the option. There’s a “jump to recipe” link at the top of each post that will take you right to the recipe and bypass ads. Hope you have a great day!
Karla, if you think you might like the Wisconsin Butter Burger but feel the site has too many ads and it would take too long to get to the actual recipe, why don’t you just print the recipe out??
What do you mean, remove lie?
SO sorry, autocorrect error! It should say “remove lid”. I just fixed it. Thanks for pointing that out!
Without the bun this is a perfect keto burger! Yummy!
You’re so right!