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.
These were delicious! Thank you so much. I didn’t change a thing.
Looks delicious, Wendy!
Julie Child’s put her butter burger recipe in one of her first cookbooks. Difference with her recipe is to add soften button to the ground meat along with 1 mixed egg,. Dip each burger in flour, fry in butter with a splash of oil.
Thanks for sharing!
Just finished eating these delicious butter burgers!! Will definitely make them again. Thanks for the great recipe!
No problem! I’m glad you loved them so much!!
Just finished making and eating these, DELICIOUS. Husband loved them too. Amazing recipe, followed as written.
I’m so happy you both enjoyed them so much!!
Awesome my daughter ate the entire thing. Screw happy meals. God bless butter.
Yay! That’s awesome!
This has way too much butter causing it to over power the taste of the meat. Very greasy. Sorry, I will not make it again.😔
I’m sorry this one didn’t work out for you!
Can you clarify; your notes say everything is cooked in butter (meat, onions, bread ect), but the instructions say that you cook the patties in the skillet with oil. Are you using the leftover butter from the onions and then adding oil to cook the patties?
This recipe looks great and I’ll definitely try it with the toasted bun. One constructive comment about the cheese. I was so surprised to see you unwrap a piece of American Singles rather than use a quality cheese for this recipe. It would surely be even better with a tasteful/quality piece If cheese. Thanks as always for sharing your great recipes!
That would be a great upgrade, Gigi!
American cheese reflects what the locals in Wisconsin do. They aren’t food snobs. American cheese is delicious!
That is NOT true. This is a copy cat Culver’s attempt. They use real cheddar or swiss for their burgers. Wisconsin people are not always food snobs but they are cheese snobs.
Actually, cheddar on a Culver’s butterburger is an upcharge. Idk what cheese they use on the singles & doubles, but they have a separate burger called a cheddar burger. Or, if u want cheddar on a butterburger, it’s extra.
they sound so good but from what I gathered from the text, the burgers were also cooked in butter but I only saw you add oil to the pan after the onions…I even went back through the text to see and sure enough it said the meat and onions cook in butter…so I know butter sometimes burns when its cooked alone but I would probably add more butter after scooping out the onions and a little oil before putting the patties in….I usually use oil so I will be trying this butter recipe because it looks yummy!
In the list of ingredients, it calls for toasted buns but it did not repeat it in the instructions, nor the video.