This All-American Hamburger with Crispy Onion Strings & Burger Sauce is incredibly juicy, loaded with delicious flavors, and is just the thing to kick off the summer grilling season!
When we aren’t eating these delicious All-American burgers at our house, we love trying out new flavor combinations like our Red, White, and Blueberry Bacon Burger with Basil Aioli, Grilled Poblano Pepper Southwest Burger, Bacon Jam Burger, and our Soy-Glazed Mushroom Swiss Burger.
Let’s talk burgers today!! With Memorial Day weekend, Father’s Day, and the Fourth of July coming up and lots of outdoor summertime grilling on its way, I figured it would be a good idea to kick things off with a good old-fashioned, All-American Hamburger with Crispy Onion Strings & Burger sauce.
I love grilling and since we live in California we do it almost year-round.
We love to grill up whole fish like Arctic Char or Branzini for special occasions or pull out the go-to boneless, skinless chicken breasts and do grilled Cajun chicken for grilled Cajun chicken sandwiches or grilled Cajun chicken salads.
But sometimes only a juicy, towering cheeseburger will do.
I’ll admit that these fried onion strings are a special treat that I will make every now and then when I really want to make regular hamburgers into something extra special.
They take a little extra work and they definitely aren’t part of a healthy eating plan since they are deep fried, something I don’t do often. But boy-oh-boy are they amazing.
Definitely worth the extra effort. Just watch out because since the crispy onion strings are fried in batches so as not to crowd the pan, it’s super hard to not snack on the ones from the first batch while frying the remaining batches.
The burger sauce is super easy and really amps up the flavor of the burgers. It’s also perfect for dipping fries, tots, or extra fried onion strings.
Other than that, I don’t get too crazy with my burgers! You could add bacon and BBQ sauce (Paul always does) or some sliced avocado (my other go-to addition) if you are wanting to make these even more outrageously delicious.
But I think these All-American Hamburgers with Crispy Onion Strings & Burger Sauce are pretty much perfect just the way they are.
Here are my best tips for grilling and assembling your burgers:
- Always form your patties a little bit larger than the size of the bun you plan to serve them on since they will shrink slightly as they cook. Also, press your thumb into the center of each patty to create an indentation before putting them on the grill. It will help the burgers cook more evenly and not puff up in the middle while cooking.
- Use high heat and only flip the burgers once. Hamburgers shouldn’t be overhandled or they won’t be as juicy as they should be. Flipping them too frequently won’t let the meat juices disperse as well, and definitely do NOT flatten the burgers with your spatula while they are grilling! That just squeezes out all of the juices (aka, deliciousness) and you will end up with dry, sad burgers.
- Don’t skimp on the buns. Quality buns make a big difference in your burger experience. You can always make your own, or just pick up some good brioche or french buns from the store. And I 100% recommend toasting those buns on the grill during the last few minutes of cooking the burgers.
- Be sure to check out my Burgers 101: How to Grill Burgers post for more helpful information!
If you are gonna want some fries to go with your burger, check out my Baked Greek Feta Fries, Homemade French Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, or my Oven Roasted Barbecue Potato Wedges.
And there is nothing more perfect with a big, juicy burger like this than a glass of ice cold homemade lemonade! Unless maybe it’s a root beer? What say you?
And has anyone made homemade root beer before? Because it’s on my summer bucket list for this year and I’m looking for pointers!
More Fabulous Burgers & Sandwich Recipes
- Red, White, and Blueberry Bacon Burger with Basil Aioli
- Soy-Glazed Mushroom Swiss Burgers with Caramelized Onions & Rosemary Aioli
- Grilled Poblano Pepper Southwest Burgers
- Grilled Cajun Chicken Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Applesauce Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
- Blue Bayou Monte Cristo Sandwiches
- Cubanos [Cuban Sandwich Recipe]
- Crock Pot Mississippi Pot Roast Sandwiches
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
All-American Hamburger with Crispy Onion Strings & Burger Sauce
Ingredients
Crispy Onion Strings
- oil for frying
- 1 large onion cut in half, then thinly sliced
- 2 large eggs
- 2 Tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
Burger Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Cheeseburger Components
- 4-6 high quality hamburger buns like a brioche or french bun
- 2 pounds ground chuck or ground beef 80% to 85% lean
- Seasoned salt
- black pepper
- 4-6 slices medium or sharp cheddar cheese
- Green leaf lettuce
- Tomatoes sliced
Instructions
Crispy Onion Strings
- Heat 2 inches of oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350°F. It helps to have a thermometer that clips to the side of the pot to make sure the oil temperature stays constant while frying the onion strings.oil
- Whisk the eggs and buttermilk together with a fork in a medium-size bowl. Whisk the flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder together in a separate bowl.2 large eggs, 2 Tablespoons buttermilk, 1 ½ cups flour, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons black pepper, 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- Working with about ¼ of the onion slices at a time, dredge them first in the egg/buttermilk mixture, then let the excess drip off and dredge them in the seasoned flour mixture, tossing lightly to coat. Shake off any excess flour before carefully dropping the onion slices into the hot oil, being careful not to crowd the pan. Fry until golden brown, then remove from the oil using a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper-towel lined plate.1 large onion
- Repeat until all of the onion strings have been battered and fried.
Burger Sauce
- Combine all of the burger sauce ingredients together and adjust seasoning to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 1 week.½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup ketchup, 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish, 2 teaspoons white vinegar, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper
Hamburger Preparation
- Get your grill going on high heat. Make sure the grates are clean.
- Divide the ground beef into 4-6 individual portions and shape into patties that are slightly larger than the size of your buns and no more than 1/2-inch thick. They will shrink a bit as they cook on the grill. Make an indentation in the center of each patty to help them cook more evenly.2 pounds ground chuck or ground beef
- Generously season each hamburger patty on both sides with seasoned salt and black pepper. Transfer the hamburger patties to the hot grill over direct heat and cook for 5 to 8 minutes on each side, flipping only once. I tend to prefer my burgers on the medium side with just a bit of pink still showing, so 5-6 minutes is perfect. If you prefer your burger more well done, then go 7-8 minutes on each side. Top each burger with a slice of cheese during the last minute of grilling and close the grill lid to help it melt completely.Seasoned salt, black pepper
- Toast the buns alongside the hamburgers during the last few minutes of grilling. Assemble each burger with burger sauce on the bottom bun beneath the burger patty, melted cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato slices, crispy onion strings, and additional burger sauce on the top bun, then serve and enjoy!4-6 high quality hamburger buns like a brioche or french bun, 4-6 slices medium or sharp cheddar cheese, Green leaf lettuce, Tomatoes
Those onion strings are so sinful and surely add such a new flavour to the burger. With all that cheese and these onion strings, the burger looks so filling.
Oh, I love onion strings on everything! And burger sauce is a keeper, thank you for this great recipe! 😀
This is perfect summer..!! I love crispy onion strings. The burger looks so scrumptious..!! Yum.
This looks like the perfect burger! It just started heating up here, and I am excited to start grilling again. Love the crispy onion strings too. Just in time for the long holiday weekend!
This looks awesome. So glad grilling season is here. Love those onion strings. Can’t wait to fire up the grill and give this recipe a try.
You got me at crispy onion those go perfect with this combination of flavors. Memorial day or not I need to try this burger soon =)
I can see myself having a nice bite from that burger. That sauce is just amazing, l find some burgers a bit dry sometimes, so the sauce must go very nicely with it. No one can possibly say no to such delish!
Oh man do these look good! Great tips for getting a delicious burger. I love to use pretzel buns for an added jazz!
These are so perfect for summer and cooking out! Could definitely go for some of these right now 😉 My husband would love them, too!
Burger season is here! This recipes is so perfect for those weekend cookouts! Who doesn’t love crispy onions? They can give me their serving!!
great tips…thanks for sharing!
You are right these are perfect hamburger. I need to try your crispy onion strings. Love the sauce too. Great recipe.
Grilling season is here and what a way to start summer .The burger excellent, very juicy and loved the side of crispy onions !!
The hamburger sounds like a great recipe for a fun weekend brunch with family n friends. Those crispy onion strings look so yummm. Would try making them soon.
You are making me want one of those hamburgers and it’s only 6 AM. It is Memorial Day so maybe this will be on the table. Love the sauce!
We all love a good burger here at our house. Your crispy onion strings sound great, they wouldn’t last long around here!
Those onion straws look amazing — totally worth the once-in-a-while indulgence! I’ve been grill-less for a few years now, and have just begun yearning for one again. I think it’s time to invest. I love, love, love grilling
While I love a fancy schmance burger, this kind is what I’m most likely to cook at home. And I am totally guilty of being the person who eats all the onion strings from my first batch while the second batch cooks… 🙂
I adore onion strings on a burger, just makes it so yummy! The burger sauce sounds super delish as well, and I can’t wait to make this!
Those onions strings look to die for served on that burger! Seriously, that’s a way to eat a burger. And now I’m also craving Baked Greek Feta Fries, that would be so GOOD.
I can’t even with how amazing this looks! This is definitely my type of burger with those crispy onions! Well done!
Wow! This looks like the perfect burger. I love the addition of crispy onions on top!!
Homemade burgers are definitely the best! Yours looks scrumptious. Love the onion strings and burger sauce too. Definitely want to give them both a try once our grilling season starts!
I love over the top hamburgers! The sauce and onion rings! WOW!!
You deserve to be hailed by the burger gods for his lovely recipe… Not only because it sounds superb but because you have produced a burger that it looks like it is possible to eat!
I had no idea I had a burger ‘issue’ until I went on a rant in a burger recipe I developed last year… The long and short of it was that if you need to ‘pin’ your burger together it is a rubbish burger because it is impossible to eat. You not only have perfect flavours but also a burger that does not leave you picking food out of your lap… Which let’s face it is never a good look 😉
Thanks, Brian! Seriously, I don’t even understand why create a burger like that!