Ultimate Pub Burger Recipe

This mouthwatering Pub Burger is a game-changer for your dinner rotation! Juicy beef patties topped with creamy pub cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and crispy bacon create a restaurant-quality burger experience right in your own kitchen. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s the perfect solution for those evenings when you want something impressive without spending hours in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Restaurant Quality at Home: These burgers rival anything you’d get at your favorite gastropub, but at a fraction of the cost.
• Customizable: The basic recipe is fantastic, but you can easily adapt it to suit your preferences with different cheeses, toppings, and buns.
• Weeknight Friendly: Despite its gourmet appearance, this burger comes together in just 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy evenings when you need dinner on the table fast.
• Crowd Pleaser: This recipe has something for everyone – juicy beef, melty cheese, sweet onions, and crispy bacon create a flavor combination that’s impossible to resist.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Ground Beef: The foundation of our burger, providing rich, meaty flavor. Look for 80/20 beef for the juiciest results.
• Burger Seasoning Blend: This adds a perfect balance of flavors to complement the beef. A good quality blend saves time while ensuring consistently delicious results.
• Pub Cheese Spread: Creates a creamy, melty layer that brings a distinctive pub vibe to your burger. Its spreadable texture ensures even distribution of cheesy goodness.
• Beer Caramelized Onions: These sweet, complex onions add incredible depth. The beer evaporates during cooking, leaving behind amazing flavor while cutting the onions’ sharpness.
• Bacon: Provides a salty, smoky crunch that contrasts beautifully with the other ingredients. Cook until crispy for the best texture.
• Buns: The vehicle for all this deliciousness. Choose something substantial enough to hold up to the hearty toppings.

Variations

Looking to mix things up? Here are some fantastic ways to customize your pub burger:

• Cheese Swap: Try cheddar for sharpness, Swiss for nuttiness, or herb-infused cheese spreads for an aromatic twist.
• Sweet & Savory: Add brown sugar to your burger seasoning for a touch of sweetness that pairs beautifully with the caramelized onions.
• Bun Upgrade: Brioche adds richness, kaiser rolls provide structure, and pretzel rolls bring a distinctive chew and flavor that elevates the entire burger experience.
• The Brunch Burger: Top with a fried egg for an indulgent breakfast-meets-dinner option that adds richness and visual appeal.
• Beverage Choice: Prefer ale over lager in your caramelized onions? Go for it! The deeper flavor will carry through to the finished onions.
• Protein Switch: This flavor combination works beautifully with grilled chicken breasts or steak burger patties if you’re looking to change things up.

How to Make the Perfect Pub Burger

Step 1: Prepare the Patties

Place the ground beef in a large bowl and sprinkle with burger seasoning blend. Using your hands, gently mix until the seasoning is evenly distributed. Divide into 4 equal portions and form into patties, making a slight indentation in the center with your thumb to prevent them from puffing up during cooking.

Step 2: Grill the Burgers

Heat your grill to medium-high. Place the patties on the grill and cook for 7-10 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until they reach your desired doneness. For medium burgers, look for an internal temperature of 160°F.

Step 3: Assemble Your Masterpiece

Place each grilled patty on the bottom half of a bun. Top generously with pub cheese spread (it will get wonderfully melty on the hot burger), followed by a heap of beer caramelized onions and two crispy bacon slices. Cap with the top bun and prepare for burger bliss!

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Don’t Overwork the Meat: Handle the ground beef as little as possible when mixing in seasonings and forming patties. Overworking makes tough burgers.
• The Thumb Trick: Make a small indentation in the center of each patty before grilling. This prevents the burger from puffing up in the middle and helps it cook evenly.
• Rest Your Burgers: Let the patties rest for a couple of minutes after grilling. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat instead of running out when you bite in.
• Toast Those Buns: Take the extra minute to toast your burger buns on the grill. The crispy texture and slight char flavor make a noticeable difference.
• Layer Strategically: Put the cheese directly on the hot patty so it melts nicely, then add onions and bacon on top so they don’t make the bottom bun soggy.

How to Serve

These pub burgers deserve the full treatment! Here are my favorite serving suggestions:

Classic Sides:

Pair with crispy french fries, sweet potato fries, or thick-cut chips for the authentic pub experience.

Lighter Options:

Balance the richness with a simple side salad or tangy coleslaw.

Beverage Pairings:

A cold craft beer is the natural companion, but a robust red wine or even a chocolate milkshake can create an unexpectedly perfect pairing.

Make Ahead and Storage

Preparing Components:

The beer caramelized onions can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. They actually improve with a day of rest as the flavors meld together.

Storing Leftovers:

Store cooked burger patties separately from the toppings in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The bacon can be cooked ahead and refrigerated, then quickly crisped up before serving.

Freezing:

Uncooked patties can be frozen with pieces of parchment paper between them for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before grilling.

Reheating:

For the best texture, reheat patties in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through. Microwaving works in a pinch but may result in a less ideal texture.

FAQs

Can I make the beer caramelized onions without alcohol?
Absolutely! You can substitute apple juice, beef broth, or even water with a teaspoon of honey for the beer. You’ll get delicious caramelized onions with a slightly different flavor profile.

What’s the best way to tell when my burgers are done?
The most reliable method is using an instant-read thermometer. For medium burgers, aim for 160°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can press the center of the patty with your finger – it should yield slightly but feel firm, not soft.

How do I prevent my burgers from shrinking on the grill?
Make your patties about 1-inch wider than your buns, as they’ll shrink during cooking. Also, that thumb indentation in the center helps maintain the burger’s shape and promotes even cooking.

What exactly is pub cheese spread and where can I find it?
Pub cheese is a spreadable cheese product with a rich, tangy flavor. It’s typically found in the specialty cheese section of grocery stores. If you can’t find it, a mix of softened cream cheese and shredded cheddar makes a good substitute.

Final Thoughts

This Pub Burger brings together all the elements that make restaurant burgers so irresistible, but in a totally doable home recipe. The combination of juicy beef, melty cheese, sweet onions, and crispy bacon creates something truly greater than the sum of its parts. Whether you’re hosting a casual dinner with friends or just treating yourself after a long week, these burgers are guaranteed to impress. Give them a try next time you’re craving something special!

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