Let’s bring the viral Onion-Wrapped Burger from In-N-Out into our own kitchen, and make it even better! With no bread buns involved, you won’t miss them one bit. These onions are caramelized to perfection, bursting with umami flavor, and are far superior to traditional lettuce or tomato-wrapped burgers!
You know, every burger joint has its own special burger sauce, right? It’s like their “secret formula”! But truth be told, a lot of these spreads are pretty similar, usually a mix of mayo, ketchup, and mustard with some variations. Personally, I think In-N-Out has the best spread compared to places like Shake Shack. It’s not too thick, which I like because I want to taste more than just mayo. Plus, it’s got a tangy kick from the pickle relish and a touch of sweetness from the ketchup, balancing out the richness of the burgers perfectly.
Onion-Wrapped Flying Dutchman
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Main Course
Ingredients
For the Spread:
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons drained pickle relish
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard (optional)
For the Patties:
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons butter (divided)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Yellow mustard (for frying)
- 2 slices American cheese
For the Caramelized Onions:
- 1 large yellow onion (sliced into circles)
- Salt (to taste)
- White sugar (to taste)
- Vegetable oil
- 2 slices American cheese
Instructions
- Make the Spread: In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, relish, ketchup, sugar, and vinegar until it forms a pink sauce. Set aside.
- Prepare the Patties: Divide the ground beef into 8 portions of 3 to 4 ounces each. Gently flatten each portion into a circle of your desired thickness. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Caramelize the Onion “Buns”: In a large pan or flat grill over medium to medium-low heat, heat some vegetable oil. Add the onion slices and sprinkle them with sugar and salt. Cook until the edges turn golden, then flip them over and caramelize the other side. Just before removing them from the grill, add cheese to half of the onions.
- Cook and Assemble the Burger: In a skillet or pan over medium-high heat, add vegetable oil and/or butter. Place the patties in the pan and optionally spread mustard on one side. Cook for 2-3 minutes until a nice crust forms, then flip them over and place a slice of American cheese on half of the patties. Let them cook for another minute. Stack one patty without cheese on top of a patty with cheese to make a double-double burger. Place this stack on top of a grilled onion and top it with another grilled onion with cheese to serve as the “bun.”
- Serve with the spread and enjoy while warm!
