Beef burgers grilled in beer and paired with oven-fried onion rings!
I think this is possibly the most rustic burger ever.
And I mean that in the best way possible. I mean, you can’t go wrong with a beef burger grilled in beer, topped with barbecue sauce, melted American cheese, lettuce, and healthier oven-fried onion rings…also smothered in barbecue sauce. Yes, yes, and yes, please.
I really don’t know which is my favorite burger of Burger Week so far – these or the Farmer’s Market Veggie Burger with Spinach Hummus I shared earlier in the week. When I’m just craving a spin on the classic beef burger, these are my go-to.
And I don’t think making burgers could be easier. Don’t be fooled by the long title! They’re pretty easy, and no need to even muck up your grill pan (or grill) with olive oil. The burgers contain plenty of juice to cook in…plus you add the beer, which gives them a ton of flavor.
If you’re feeling like it’s a fry kind of day (Fry-day haha!), you can of course fry the onion rings in a couple inches of canola or vegetable oil. Simply prepare the onion rings the same way as if you were going to bake them, but submerge them in the oil instead.
And the best part is that these burgers are pretty versatile, and you can pair them with any topping you would like – besides the onion rings, lettuce, and barbecue sauce, I recommend shredded carrot or cole slaw for a fresh bite. If you’re hesitant to braise the burgers in beer, you can braise them in non-alcoholic beer or chicken or vegetable broth (or simply go for the Plain Jane, but I highly recommend the beer for a unique taste!).
So I’ll talk to you tomorrow for Day 6 of Burger Week!
If you make this recipe, be sure to tag your creation with the hashtag #foodfinessa.
Beer-Braised Burgers with BBQ Baked Onion Rings
Onion Rings
- 2 medium Vidalia or white onions, cut into rings
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1-1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Burger
- 1 lb 93% lean beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup white onion, finely chopped
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 12 oz 1 bottle beer
- 4 slices American or cheddar cheese
Toppings
- Kaiser hamburger buns
- Additional barbecue sauce
- Cucumber
- Bibb lettuce
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dip each onion ring into barbecue sauce and then into panko breadcrumbs. Place rings on baking sheet, and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Set aside.
- Heat a large grill pan (or grill) over medium heat. In a large bowl, mix beef, garlic, onion, panko breadcrumbs, salt, and black pepper. Divide mixture into quarters, and form each quarter into patty. Add beer to pan, and grill each patty on grill pan for about 4 minutes per side, or until burgers are fully cooked through. Add American or cheddar cheese slices on top of patties right before they are finished cooking.
- Spread barbecue sauce on Kaiser buns, add burger, and top with fresh cucumbers, lettuce, and onion rings. Dig in!
