Store-bought Soup Mix is a Savvy Secret for Making Delicious Grilled Burgers!
While I love all of the burgers we’ve shared on Plays Well With Butter, today’s burger recipe is the one that’s the nearest and dearest to my heart. Today we’re making my Mom’s French onion burger recipe.
It’s a homemade beef burger recipe that I’ve been enjoying for – quite literally – my entire life. If you were to come to the PWWB House for a summer dinner or backyard BBQ, these burgers are more than likely what we would be cooking up on the grill.
They come together in 25 minutes or less with only three shockingly simple ingredients to yield the most juicy and flavor-filled grilled burgers – gotta love a savvy Mom recipe like that! 😍
Mom’s recipe for the best French onion burgers requires these three simple but smart ingredients…
- 85% lean ground beef keeps these burgers nice and juicy (while also helping avoid flare-ups on the grill!)
- A splash of Worcestershire sauce (aka my favorite little secret weapon for adding TONS of umami flavor to any burger!)
- One full packet of store-bought dry onion soup mix to season the burgers throughout with rich French onion flavor that’s so freakin’ good and with hardly any effort involved!
Serve them plain or doll ’em up with some over-the-top toppings: fancy cheese, bacon, a pile of easy caramelized onions, you name it. Easy-meets-fancy for the win!!!
Craving more juicy grilled burgers? ⇢ Be sure to check out my Grilled Blue Cheese Burger, my Bacon Cheddar Cheese Stuffed Burger or these Caramelized Onion Burgers next!
Tips and Tricks for Making Your Burgers Taste Better!
Because this homemade beef burger recipe is so simple, in both its ingredients and its preparation, your grilling technique is also incredibly important to help achieve restaurant-quality burgers right at home!
In my experience, there are 5 essential but easy tips for making the best grilled burgers…
Fat content matters! While some swear by using 80% lean ground beef, I much prefer keeping things slightly leaner with 85% lean ground beef. Why? ⇢ I find 85% lean to be much easier to handle and much easier to avoid flare-ups on the grill. Be sure to buy your burger meat straight from the butcher to ensure it’s as fresh as possible.
Do NOT overmix the burgers. Overmixing the French onion burger mixture will yield dry and tough burger patties. No one wants that! Mix the burgers just until all the ingredients are combined. It’s okay if they’re a little rustic!
Size matters. We love our burgers juicy and thick, so I always opt for a 1/3-pound patty with 1-inch thickness. Tip! ⇢ Be sure to press your burger patties out so they’re slightly larger than the size of your burger bun. The burgers contract and shrink a little as they cook.
Indent the center of the burger patties. Just before you place the onion soup mix burgers on the grill, use your thumb to press an indent into the center of each patty. Why? ⇢ Burgers puff up quite a bit as they cook. A small indent helps them cook more evenly.
Lastly, don’t overcook them! Overcooking is the most sure-fire way to end up with sad, dry, crumbly burgers. As long as you’re using high-quality beef, there’s no reason to cook them to death! We stick with just 2-3 minutes per side, over medium-high heat, and they’re perfect every time.
No Grill? Use the Stovetop!
If you do not have access to an outdoor grill, you can also cook these French onion burgers on the stovetop. Rather than using a grill pan, I suggest using a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet. Work in batches as needed to avoid overcrowding the pan, and refer to the Recipe Notes, below, for full stovetop cooking directions.
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Step-by-step tutorials (like how to light the grill without burning your eyebrows off) & obsessively-tested tips (for juicy, charred results). Designed for meat lovers & vegetarians alike!
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Onion soup burgers are my favorite homemade beef burger recipe because they’re so simple and so flavorful.
They’re so good that you can serve them plain, but it’s also really easy to take them over the top – the secret lies in the toppings!
Some of my favorite toppings for french onion burgers include…
- A perfectly toasted bun – no burger is complete without a toasty bun! I love using brioche burger buns since they are pillowy soft but sturdy. Brioche adds a subtly sweet, rich and buttery flavor to burger night.
- Dijonnaise is the ultimate French-inspired burger sauce! Simply mix a little mayonnaise with a little Dijon mustard then add garlic for aioli vibes or a hint of honey for some honey-mustard tangy sweetness.
- You can’t go wrong with gooey, melted cheese. I love adding sharp white cheddar cheese as a contrast to the rich onion soup burgers.
- Crispy bacon makes everything better and these burgers are no exception!
- Double down on the french onion flavor with caramelized onions!
All that’s left to do is serve your homemade burgers with an icy cold beverage and your favorite summer side dish or two! We love serving with a batch of grilled fries or keep things really simple and pair with our favorite chips and Mom’s macaroni salad. Plate it all up, devour, and repeat. French Onion Burger night for the win!
I cannot wait for you to try this French Onion Burger recipe. I’ve loved them ever since I was a kid, and I know you will too.
If you do give it a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo and tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! Happy grilling! ♡
Print
3-Ingredient French Onion Burgers
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: serves 4
- Category: Sandwiches & Burgers Recipes, Main Dishes
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Nothing is better than a good grilled French onion burger! This easy recipe has been in my family since I was a kid – a simple homemade ground beef burger made with dry onion soup mix seasoning & Worcestershire sauce for a flavorful, juicy & satisfying grilled burger every time! Made in less than 25 minutes. Serve ’em up plain & simple, or dress ’em up with crispy bacon, caramelized onions & a light + fluffy brioche bun.
Perfect for weeknight cooking or backyard BBQs!
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ pounds 85% lean ground beef
- 1 1-ounce envelope onion soup seasoning mix
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon Morton coarse kosher salt
- for serving: toasted St Pierre Brioche Burger Buns, white cheddar or cheese of choice, crispy bacon, caramelized onions (below), lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup, Dijonnaise (below), etc.
for the caramelized onions (optional):
- 2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon Morton coarse kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
for the Dijonnaise (optional):
- ⅓ cup high-quality mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped or grated
- Morton coarse kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prep: Prepare the grill for medium-high direct grilling, 450-500 degrees F. Prep any toppings and condiments as desired (see below).
- Mix and form the burger patties: Add the ground beef, onion soup seasoning mix, Worcestershire sauce and kosher salt to a large mixing bowl. Using your hands, mix just until well combined. Be careful not to overmix as it yields a dryer, tougher burger. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions. Press each portion into a 1-inch thick burger patty. Use your thumb to press a slight indent in the center of each burger patty.
- Grill the burgers: Place the burger patties on the grill grates, directly over the flame. Grill 3 minutes per side for medium doneness. If you prefer a less/more done burger, grill for 1 minute less/more. If making a cheeseburger, add the cheese to the burger patties in their last minute of grilling. Toast the St Pierre Brioche Burger Buns while you’re at it – see below!
- Serve the French onion burgers: Build your burgers as desired. At our house, the toasted St Pierre brioche buns get a quick schmear of Dijonnaise, topped with leafy lettuce, a French onion burger, crispy bacon, and caramelized onions. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Toppings and Condiments:
- Toasted Burger Buns: Lightly spritz the buns with nonstick cooking spray. In the final minute or so of grilling the burgers, place the buns on the grill grates over direct heat. Cook for 1 minute or so, until as toasty and crisp as desired. Remove from the grill and serve immediately.
- Dijonnaise: Add all listed ingredients to a small bowl, whisking to combine. Feel free to add a hint of honey for some honey-mustard vibes, or a dash of your favorite spice blend. Set aside, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Easiest Crispy Bacon: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean-up. Place the bacon on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the rendered and crisp as desired. Remove from the oven and transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Caramelized onions: Place the olive oil and butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted, add in the onions. Season with kosher salt and toss to coat in the oil. Reduce the heat to low. Cook for 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are deeply brown and caramelly. In the last 5-10 minutes of caramelizing, deglaze the pan with the balsamic vinegar. Remove from the heat and serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Stovetop burgers: If you do not have access to an outdoor grill, you can also cook these French onion burgers on the stovetop. Rather than using a grill pan, I suggest using a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the French onion burgers, working in batches as needed to avoid overcrowding the pan, and cook according to Step 3 of Recipe Directions, above.
- Make-ahead French onion burgers (10-minute meal prep): French onion burger patties can be mixed and formed up to 3 days in advance. Follow Step 2 of Recipe Directions above. Transfer the formed patties to an airtight container, separating them with a piece of wax or parchment paper. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. When you’d like to make your French onion burgers, simply preheat the grill and get cookin’ – easy!
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Wowsers! These are incredible! Definitely a new favorite.
As always, another super easy and delicious PWWB recipe. I have been craving a juicy burger to kick off the summer and this hit the spot. Took 20 minutes or less from start to finish.
These burgers were so good! Definitely our go-to recipe now.
So so glad you & Riley enjoyed, Alex!! 🙂
I’ve loved making all your burgers but this one is a must! Easy, delicious and I highly recommend going full out wth the toppings, Game changer!
Thanks Kate! We are SO glad you enjoyed – it is such an easy & classic burger recipe to have on hand!
Ommmmgg! Another hit (obvi). So easy but so good!
Thank you so much, Ashley!!
This is a very good recipe! Such good topping combo and the burgers themselves are one of the easiest I’ve made! Been loving all your summer grilling recipes!
Thank you, Kate! We are so glad you enjoyed, it’s such a classic! More grilling recipes to come this Summer – keep an eye out! 🙌