Blue Cheese Burgers with Whiskey Glazed Onions are meaty, creamy, a little sweet, a little savory and super crave-worthy. The burger recipe comes together in just over 30-minutes and makes a great addition to your Memorial Day or 4th of July spread.

blue cheese burger with caramelized onions on blue plate

Here is the best blue cheese burger recipe

Brewery-inspired burgers at home! If you are a lover of restaurant-style burgers (much like this avocado bacon burger), you have come to the right place. This is like those over-the-top, knife-in-the-center, brewery-inspired burgers made in the comfort of your own home. All you need is a chilled glass of your favorite brew to wash it all down.

Amazing flavor and easy prep! Blue cheese on a burger will be your new go-to burger recipe. The balance of creamy, tangy, savory and slightly sweet will keep you going back for more. Plus, the prep is so easy and all can be made ahead of time, if that’s easier on your schedule.

Perfect for summer parties! Whether you need a showstopping burger for Memorial Day, 4th of July or any summer event coming your way, your friends will go crazy for this one. Shop for all of the ingredients a few days beforehand to avoid the grocery store rush and get ready to have some fun in the kitchen!

Looking for more Memorial Day Weekend inspo? Check out these Memorial Day recipes!

Ingredients

The ingredients for this bleu cheese burger recipe are broken down into a few different sections – burgers, onions, garlic aioli and toppings. Here’s a look at what we need:

brioche buns, pepper mill, salt, arugula, blue cheese, ground beef, ground spices, onions

Burgers

Kosher salt
Paprika
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Freshly ground black pepper
85% ground beef
Vegetable oil

Whiskey glazed onions

Olive oil
Butter
Onions
Kosher salt
Brown sugar
Whiskey

Garlic aioli

Olive oil
Mayonnaise
Fresh lemon juice
Worcestershire sauce
Fresh garlic

Assembly and toppings

Brioche bun
Arugula
Blue cheese crumbles

Ingredient substitutions and notes:

Pick up a 93/7% ground beef package if you prefer a leaner burger.
Use your favorite whiskey, such as Jack Daniels, Bulleit or Jameson.
Purchase a whole block of your favorite blue cheese – Gorgonzola, Stilton, Danish Blue, or Roquefort – and crumble it at home. The crumbled packages are coated in starch, which takes away the creaminess.

How to make

These blue cheese hamburgers are SO easy. I like to prep the burgers first, then move on to the onions. Then, while the onions are caramelizing, I make the aioli and cook the burgers. That way, everything is piping hot and ready at the same time.

four step grid prepaing burgers and caramelized onions

Make burgers: Mix together kosher salt, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and a few turns of cracked black pepper in a small bowl. In a large bowl, add the ground beef and 2-3 tsp of the seasoning mixture. Mix together until it is incorporated but be careful not to over mix or your burgers will be tough. Portion into (6) 1-inch-thick burger patties. Use your thumb to make an indent in the center. Evenly sprinkle the remaining seasoning blend on top of each side of the burger patties.
Caramelize onions: Melt oil and butter in a medium saute pan set over medium-low heat. Add the onions and a dash of kosher salt. Stir together and cook until the onions turn a medium to deep golden brown, making sure to stir occasionally. This should take about 20 minutes. Add brown sugar and whiskey. Stand back slightly and ignite with a long-handled lighter or skewer to burn off the alcohol. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Make the aioli: Whisk together olive oil, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic until combined. Set aside.
Cook burgers: Preheat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil, then the burger patties, with space between each. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature registers 160-165 degrees F. This makes a medium burger. Allow to rest for 2 minutes.
Assemble burgers: Toast the brioche buns, then spread 1 tbsp of garlic aioli on each side. Start with a handful of arugula, then add the burger patty, 1-2 tbsp of whiskey onions and finish with crumbled blue cheese.

Alternative method: Grilled burgers

Brush burgers with a light layer of vegetable oil. Heat grill to medium-high heat, about 375-400 degrees F. Cook each side, covered, for 3-4 minutes for a medium-medium rare burger.

Serving suggestions

Burgers with blue cheese can be served for just about any occasion – as long as there is an ice-cold beer at the ready! I love to serve them for:

Dinner: Make these any night of the week with potato fries or a crisp green salad. Save the rest to enjoy throughout the week.
Summer Parties: Whether you make them indoors or on the grill, set out a big platter of these bad boys at any party or special occasion. Scale the recipe up, depending on how many burgers you need.

hand holding burger with blue cheese over blue plate

Make ahead & storage instructions

This recipe for blue cheese burgers is easy to make ahead and store for a quick reheat any night of the week. Here’s how I like to do it:

Burgers: Prep and cook as instructed. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat on the stovetop or pop one in the microwave.
Whiskey Onions: Cook as directed and keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in the same skillet as the burgers.
Garlic Aioli: Mix and store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. The flavors actually get better after a day or two, so this is a great make-ahead!

two hands cutting blue cheese burger with knife on blue plate

Recipe tips & notes:

Omit the burger seasoning, if desired. While I love the addition of some spices, you can leave them out completely. Keep your burger plain and simple with some kosher salt and black pepper.
Do not overmix the burger meat. This will result in a tough burger.
Indent the center of each burger with your thumb. This cooks the burgers evenly and prevents the meat from puffing up in the center.
Cook to your desired temperature. I like my burgers at a happy medium. This is about 160-165 degrees F when an internal thermometer is inserted in the center.

Looking for more summer recipes? Check these out!

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I seriously love seeing what you guys are making and sharing your creations with the College Housewife community!

Blue Cheese Burgers with Whiskey Glazed Onions

Recipe By Elizabeth Van Lierde

Servings: burgers

ingredients

For burgers:

2 tsp kosher salt
1 ½ tsp paprika
1 ½ tsp onion powder
1 ½ tsp garlic powder

Freshly ground black pepper

2 lbs 85% ground beef
1 tbsp vegetable oil

For onions:

2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
3 large onions thinly sliced

Kosher salt

1 ½ tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp whiskey

For Garlic Aioli:

2 tsp olive oil
½ cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp fresh minced garlic

Toppings:

Brioche Bun toasted

Arugula

Blue cheese crumbles

instructions

Make burgers: In a small bowl mix together kosher salt, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and a few turns of cracked black pepper. Add ground beef to a large bowl and 2-3 tsp of the seasoning mixture. Mix together until it is incorporated but be careful not to over mix or it may result in a tough burger. Divide evenly into (6) 1-inch-thick burger patties. Indent the center of each one with your thumb. Sprinkle the remaining seasoning on top of the burger patties evenly on each side.
Caramelize onions: In a medium saute pan melt oil and butter on medium-low heat. Add the onions and a sprinkle of kosher salt. Stir together and caramelize onions until medium to deep golden brown, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in brown sugar and whiskey and light with a long-handled lighter or skewer to burn off the alcohol. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring together until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Make aioli: In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic until combined.
Cook burgers: Heat a large cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat. Add the vegetable oil. Cook patties for 3-4 minutes on each side for a medium center and an internal temperature of 160-165 degrees F. Allow burgers to rest for 2 minutes or so.
Assemble burgers: Spread 1 tbsp of garlic aioli between the two buns, a handful of arugula, a burger patty, 1-2 tbsp of whiskey onions and top with crumbled blue cheese.

notes

Grilling Option: Brush burgers with a light layer of vegetable oil. Heat grill to medium-high heat, about 375-400 degrees F. Cook each side, covered, for 3-4 minutes for a medium-medium rare burger.

Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: grilling, ground beef, summer

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