Oklahoma Onion Burgers

What a burger! An Oklahoma onion burger is small, even unassuming, but so flavorful. The onions truly are the star of the show. Don't be intimidated by how many onions you'll use. It pays off gloriously in the end.

The hallmark ingredients of an onion burger are few but mighty: soft steamed buns, creamy American cheese, and lots and lots of griddled onions. Warming the buns over top the patties helps steam not only the buns but also the creamy classic American cheese slice to melty perfection. Using just a bit of salt on the top of patties ensures the onions don’t leach out too much liquid, too.

We'll tell you this: If you’ve ever had a Krystals burger or a White Castle burger, this dish is going to taste oddly familiar. The Oklahoma Onion Burger spawned those classic sandwiches, and you'll recognize it in just one bite—and then every bite after as you devour your new favorite burger.

What Is an Oklahoma Onion Burger?

During the Great Depression, home cooks and restaurant cooks alike were eager to feed hungry crowds in efficient ways. Enter the "Depression burger." Homer Davis and his son, Ross, were running the Hamburger Inn in El Reno, Oklahoma.

Onions, which were inexpensive to buy in bulk, were the perfect partner to the more pricey ground beef. And with the right skills at the griddle, the Davis duo turned simple ingredients into an unforgettable burger that has stood the test of time.

(The original Hamburger Inn has since closed, but another one in Ardmore, Oklahoma, which opened in 1938 still serves an onion burger, as do dozens of diners and hamburger spots all across the Sooner State. Johnnie's Grill has been making the burger in the home of the onion burger, El Reno, since 1946.)

What Does an Oklahoma Onion Burger Taste Like?

What makes the onion burger distinct is how the burger is cooked: These burgers were smashburgers before smashburgers were cool.

A ball of ground beef is pressed firmly into a hot griddle or cast-iron pan for instant, maximized browning. Then, it's topped with loads of thinly-shaved onions. The burger cooks quickly while the onions steam and caramelize, and everything is flipped over to create even more browning and caramelization.

A slice of American cheese is added atop the burger, then the buns. Herein lies one of the genius secrets of the Oklahoma Onion Burger: steaming the buns.

Most hamburger buns are toasted or griddled until crispy with a pat of butter, but not these. The steam escaping off the cooking burgers and onions will gently soften the buns, infusing them with sweet onion flavor and rich meaty notes.

Ingredients for Oklahoma Onion Burgers

There aren't many ingredients needed for this recipe, which is part of this burger's allure:

• Ground beef: We like 80/20 ground beef for this recipe; the fat from the burgers helps to quickly cook the onions, but you can use a different kind if you want.
• Sweet onions: Any onion type will work, but we're fans of sweet onions for this burger.
• Salt: Salting the meat but not the onions seasons the burger well without drawing out too much water from the onions.
• American cheese: A creamy slice of American cheese is the perfect way to finish off this burger.
• Potato hamburger buns: These ultra soft burger buns steam beautifully, but any kind will work if you don't have or can't find the potato variety.

As is, the burger is delicious, but you might catch us adding a few pickle chips and a squeeze of mustard to finish off ours.

What's the right onion for an onion burger?

After making a few rounds of these burgers in the Southern Living Test Kitchen, we've come to the conclusion that using a sweet onion is the trick. Its umami-rich flavor is what scents everything from the patties to the sweet, tender potato bun.

How To Make Oklahoma Onion Burgers

Full instructions for making an Oklahoma onion burger are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

• Step 1. Divide the ground beef into four equal balls: No need to season the beef. It'll get all the flavor from a sprinkle of salt and the onions as they steam.
• Step 2. Slice onions: Grab the mandoline or a knife, and slice sweet onions into paper-thin slices. Thinner slices will melt and caramelize quickly.
• Step 3. Add beef and onions to pan: Place the ground beef on a preheated skillet or griddle. Put all the onions on top of the hamburger patties, and use a large, flat spatula to press the burgers into the pan. Cook 2 minutes.
• Step 4. Flip the burgers. Use that broad spatula to flip the burgers and onions. Top with the slice of American cheese and the hamburger buns. The top bun goes on top of the cheese, then rest the bottom bun on top of the top bun so it steams and takes in some delicious flavors, too.
• Step 5. Serve: When the burgers are browned and the onions are caramelized, move the bottom bun to a plate, scoop up the burger and onions with a spatula, and place it on the bottom bun. Then serve.