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These juicy cowboy burgers combine seasoned beef with melted cheddar, BBQ sauce and pickled jalapeños. The patties are tender with a little heat from the jalapeños plus a satisfying crunch from tobacco onions. Toasted brioche buns are soft and subtly sweet, and the tall build resembles a restaurant-style burger, with plenty of sauce and crunch. You’re going to need both hands and some napkins to enjoy these tasty cheeseburgers.
Why You’ll Love It
This cowboy burger recipe has juicy burgers with delicious toppings, all served on brioche buns. They’re a comfort food style dish that pairs well with all kinds of sides.
Smoky with sharp heat: The burger tastes smoky and sweet, with tangy heat from the pickled jalapeños.
Restaurant-style build: The tall stack and generous toppings resemble a burger bar order.
Juicy with plenty of crunch: The burger combines a moist beef patty and melty cheese with a satisfying crunch.
Adjustable heat: The amount of jalapeño controls how spicy the finished burger tastes, so you can choose the amount you prefer.
Choice of cooking methods: You can cook these on the grill or in a skillet.
Also try my cowboy soup, cowboy baked beans, cowboy stew, cowboy sliders and cowboy meatloaf and potato casserole.
Cowboy Burger Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Ground beef: You can use any kind, but I find an 80/20 blend contains enough fat to help the cooked patties retain moisture without being overly greasy.
Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika give the beef a savory smoky taste. Salt and black pepper add more flavor.
Cheddar cheese: The slices melt evenly over the burgers. I like to use sharp cheddar but you can use mild if preferred.
Brioche buns: A soft and lightly sweet option.
Mayonnaise and butter: Mayo provides creaminess and butter helps the cut sides of the buns brown.
BBQ sauce: Provides smoky sweetness as well as moisture. Any kind works, so just use your favorite.
Tobacco onions: These very thin fried onion strands have an irregular shape and brittle crunch.
Pickled jalapeños: To give the burgers salt, vinegar and noticeable heat. You can adjust the amount to suit your taste.
How to Make Cowboy Burgers
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Shape and season: Form the beef into 4 patties, press a shallow indentation into each one and season both sides.
Toast the buns: Butter the cut sides and toast until golden.
Cook the patties: Cook in a hot skillet or on the grill, flipping each patty once.
Melt the cheese: Add cheddar near the end of cooking and cover until melted.
Assemble the cowboy burgers: Spread mayonnaise on the buns and add the patties, BBQ sauce, tobacco onions and jalapeños.
Substitutions and Variations
Fried onion swap: Regular fried onions can replace tobacco onions. They have larger pieces and a denser crunch.
Milder burgers: Reduce the number of jalapeño slices.
Spicier burgers: Add extra jalapeños or choose a hot barbecue sauce.
Different BBQ sauce: Use a sweet, smoky or spicy sauce, whatever you have on hand.
Gluten-free version: Use gluten-free buns and check the ingredients in your BBQ sauce.
More toppings: Add lettuce, sliced tomatoes or crispy bacon.
Serving Suggestions
With side dishes: Enjoy your favorite BBQ side dishes with these cowboy burgers, perhaps some air fryer onion rings, French fries, a summer salad or coleslaw pasta salad.
To drink: Pair your burgers with a cold beer, a watermelon white wine slushie or frozen mint lemonade.
How to Store
Store: Refrigerate cooked burger patties in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I recommend that you keep the buns, sauce and toppings separate.
Freeze: Freeze cooled patties in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost them overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Warm the patties in a skillet or microwave until heated through. Assemble the burgers after reheating.
Top Tips
Handle the beef gently: Firmly compacted beef can produce dense patties.
Allow for shrinkage: Form the raw patties about ½ inch wider than the buns.
Don’t press the patties: I find that pressing them with a spatula forces out fat and moisture.
Toast the buns: Browning the cut sides slows the BBQ sauce from soaking into the crumb.
Use a thermometer: Insert it into the thickest part of the patty to check for a temperature of 160°F.
Skillet or Grilled Cowboy Burgers FAQs
Beef contracts during cooking. Starting with wider patties helps them finish closer to the bun diameter.
Insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of each patty. Ground beef should reach 160°F but you can cook it some more if you prefer it more done.
I like to toast the cut sides before assembling the burgers. Doing this gives the bread a browned surface that absorbs the sauce more slowly.
Restaurant Style Cowboy Burger Recipe
Cowboy Burgers
Equipment
- Skillet or Grill
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Pounds ground beef, I used 80/20
- 1 Teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Teaspoon onion powder
- 1 Teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
- 4 Slices sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 brioche hamburger buns
- 2 Tablespoons butter, softened
- 4 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- ½ Cup BBQ sauce
- 1 Cup Fried string onions, or crispy French fried onions
- ¼ Cup pickled jalapeño slices
Instructions
Prepare a Skillet or Grill
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed grill pan over medium-high heat, or preheat the grill to medium-high heat, about 400°F.
Season and Shape the Patties
- Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions and gently form into patties about ½ inch larger than the buns.
- Press a shallow indentation into the center of each patty to help prevent shrinking during cooking.
- Season both sides of the patties with the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper.
- Butter the cut sides of the buns.
Skillet Instructions
- Toast the bun halves in the hot skillet until golden brown. Set aside.
- Place the burger patties in the hot skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes without pressing on them.
- Flip the burgers and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 160°F.
- During the last minute of cooking, top each burger with a slice of cheddar cheese and cover the skillet with a lid until the cheese melts.
Grill Instructions
- Toast the buns on the grill for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly golden.
- Grill the burgers for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until they reach an internal temperature of at least 160°F
- During the last minute of cooking, top each burger with a slice of cheddar cheese and close the grill lid until melted.
Assemble the Cowboy Burgers
- Spread the mayonnaise on the bottom buns.
- Place each cheeseburger on a bun and spoon BBQ sauce over each patty.
- Top with a generous handful of fried tobacco onions and several slices of pickled jalapeños.
- Finish with the bun tops and serve.
Notes
Allow for shrinkage: Form the raw patties about ½ inch wider than the buns.
Don’t press the patties: I find that pressing them with a spatula forces out fat and moisture.
Toast the buns: Browning the cut sides slows the BBQ sauce from soaking into the crumb.
Use a thermometer: Insert it into the thickest part of the patty to check for a temperature of at least 160°F.
Nutrition
These yummy cowboy burgers need both hands! The beef has a juicy texture and then cheddar and BBQ sauce add a rich smoky-sweet taste. You can choose from cooking these in a skillet or on the grill, and adjust the ingredients to suit your preferences. Paired with your favorite sides, perhaps potato salad, pasta salad or something crunchy like onion rings, these cowboy style burgers make a delicous and satisfying dinner.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
