Cowboy Butter Burger Recipe

A cowboy butter hamburger with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, and a beef patty on a bun is placed on a white plate.

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Cowboy Butter Burger Recipe

Ready to ride the cowboy butter wave? These burgers use the viral compound butter three ways: toasted into buns, melted into patties, and as a basting sauce. The result? The most flavor-packed burger you've ever put in your mouth.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 1030kcal

Author: Kita Roberts

Equipment

Spatula, To flip your burgers.
small mixing bowl
Spoon or brush for basting
Plate or tray for resting burgers
Measuring spoons

Ingredients

For the cowboy butter:

4 Tablespoons salted butter softened
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
2 Tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo chopped
2 Tablespoons cilantro minced

For the burgers:

4 brioche burger buns
1.5 lbs ground beef
2 teaspoons salt divided
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 slices American cheese or your favorite cheese
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
4 tomato slices
4 leaves green leaf lettuce
4 slices red onion
8 pickles

Instructions

For the cowboy butter

In a small bowl, combine the salted butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chopped chipotle peppers, and chopped cilantro and stir until well combined.

For the pan fried burgers:

Combine the ground beef, 1 teaspoon of salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl and with your hans, mix to combine.
Form into 4 equal sized patties.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Spread the burger buns with a thin layer of the cowboy butter and toast each bun until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes; Set aside.
Season the outside of beef patties with the remaining salt.
Add about 1 tablespoon of the butter to the skillet and place the patties into the skillet, cooking for about 3 minutes, until the burger has a good sear on the bottom.
Flip the burgers, add the rest of the butter.
Tilt the pan and use a spoon to baste the burgers with the melted butter as they finish cooking. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes or to your desired temperature.
Add a slice of cheese during the last 30 seconds of cook time, if desired.

Serve

Remove the burgers from the skillet and set aside to rest.
Layer each bun with a lettuce leaf, burger patty, tomato slice, onion slice, pickles, all of your favorite toppings and serve.

Notes

How to Make Cowboy Butter Burgers on a Grill or Griddle

On the Grill

Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 400–425°F).
Oil the grates lightly to prevent sticking.
Grill the patties 3–4 minutes per side until browned and cooked to desired doneness (160°F for well-done per USDA).
Melt & baste: Place a small cast-iron pan with cowboy butter ingredients on the grill to melt. Baste burgers with the butter during the last few minutes of grilling, but use caution as the dripping butter will cause flare-ups.
Toast the buns directly on the grill grates until golden.

On a Griddle (Flat-Top or Blackstone)

Preheat griddle to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the surface.
Cook patties 2–3 minutes per side until a crust forms and they reach desired doneness.
Melt cowboy butter in a small saucepan or metal cup set on the griddle corner. Spoon the melted butter over the burgers as they finish cooking.
Toast buns directly on the griddle with a light swipe of butter spread (applied to the bread, not the surface).

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