These indulgent butter burgers are incredibly juicy and full of flavor, making them perfect for a quick and easy meal.

If you love a good burger, this Wisconsin-style butter burger recipe is a must-try. What’s even better is that you can cook these burgers on your grill, griddle, or stovetop in a skillet.

These burgers are rich and require a fair amount of butter. That said, they are a great choice for the occasional weeknight dinner, Super Bowl parties, and cookouts.

What are Wisconsin butter burgers?

Butter burgers are made with small shavings of cold butter mixed into the raw ground beef and then cooked in additional butter. This midwestern favorite originates from Wisconsin and appears on the menu of several restaurants, including Culvers.

Burger on a cutting board with fries and toppings

What toppings are on a butter burger?

Butter burgers are typically served with American or cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise. However, some fast food chains serve them with caramelized onions, jalapenos, and BBQ sauce.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 80/20
6 hamburger buns, brioche recommended
1 stick Irish butter (1/2 cup, plus extra as needed)
salt and black pepper (or your favorite steak or beef rub)
Hamburger toppings of choice (see recommendations below)
Wisconsin, cheddar, or American cheese

Recipe tips

Ground beef: ground chuck is preferred; however, you can use ground short rib or a combination of brisket and short rib.
Butter: Use a flavorful Irish Butter, like Kerrygold, which has a higher butterfat content and less water, resulting in a richer flavor than North American butter.
Hamburger patties: This recipe makes six 1/4-pound hamburger patties. However, you can make four larger 1/3-pound patties if desired.
Cheese: Use Wisconsin cheese, American or pepper jack slices for spicier burgers.
Suggested toppings: You can top your butter burgers with lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pickle slices, raw red onion or cooked yellow onion, mushrooms, jalapenos, bacon, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, queso, ketchup, mustard, etc. Mix and match the toppings to suit your tastes. We love a good patty melt, and this recipe is a delicious way to make it.
Savories: Add grated onions or garlic to the ground beef along with the butter for a savory, fragrant butter burger.

How to make butter burgers

Grating the butter: Make sure the butter is nice and cold. This will keep it firm during the grating process. Grate butter with a box grater. You’ll notice that it will look like shredded cheese. This is perfectly normal. Place the dish with the grated butter into the refrigerator if you plan to grind your ground beef.

Forming the patties: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine ground beef with cold grated butter until well distributed. Divide the meat into 6 sections (or 4 for larger burger patties). Form into equal-sized patties, making a small indentation with your thumb in the center of each one. Season with salt and black pepper or your favorite steak seasoning.

Flat-Top Griddle Method

Keep in mind that these burgers are best cooked on a flat surface. While you can place them directly on your grill’s grates, the added butter could cause a potential flare-up. Keep a close eye on them as they cook.

Preheat your flat-top grill to 400 degrees F.
Cook butter burger patties for 4 minutes per side or until cooked through ( an internal temperature of 160-165 degrees F).
Add a slice of cheese to each patty during the last minute of cooking time.
Brush the inside of the brioche buns with butter. Place them buttered side down on the grill, and toast for 1 minute, until golden brown.
Remove patties and buns and assemble with your choice of toppings and condiments.

Stove top method

Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan. Heat until melted through.
In batches, place half the patties in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked through. Adjust the heat as needed.
At the end of cooking, top the patties with cheese, and cover the skillet with a lid. Cook for 1 minute.
Remove burger patties, wipe the pan down, butter the hamburger buns, and toast them butter side down until golden brown.
Wipe the pan down again, and repeat the process.

Storing leftovers

Store leftover butter burger patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Freeze for up to 4 weeks.

The Best Burger Recipes

Butter Burgers

These indulgent butter burgers are a butter lover's dream. They are juicy and delicious and make a quick and easy meal.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American BBQ, American Food

Keyword: butter burger recipe, butter burgers, grilled butter burgers

Prep Time: 25

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 35

Servings: servings

Calories: 543kcal

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground beef 80/20
6 hamburger buns (brioche recommended)
1 stick cold Irish butter (1/2 cup, plus extra as needed)
salt and black pepper or your favorite steak or beef rub
Hamburger toppings of choice

Instructions

Grate the cold butter with a box grater. Place the dish with the grated butter into the refrigerator if you plan to grind your ground beef.
In a large bowl, gently combine ground beef with cold grated butter until well distributed.
Divide the meat into 6 sections (or 4 for larger burger patties). Form into equal-sized patties, making a small indentation with your thumb in the center of each one.
Season lightly with salt and black pepper or your favorite steak rub.
Preheat your flat-top grill to medium-high heat or 400 degrees F.
Cook butter burger patties for 4 minutes per side or until cooked through (160-165 degrees F).
Add cheese to the patties during the last minute of cooking time.
Brush the inside of the brioche buns with butter. Place them buttered side down on the grill, and toast for 1 minute, until golden brown.
Remove patties and buns and assemble with your choice of toppings and condiments.
Stove-top method:
Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan. Heat until melted through.
In batches, place half the patties in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked through. Adjust the heat as needed.
During the last minute of cooking time, add the cheese slices to the patties and cover the skillet with a lid.
Remove burger patties, wipe the pan down, butter the buns, and toast them butter side down until golden brown.
Wipe the pan down again, and repeat the process.
Store leftover butter burger patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Freeze for up to 4 weeks. Reheat in a skillet.