Classic Texas Burger

What is a Texas Burger

A true classic Texas burger has only three toppings -onions, mustard, and pickles. There is no mayo, BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and definitely no fried eggs. It’s a simple burger with simple ingredients that let’s the beef shine. Fletcher Davis of Athens, Texas is credited with inventing the hamburger in the 1880s. He served them on homemade bread with you guessed it pickles, mustard, and onions. While there are others who claim credit for the invention of the hamburger, Fletcher no doubt invented what is the Texas Burger.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

A true Texas burger has a couple simple pantry staple ingredients so splurge on the beef.

In the printable recipe below, you can find a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

• Ground Beef: This is the star so use a premium ground beef that is an 80% lean and has 20% fat. The fat renders during cooking and helps keep the burger moist, flavorful, and tender. Our personal preference is to grind our own burger blend, incorporating a mix of brisket and short rib, to achieve the most flavorful burger possible.
• Burger Buns: Choose a sturdy bun that can hold the fillings and not fall apart. We prefer the using either a brioche, potato, or sesame seed bun.
• Toppings: This classic burger only has three toppings -fresh onions, pickles, and mustard. Choose a classic dill pickle or you can make your own. For the mustard we prefer a stone-ground version but you can use any type of mustard for this burger.

How to Make a Texas Burger

Here are the quick step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions with the exact ingredients in the recipe card below.
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Pro-tip: Refrigerate the burger patties before cooking them to firm them up and prevent them from falling apart while cooking.

1. Make the burger patties: Form your patties so they are ¼ to ⅓ of an inch wider than the diameter of the buns you’ll be serving them on. For a 6 ounce patty they will end up between ⅓ to ½ and inch thick. Season your patties with salt and black pepper and place them on a baking sheet. Refrigerate your patties for 10-15 minutes.

While the patties are being chilled in the refrigerator, preheat your grill or stovetop griddle over medium-high heat to toast the burger buns. Lightly spread a layer of room-temperature butter on each cut side of the burger bun. Make sure to spread it all the way to the edges. Place the buns buttered side down on the grill and allow them to cook for about 1-2 minutes or until they are a golden brown.

2. Grill the burger patties: Grill the burger patties to your desired level of doneness, usually about 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare and 9-10 minutes for well-done. The USDA does recommends cooking hamburgers to an internal temperature of 160°F.

3. Melt the cheese: During the last minute or so of grilling, add a slice of cheese to each patty and cover each one with a lid to help the cheese get fully melted.

4. Assemble the burgers: So that the pickles do not make the bun soggy, remove them from their liquid and let them drain on a paper towel. Spread your preferred mustard on the top buns and set it aside. To the bottom bun add the diced onions then top with a cooked cheeseburger. Place 4-5 pickle slices on top of each patty then top with the top bun. Enjoy with your favorite burger side.

What to Serve with a Texas Burger

A classic side for a Texas burger are fries but there are so many other delicious options. We love serving them with potato wedges, onion rings, coleslaw, potato salad, grilled veggies, or a mixed green salad.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: The burger patties can be made in advance. For the patties, prepare them in advance then place in an air tight container and refrigerate. When ready to cook, follow the grilling instructions above.

How to Store: To store leftover burgers, allow them to cool to room temperature the refrigerate in an air tight container for up to 4 days. To freeze leftover burgers, we recommend first freezing them in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet then placing them in a freezer safe container with a square piece of parchment paper between each patty. They can be kept frozen for up to 3 months.

How to Reheat: Burger patties can be reheated in a skillet or on the grill over medium heat. Cover the pan with a lid to help retain moisture and heat the patties for about 3-4 minutes per side. To reheat in the microwave place patties on a microwave safe plate and cover with a a microwave safe lid or paper towel to trap moisture. Reheat in 30 second increments until heated through. If burger patties are frozen, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• Don’t over work the beef. Gently form the burger patties without overworking the meat to keep them tender.
• Allow the burgers to rest. To help redistribute the juices, allow the burger patties to rest a few minutes before serving.
• Cook on medium-high heat. Preheat your grill to a medium-high heat for a good sear without overcooking the interior.
• Flip the Burgers Once. Wait until the burgers develop a crust on the bottom and release easily from the grill or pan before flipping. This crust helps keep the burger together.
• Don’t Press Down on the Burgers While Cooking. Pressing down on the burgers with a spatula releases juices and can cause the burgers to fall apart. Let the burgers cook undisturbed, flipping them only once midway through cooking. This will also help them get a nice seared outer layer that will help keep the burgers juicy.

Frequently Asked Questions