If you’re craving a good burger that’s next-level delicious, step up to my grill while I cook up some epic Cowboy Butter Burgers. Summer nights are all about enjoying good food, fantastic drinks, and great company. These perfectly seasoned steaks and juicy burgers with melty cheese, caramelized onions and a rich cowboy butter sauce are the perfect complement to whatever you have planned. Pair it with a Pendleton Military Julep and you’re set for an epic experience.
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Why You’ll Love Cowboy Butter Burgers
I get it, a hot burger straight from the grill is always a tasty bite, but sometimes you just gotta go all out. Seasoned ribeye steak slices and beef patties on the same sandwich? Yup, you heard that right. Cowboy Butter Burgers are next level.
The cowboy butter, a rich and savory mix of unsalted butter, garlic, Dijon mustard, fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and lemon juice, makes every bite more decadent. Topped with caramelized onions and cheddar cheese, these burgers are beyond satisfying.
Are you more of a cheeseburger or smash burger person? I am both. This is a great burger recipe, but if smashed patties are more your style make sure to check out all my Best Smash Burger Recipes! I’ve also gathered all my Best Patty Melt Recipes too, if you find Texas toast better than a burger bun. Check them out!
Ingredients Breakdown
- Ribeye Steak – Grab some ribeye steaks to start this cowboy butter burger recipe. You’ll season them generously with kosher salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
- Beef Patty – You’ll also need 3-4 burger patties. Like the steaks, you’ll season them with kosher salt, black pepper and then some more garlic powder, ensuring a robust and savory base for the burger.
- Cowboy Butter – To make the compound butter mixture, you’ll need two sticks of unsalted butter, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and a touch of lemon juice.
- Caramelized Onions – We’ll season some thinly sliced white onions with kosher salt and then caramelize them in beef tallow.
- Additional Ingredients – To tie everything together, you’ll need toasted burger buns, 8-10 slices of cheddar cheese (or pepper jack for a spicy twist) and then your favorite mayonnaise.
How to Make Cowboy Butter Burgers
Caramelized Onions
To begin, start by preheating your grill to medium-high heat, around 350 degrees F, for direct cooking. Place a large skillet on the grill for a couple of minutes before adding the beef tallow. Once melted, toss in the thinly sliced white onions and then season them with salt and pepper.
After that, cook the onions on medium heat until they are deeply caramelized, turning dark brown. This process certainly takes patience and can take about 45-60 minutes. Once done, set them aside and then keep them warm.
Cowboy butter
Next, prepare the cowboy butter. Combine the melted unsalted butter, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and lemon juice in a small bowl. Mix well and set it aside until you’re ready to use it.
Cowboy Butter Tip
For the best flavors, first, don’t pop the cowboy butter in the fridge. Instead, let it rest at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before slathering it on the burgers. This way, the flavors can fully meld and mingle, undoubtedly giving your Cowboy Butter Burgers an even richer taste.
If you’re really into cowboy butter, you should also check out how I used it in Cowboy Butter Steak Tacos recipe! I’ve also made some pretty awesome Cowboy Butter Sliders, but if you’re into the classics… It’s pretty hard to beat a Grilled Ribeye with Cowboy Butter.
I’ve also gathered all my Best Butter Recipes here! So if cowboy butter ain’t “it” for you, have no fear, we have plenty of other options.
Steak & Burgers
Now, it’s time to focus on the meat. First, slather the ribeye steaks and burger patties with the canola oil (or a bit of olive oil) and then season them generously with kosher salt, black pepper and garlic powder. Next, go ahead and let them sit in the fridge until you’re ready to cook.
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, about 375 degrees F, for two-zone indirect cooking. Place the steaks and burgers on the grill and then cook them for 3-4 minutes per side. Aim for an internal temperature of 120 degrees F for the steaks and 165 degrees F for the burgers. Finally, just before the burgers are done, top each patty with a slice of cheddar cheese to melt. Once everything is perfectly cooked, drizzle a generous amount of cowboy butter over the meat and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Assembling the Burgers
To assemble, start with toasted buns and spread a layer of mayonnaise. Place the burger patty first, followed by slices of the ribeye steak. Add a generous helping of caramelized onions and drizzle more cowboy butter on top. Close the burger with the top bun and get ready to enjoy.
Enjoy these Cowboy Butter Burgers at your next summer cookout and don’t forget to toast with a Pendleton Military Julep!
What to Serve with Cowboy Butter Burgers
These cowboy burgers pair perfectly with a refreshing Pendleton Military Julep. The julep’s minty, sweet and strong notes cut through the richness of the cowboy butter, creating a balanced and delightful dining experience.
To round out the meal, consider serving these burgers with crispy French fries, onion rings or fresh, tangy coleslaw.
If you’re a fan of Pendleton Rye Whisky I also did a salmon recipe with them! Check it out here: Hot Smoked Salmon!
For more Big Burgers
Leftovers & Reheating
If you have any leftovers, store the burgers (without the buns) in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to three days. To reheat, place the burgers in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until warmed through. The cowboy butter can be reheated separately in a small pot and then drizzled over the burgers just before serving with fresh buns. Cheers to another fantastic meal!
FAQs for Cowboy Butter Burgers
Absolutely! While ribeyes are recommended for their flavor and tenderness, you can use other cuts like strip steak or filet mignon.
For the juiciest and most flavorful Cowboy Butter Burgers, I’d recommend using 80/20 ground beef. While lean ground beef is a popular choice, the 80/20 blend strikes the perfect balance between fat and meat, ensuring your burgers stay as juicy and tasty as possible.
Yes, you can prepare the cowboy butter in advance and store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Just reheat it gently before drizzling over the burgers.
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Cowboy Butter Burgers
Ingredients
Steak:
- 2 Ribeyes
- 1.5 tbsp Kosher Salt
- 1.5 tbsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- Canola Oil as needed
Beef:
- 3-4 Burger Patties
- 1.5 tbsp Kosher Salt
- 1.5 tbsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- Canola Oil as needed
Cowboy Butter:
- 2 sticks Unsalted Butter melted
- 2 tbsp Minced Garlic
- 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1.5 tbsp Chopped Parsley
- 2 tsp Red Chili Flakes
- 1 tsp Cayenne Powder
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
Caramelized Onions:
- 2 cups Sliced White Onions
- 2 tbsp Beef Tallow
- Kosher Salt to taste
Burgers:
- Burger Buns toasted
- 8-10 White Cheddar Cheese Slices
- Mayonnaise as needed
Pendleton Military Julep
- 2 oz Pendleton® Whisky Military Edition
- 1 oz Pomegranate Juice
- 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
- Fresh Mint
Instructions
Caramelized Onions:
- Preheat your grill to medium high heat (about 350F) for direct cooking. Add a cast iron skillet to the grill 2 minutes before cooking.
- Melt beef tallow in the skillet and add your thinly sliced white onions. Season the onions with salt and pepper and begin cooking on a medium heat until they are caramelized (dark brown). This should take about 45-60 minutes to achieve. When the onions are done, pull off and keep warm.
Steak & Burgers:
- Next, add all the ingredients for your cowboy butter to a bowl and mix. Set to the side until ready to use.
- Finally, slather your steaks and burgers with oil and generously season with salt, pepper and garlic powder or your favorite steak rub. Set in the fridge until ready to cook.
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (about 375F) for two zone indirect cooking.
- Next, add your steaks and burgers to the grill and cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until the steaks are 120F and the burgers are 165F. Before the burgers are done, top each with a slice of cheese to melt. Once everything is done, top with a little of the cowboy butter and pull off to let rest for 10 minutes.
- Slice the steaks up and begin building the burgers. Start with your buns, mayonnaise, burger patty, sliced steak, caramelized onions and cowboy butter. Serve and enjoy!
Military Julep
- Combine ingredients and ice into a cocktail mixing tin. Shake well and pour into an ice-filled rocks glass or julep mug. Garnish with fresh mint.
