• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
Fox Valley Foodie
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About the Fox Valley Foodie
  • Subscribe
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Burgers

    Wagyu Beef Burger with Caramelized Onions

    Published: Jul 2, 2021 by Fox Valley Foodie · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Facebook315
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Wagyu Beef Burger with Red Wine Caramelized Onions and Roasted Garlic Aioli

    This Wagyu beef burger boasts the unmistakable buttery sweetness of tender Wagyu beef which is complemented by the robust flavor of red wine caramelized onions. This ultimate burger is finished off with the salty taste of melted aged white cheddar, and a smear of creamy roasted garlic aioli.

    Wagyu Beef Burger

    I'm not going to beat around the bush.  This was the best burger I have ever had.  Period. And I have spent a LOT of time perfecting homemade burgers. If you are looking to craft an incredible burger for a special occasion, this gourmet Wagyu burger recipe is it.

    I'd like to think I know a thing or two about making burgers.  I once made burgers every day for 6 months straight in an effort to perfect the art of gourmet burgers.  I thought I tried everything: corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef, store-ground beef, grinding it myself... but using Wagyu beef brings gourmet burgers to a whole new level!

    The tender patty melted in my mouth as a remarkable buttery sweetness quickly coated my taste buds. I was so excited to make this burger I even made a special trip to a local restaurant to ask if I could purchase a couple of their amazing Brioche buns.  Despite their puzzled expressions, they were happy to oblige. I was pulling all the stops for these Wagyu beef burgers!

    What is Wagyu Beef?

    Wagyu beef comes from Wagyu cattle, which is a Japanese breed. The beef from Wagyu cattle is prized for its extreme marbling which greatly enhances its tenderness and flavor. These cattle are raised in low-stress environments which help prevent the development of tough meat. The high cost of the cattle, and the additional time investment needed to raise them makes this one of the most expensive meats you can purchase.

    Ingredients You Will Need

    Wagyu Burger

    • Brioche buns - This is NOT the recipe to skimp and use cheap burger buns, you want a high-quality brioche bun to complement the sweetness of the beef.
    • Wagyu beef - I used American Wagyu beef, but whatever Wagyu beef you can get your hands on will make an epic burger. I recommend purchasing extra so you can make my Wagyu beef meatballs too!
    • Seasonings - Salt and fresh ground black pepper.
    • Butter
    • Aged White Cheddar

    Red Wine Caramelized Onions

    • Sweet onion
    • Butter
    • Cooking oil
    • Red wine - Red wine vinegar can also be used.

    Roasted Garlic Aioli

    • Garlic cloves
    • Mayo

    Wagyu Burger Toppings

    I chose to top these juicy burgers with the sweetness of caramelized onions, which are further enhanced with a splash of red wine. This flavor combination provides a great contrast to the aged Cheddar and the deep-roasted flavor of the Garlic aioli.

    Properly caramelized onions take a long time to saute, longer than sautéed onions. There is no shortcut to this, but your efforts will be rewarded. Take your time to gently coax all of the sugar out, and review my write-up on how to caramelized onions for more in-depth tips and tricks.

    The roasted garlic aioli is pretty straightforward to create. The garlic cloves are roasted in the oven at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, or until they are soft to the touch. This is when their flavor really sings! Then they are minced and combined with the mayonnaise in a small bowl. This should be done while the onions are caramelizing.

    Tip: It is important to prepare your caramelized onions and garlic aioli prior to making your burgers due to the time required to make them.

    Tips for Cooking Wagyu Burgers

    When making mouthwatering Wagyu burgers, only work the patty as much as necessary to shape it and have it hold together while cooking. This is a good tip for making any regular homemade burger patty too.  Overworking the ground meat will cause it to compact and get tough when cooked.

    Next, do not overcook the meat!  This means, don't go beyond a medium-rare burger with an internal temperature of 135 degrees, in my opinion.  If you like your beef well done, there is no point in spending the money on this premium quality beef, the exceptional flavor nuances will be long cooked out before it ever reaches your mouth.

    You want to sear these over medium-high heat to ensure your patties developed a nice crust, without overcooking the interior. I add butter to the skillet to aid in crust formation.

    Finally, simple is best.  The purpose of buying Wagyu beef is to enjoy the exceptional beef flavor that is unique to this breed.  Don't drown it out in a circus of flavors, toppings, seasonings, and condiments.

    Wagyu Beef Burger recipe

    Can you do me a favor? If you enjoyed my post would you mind sharing it with your friends? You can see more of my recipes by liking me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest too. Otherwise, stay up to date by getting each new post sent directly to your inbox by subscribing today.

    Wagyu Beef Burger

    Wagyu Beef Burger with Caramelized Onions

    This Wagyu beef burger boasts the unmistakable buttery sweetness of tender Wagyu beef and red wine caramelized onions.
    4.86 from 14 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3 burgers
    Calories: 1247kcal
    Author: Fox Valley Foodie

    Ingredients

    • 3 Brioche buns
    • 1 pound ground Wagyu beef
    • salt
    • fresh ground black pepper
    • 4 tablespoons butter divided
    • 3 slices Aged White Cheddar

    Red Wine Caramelized Onions

    • 1 large sweet onion
    • ½ tablespoon butter
    • ½ tablespoon cooking oil
    • 2 tablespoons red wine
    • Salt

    Roasted Garlic Aioli

    • 4 cloves garlic
    • ⅓ cup Mayo

    Instructions

    Wagyu Beef Burger

    • Spread butter onto the inside of the top and bottom bun slice and lightly toast, butter side down, in 12" skillet on medium heat until the cut side of the bun develops a crispy, toasted, exterior. Turn off the heat once done.
    • Divide 1 lb of beef into three equal sections and form into round patties, being careful not to over work the meat, yet pressing firmly enough for the meat to hold together. Press an indentation into the center of each patty to prevent it from puffing excessively during cooking.
    • Season each side of the patty liberally with salt and pepper.
    • Add enough butter to coat the bottom of a cast-iron skillet heated to medium high and gently place in the patties once it has melted. Work in batches if necessary.
    • Once in the pan, do not move the patties, or press/squish the meat. Moving the patties unnecessarily will prevent a good sear from forming and pressing the meat is a deadly sin that causes delicious juices to escape.
    • After ~2 minutes of cooking, flip each patty and add a slice of cheese to the top of the patty while the burger finishes cooking.
    • Remove from the skillet while burgers are rare, or medium rare (~125 degrees). Overcooking Wagyu beef will cook out all of the flavorful goodness that makes Wagyu a premium product.
    • Place patty on toasted bun slathered with roasted garlic aioli, and topped with caramelized onions.

    Red Wine Caramelized Onions (Prepare in advance)

    • Slice ends off of onions, cut in half and then cut into ⅛" strips.
    • Add butter and oil into saute pan and heat to medium low.
    • Add onions and salt to taste.
    • Cook 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, until onions are brown and sticky. Don't raise the heat to rush the process or the flavors won't develop.
    • When onions are caramelized deglaze the pan with red wine and stir liquid into onions.
    • Remove onions from pan and set aside, keeping warm.

    Roasted Garlic Aioli (Prepare while onions caramelize)

    • Roast garlic cloves in oven pre-heated to 375 for 30 minutes, or until cloves are soft to the touch. Check regularly to ensure they do not overcook.
    • Smash the cloves into a paste and mince with knife to ensure they are fully separated.
    • Mix with mayo and set aside.

    Notes

    Overworking the meat can cause patties to get tough.
    If you don't have Wagyu beef, you can still use this recipe to make a killer burger. However, this recipe was specifically designed to compliment the subtle sweetness and tender, buttery flavor of premium Wagyu beef.

    Nutritional Information

    Calories: 1247kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 97g | Saturated Fat: 42g | Trans Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 336mg | Sodium: 977mg | Potassium: 606mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1543IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 314mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @FoxValleyFoodie or tag #foxvalleyfoodie!

    This recipe was originally published November 13, 2015, on FoxValleyFoodie.com.

    Get My FREE eCookbook

    mailer

    Subscribe to FoxValleyFoodie.com and get each tantalizing new post sent directly to your inbox, along with my complementary eCookbook just for signing up!

    « Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge
    Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. CJ

      December 19, 2022 at 5:15 pm

      5 stars
      This burger is awesome! I didn’t quite have everything on hand. I used onion jack cheese slices. My cheap little bun didn’t do it justice but the burger was Yummly lol. Thank you for sharing, hubby loved it and we had one left over for an awesome lunch(will get a brioche bun for that)

      Reply
    2. Phoebe

      December 03, 2021 at 3:20 pm

      5 stars
      Extraordinary, even if you’re joylessly carb-phobic and serving them on Franz keto hamburger buns. Thanks so much for this recipe!

      Reply
    3. Jen W.

      November 08, 2021 at 9:02 pm

      Wow! Wow! Wow! I have to agree with everyone else; that this has to be THE BEST burger that I’ve ever had! I’ve never had wagu beef and this was an incredible introduction. The flavor is unreal! I had to sit back and just take it all in. Im blown away! Thank you for the recipe! I will most certainly be making this again, and next time, I’ll include my family, LOL!

      Reply
    4. Deborah Geehring

      July 11, 2021 at 8:11 am

      3 stars
      Well, I followed the recipe exactly and I got burgers that fell into pieces when I tried to cook them. I brought the meat out early so it was room temp, kept handling to a minimum (maybe the problem?) and cooked in a hot iron skillet for 2 minutes. When I tried to flip them they just flopped. They took more than 4 minutes to cook beyond raw as well. They tasted ok and we did like the flavors of the mayo and onions but presentation - not so much

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        July 11, 2021 at 8:54 am

        I am sorry for any issues you had. The most common issue in burger making is people mixing and mashing their patties into firm dense pucks due to excessively overworking the meat. I try to help people avoid that by stressing not to overwork the patty while forming it. Unfortunately, it sounds like you followed my advice too well. The unspoken rule is that the burger should be still pressed tight enough together to hold its shape. I will rephrase my instructions to make this more clear. Also, you can expect the cook time will always vary depending on your stovetop's heating power and the thickness of the burger, which is what the "~" was meant to express. All the best.

        Reply
    5. Marie-France

      May 24, 2020 at 8:44 am

      5 stars
      Before I decided to make this recipe, I read all the rave reviews thinking "Yeah yeah, I'm sure it's really good but seriously, it can't be THAT good! I mean it's just a burger! Having just rolled off the dining table onto the sofa to recuperate from eating the above, I can confirm that yes, it IS THAT good!! No-one was exaggerating, and yes, it WAS insane and will go in my "keeper" recipe which I will share with anyone and everyone including vegetarians (I have never felt so sorry for them in my life) and hopefully make it for friends when the lockdown is over and we can socialise again. I made my own buns using the best easiest no-knead brioche buns off another website blog, this burger recipe deserved only the best, and store-bought would not have done it justice. I am never going to look at another burger recipe every again, I am now officially married to this one! Thank you for sharing it with us all!

      Reply
    6. Stacy

      May 01, 2020 at 9:36 am

      5 stars
      Let me preface this by saying that I have never been a fan of caramelized onions and thus have never had them on a burger before. I splurged on some ground wagyu beef and wanted to make the most of it. When I came across your recipe I was weary of the carmelized onions but given the amazing reviews I wanted to make the recipe exactly as shown.

      Oh my lanta - I am still drooling over this burger...and I made it YESTERDAY! Highly, highly recommend.

      Reply
    7. Tobin Wright

      August 13, 2019 at 6:46 pm

      5 stars
      By far the very best Burger I have ever chomped on!
      Brilliant tailgate food!
      Go Gators!!

      Reply
    8. Amy Lou

      June 14, 2019 at 6:34 pm

      5 stars
      Mmm, made this yesterday and it was the best. Delicious! We loved it. I made this with wagyu ground beef. So juicy! I didn’t have any red wine on hand, so I used a little bit of balsamic vinegar for the caramelized onions. Thanks for the recipe. It’s a keeper.

      Reply
    9. Jamie

      May 12, 2019 at 8:34 pm

      5 stars
      I just want to say that ive made burgers for years now and when I seen this beef on sale at JUNGLE JIMS INTERNATIONAL MARKET, I thought, "why not?" My mind is truly BLOWN after making this# BEST BURGER RECIPE EVER!!! The cut of beef truly makes the difference! it no lie melts in your mouth!

      Reply
    10. Victoria

      March 10, 2019 at 7:19 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was amazingly delicious. The roasted garlic ailoi pushed it over the top for me. Will definitely be making it again, even if I don't have the wagyu beef on hand!

      Reply
    11. Elaine B

      February 21, 2019 at 5:50 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! We enjoyed it thoroughly!

      Reply
    12. Becca from It's Yummi!

      November 15, 2015 at 10:59 pm

      Omigerd...I need this beef in my life!
      Incidentally, you broke the food blogging code of ethics by not hooking your blogger sister on the east side of town up with a burger. You owe me, Foodie.

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        November 16, 2015 at 8:04 am

        Hahaha, true. I am a horrible human being! 🙂

        Reply
    13. simon

      November 14, 2015 at 1:20 pm

      Drools*
      I want this on my bbq! Hurry I'm hungry!
      ...
      Please? 🙂

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        November 14, 2015 at 3:42 pm

        If you live some place warm, I'll bring the meat if you buy the plane ticket!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Subscribe

    15834

    Get each tantalizing new recipe

    sent directly to your inbox.

    AND GET MY eCOOKBOOK FREE!

    Search for your favorite post!

    Popular Recipes

    Brown Sugar Meatloaf with Secret Ingredient

    Brown Sugar Meatloaf - With a Secret Ingredient

    Close up Sloppy Joes

    Homemade Sloppy Joes - Better Than Manwich

    Venison Meatloaf Recipe

    Venison Meatloaf

    How to make paprika

    How to Make Paprika

    Homemade mozzarella sticks with string cheese

    Homemade Mozzarella Sticks with String Cheese

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs - Bone In

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs (Bone-In)

    Big Mac Sauce Copycat Recipe

    McDonald's Big Mac Sauce (Copycat Recipe)

    Fried chicken gizzards recipe.

    Fried Chicken Gizzards

    As featured in yahoo, buzzfeed, oprah, msn and more!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Fox Valley Foodie, LLC

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme

    Insert/edit link

    Enter the destination URL

    Or link to existing content

      No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.