Bistro Burgers Recipe

bistro burgers with grilled onions and cheese on white platter — Credit:
Con Poulos

Prep Time:

20 mins

Cook Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

40 mins

Servings:

A few simple moves can elevate a backyard hamburger, making it worthy of the steakhouse. Instead of your basic lettuce, tomato, and onion, these bistro burgers are adorned with Worcestershire-spiked grilled onions and peppery watercress. A horseradish aioli brings creaminess with a kick, while toasted brioche buns bring a subtle sweetness to the whole affair. We add a swipe of Dijon mustard over the patties before grilling for even more depth and finish each burger with a blanket of melty white cheddar. They’re perfect for Father’s Day or another special cookout, and are sure to be requested again and again. Who needs to go out when the burgers are this good at home?

How to Form Burgers for Grilling

Go big: Like all proteins, burger patties will lose moisture as they cook, causing them to shrink slightly. For that reason, it's important to form them larger than the bun to avoid a too-small finished result.

Use a gentle touch: For tender, juicy burgers, handle the meat gently. Overworking it can activate the muscle proteins (called myosin), causing them to bind with one another and result in tough, dry patties.

Make a divot: Use your thumb to make a small indent in the center of each patty, which will help keep the burgers from swelling upward as they cook and becoming domed on top.

Directions

Make sauce:

Stir together mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon mustard, and horseradish. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Form patties and chill:

Form beef into 4 patties, each slightly larger in circumference than buns. Make a small indent in center of each patty with your thumb (to keep them from puffing up on the grill). Cover loosely and refrigerate until ready to cook.
Grill onions; transfer to skillet:

Heat grill to medium-high, and place a large straight-sided skillet with a lid nearby. Brush grates with oil. Drizzle onions lightly with oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill, flipping once, until well charred and crisp-tender (they should still maintain a bit of crunch), 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer to skillet, drizzle with Worcestershire sauce, and cover with lid. Cover grill and return to medium-high heat.
Season patties and brush with mustard; grill:

Generously season indented sides of patties with salt and pepper. Brush with remaining 2 tablespoons mustard. Brush grates with oil. Place patties on grill, indented-sides down, and generously season other sides. Cook until lightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes.
Flip patties and add cheese; toast buns:

Flip patties, top each with cheese, and cover grill. Continue to cook, moving occasionally as needed to avoid flare-ups, until cheese has melted and burgers are cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes more. Transfer to skillet; cover with lid. Grill buns, cut-sides down, until lightly toasted, about 1 minute.

Transferring the onions and patties to a covered skillet as they come off the grill keeps them warm and juicy.
Assemble and serve:

Sprinkle tomatoes with flaky salt. Spread both sides of buns with horseradish mixture, then add patties, onions, and greens. Serve, with salted tomatoes and cornichons alongside.

What to Serve With Bistro Burgers

Pair these show-stopping burgers with equally impressive versions of classic cookout sides:

Instead of a creamy potato salad, how about this balsamic-spiked version with peperoncini and arugula or this potato and green bean salad with whole grain mustard and thyme?
A crunchy-sweet corn salad would also make a fantastic accompaniment: These roasted corn cups are ideal for entertaining while our corn salad with zucchini and orzo offers a delicious twist on pasta salad.
And don't forget about dessert. These classic ice cream sandwiches are surprisingly easy to make from scratch, as is this 7-layer ice cream cake which comes together quickly thanks to store-bought poundcake. Martha's Coca-Cola float is another favorite that brings a taste of the old-school soda fountain home.