Oklahoma Fried Onion Burger

My first time experiencing the Oklahoma style onion burger was at Coney Island in Stillwater, OK. Coney Island is located on “The Strip” where the majority of the Oklahoma State University college bars are located.

When I was in college at OSU, I worked next door to Coney Island and would pop in for lunch occasionally. One day I finally asked about this foreign version of the cheeseburger. Of course the owner made me one and since then it’s my preferred style of cheeseburger.

The key to the Oklahoma style onion burger is super thin white onions. I use a mandolin but if you have a meat slicer, I’d go that route. Also, like any good smash burger, only use America cheese.

The Oklahoma onion burger is now popular since burger scholar, George Motz named it his favorite style and is now making them for hipsters in Brooklyn. So if you want the history of the Oklahoma onion burger, I suggest letting Motz explain it.

Ingredients

Special Sauce

• 1 tbsp Duke’s mayonnaise

• 1 tbsp ketchup

• 1 tsp dijon mustard

• 1 tbsp pickle relish

• A few dashed of Crystal hot sauce

• A few dashes of Worcestershire sauce

• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

The Burger

• 2 3oz balls of 80/20 ground beef

• 1 white onion sliced as thin as you can get them

• 2 slices of American cheese

• As much shredded iceberg lettuce as you need

• Special sauce

• Potato bun

• 1 tbsp of unsalted butter

• Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

Method

Special Sauce

1. In a small mixing bowl add all of the ingredients

2. Mix well to fully combine

3. Transfer to a sealable container and store in the fridge for at least 30 minutes

The Burger

1. Heat a griddle over medium heat

2. When the griddle is hot, coat the griddle in butter wand toast the inside of both parts of the bun

3. When the buns are toasted, removed from griddle and set aside

4. Add both balls of beef and smash super thin with a solid spatula

5. Add an obnoxiously large handful of sliced onions on top of each burger patty

6. Season with salt and pepper

7. While the burger is cooking, apply special sauce to each toasted side of the bun and a pile of lettuce to the bottom bun

8. When the burger is crispy flip the burger making sure the onion slices are contained under the patty

9. Add American cheese to each patty

10. When the onions are cooked and the cheese is melted transfer them to the bun and stack them on top of each other

11. Apply the top bun and let it sit for a minute or two to let the juices settle

12. Eat with whatever you like to pair with a cheeseburger - I like tots, but you do you