French Onion Burgers au Gratin

Another week, another burger - or maybe NOT just another burger. These French Onion Burgers au Gratin are steps above your average burgers. They are stuffed with a caramelized onion mix that is very rich tasting and filling. Topped with melted cheese on a soft bun, these burgers are sure to be an impressive hit at your next cookout.

The burgers are made of three things - the caramelized onions that are stuffed inside and served on top, the patties (stuffed with onions) and the French onion spread that goes on the buns. The flavors meld together perfectly and the recipe is pretty easy.

The onions need to be prepared first since you will need them to make the burgers and the spread. They get sautéed slowly in red wine and beef stock to create a deep, rich flavored mix that makes your burgers very grown up. Once they are cooked through, they get set aside for the next steps.

The French onion spread is simply a mix of mayo, yogurt, Dijon mustard and some of the onions (plus a few simple spices.) It mixes together quickly and can then be placed in the fridge until you are ready to plate and serve the cooked burgers.

Once these two items are set, it's time to press, stuff and form the burger patties. Begin by rolling out two small meatballs per patty. They get pressed thin, then a spoonful of onions are added to one patty, and another patty is pressed and sealed over the filling.

Make sure the meat is well sealed around the onions and also make sure to press your thumb in the patty to keep it from balling up. Once they're formed, they can go on your grill, medium high heat, for about 5 minutes per side or until desired doneness.

A slice of cheese (Swiss, Gruyere, American) can be added to the burger the last few minutes of cooking to melt. I've discovered a new cheese (for me, at least) that has quickly become a fan favorite around here - Land O Lakes Italian American Blend. It's part Asiago and part American and is both flavorful and super melty. We've been putting it on a lot of sandwiches, hot and cold.

We also used an Asiago bun on these because we had them at the ready, but this burger would be equally awesome on a brioche bun.

When the burgers are cooked to your liking, they get placed on the bun with the French Onion Spread and more cooked onions, if you like. You can also add lettuce or tomato to them; I think they would really be good like that.

So, if you are looking for a burger that is unique and tastes like a million bucks, give this burger a try. The French Onion Burgers au Gratin are a simple way to jazz up any outdoor cooking event or supper.