Cowboy Butter Burgers are juicy, flavorful, and packed with bold garlic herb flavor in every bite. Instead of simply spreading cowboy butter on top, we freeze it, grate it, and mix it directly into the ground beef. As the burgers cook, the butter melts into the meat, creating incredibly juicy burgers with rich flavor throughout.
Be sure to try this Wagyu Beef Burger and this Wild Boar Burger for two of my other top burger picks.
If you're looking for a burger recipe that stands out at cookouts, tailgates, and summer gatherings, this one is guaranteed to impress. The combination of savory beef and flavorful cowboy butter takes an ordinary burger to the next level.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Extra juicy burgers thanks to grated cowboy butter
- Packed with garlic, herb, and Dijon flavor
- Perfect for grilling season
- Easy make-ahead recipe
- Great for cookouts and backyard BBQs
Before You Get Started
- Freeze the cowboy butter until completely firm before grating.
- Use cold ground beef for easier mixing.
- Avoid overmixing the meat to keep the burgers tender.
- Make a small indentation in the center of each patty to help prevent shrinking.
Ingredients
- Ground beef - An 80/20 blend gives the juiciest burgers, but any ground beef will work.
- Salt and black pepper - Simple seasoning allows the cowboy butter flavor to shine.
- Cowboy butter - Made with butter, garlic, Dijon mustard, fresh chives, thyme, lemon zest, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper flakes.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Cowboy Butter Burgers
To make the cowboy butter, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Spoon the mixture onto waxed paper and shape it into a stick of butter. Wrap the compound butter and freeze it until it is firm.
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
Step One: Add the ground beef, salt, and black pepper to a bowl. Break up the mixture and mix. Grab the frozen butter and grate it into the meat mixture.
Step Two: Carefully mix. You want to do this quickly so the butter doesn't melt.
Step Three: Form two beef patties.
Step Four: Grill until the burgers reach your desired doneness, about140-145°F for medium, flipping once halfway through cooking. Place the burgers on toasted buns, add your favorite toppings, and serve.
Top tip
To keep the burgers from shrinking some while cooking, use your thumb to press an indentation in the middle of the raw burgers before cooking them on the grill.
Variations
- Add your favorite toppings - Cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, and extra cowboy butter are all great options.
- Garlic herb butter - Try this method with our Garlic Herb Butter in place of the cowboy butter.
- Seasonings - The compound butter will add a lot of flavor on its own, but if you wanted to season the ground beef with more than salt and pepper, you can do so with your favorite seasonings.
- Mushroom Swiss Cowboy Burger – Add sautéed mushrooms and Swiss cheese.
- Spicy Cowboy Burger – Increase the crushed red pepper in the butter.
Try these Elk Burgers for another grilling option for your next cookout.
Equipment
To make these cowboy burgers, you'll need a mixing bowl, a preheated grill, and a grater for grating the frozen butter.
Storage
Store cooked burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave. You can also freeze cooked burgers in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months.
Common Questions
Yes. Shape the patties and refrigerate them up to 24 hours before grilling.
Absolutely. A Blackstone griddle works very well for this cowboy butter burger recipe and creates an excellent crust.
Yes. Cook them on a hot griddle and smash them into thin patties. Some of the cowboy butter may render out as they cook, but you'll get a fantastic crispy crust and plenty of flavor.
Make sure the grill grates are fully preheated before adding the burgers. A hot grill naturally releases the meat once a crust forms, making flipping much easier.
Yes. Cook them in a large cast-iron skillet or heavy pan over medium-high heat until they reach your desired doneness.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Cowboy Butter Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 oz cowboy butter frozen
Cowboy Butter
- 2 oz salted butter
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon fresh chives
- ¼ teaspoon fresh thyme
- ⅛ teaspoon lemon zest
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Cowboy Butter
- Mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Spoon onto a piece of waxed paper in the shape of a stick of butter.
- Wrap up the compound butter freeze until firm.
Butter Burgers
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl. Break up the meat and mix to combine.
- Grate the frozen butter into the meat mixture. Mix gently.
- Form two patties.
- Grill until the burgers reach your desired doneness, about 140-145°F for medium, flipping once halfway through cooking.
- Place the burgers on toasted buns, add your favorite toppings, and serve.
Nutrition
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