Juicy Wood-Grilled Burger with Caramelized Onions and Cheddar

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-21 · Updated 2026-05-21

This burger features a thick, juicy beef patty grilled to perfection topped with sweet caramelized onions and melted sharp cheddar cheese. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs ground beef (80/20), yellow onion, sharp cheddar cheese for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
• 1 medium, thinly sliced yellow onion
• 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
• 4 burger buns
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 4 lettuce leaves
• 4 tomato slices

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Meanwhile, melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter with 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium thinly sliced yellow onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes until golden and caramelized.
2. Step 2: In a mixing bowl, gently shape 1 lb ground beef into four 4-ounce patties, seasoning both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
3. Step 3: Place the patties on the grill and cook for 4 minutes per side, flipping once, until an internal temperature of 160°F is reached. During the last minute of cooking, place 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese on each patty to melt.
4. Step 4: Toast 4 burger buns on the grill for 1 minute until lightly browned.
5. Step 5: Assemble each burger by layering lettuce leaves, tomato slices, the cheddar-topped burger patty, and a generous spoonful of caramelized onions inside each bun. Serve immediately.