McDonald's Grilled Onion Cheddar Burger

This copycat McDonald's Grilled Onion Cheddar Burger features sweet caramelized onions, sharp and creamy white cheddar, and a juicy beef patty loaded up onto a toasted bun. If you’re nostalgic for this discontinued fan favorite, this quick and easy homemade version is sure to scratch your savory itch!

One of the best things McDonald's ever put on their menu was the grilled onion cheddar burger. It was a perfect balance of juicy meat, tender grilled alliums, and melty cheese on a burger bun. Unfortunately, it was discontinued, and I don’t think it won't be coming back.

But, not all hope is lost because I have a recipe for the classic that so many of us loved. This cheeseburger is just as good — if not better than —the original, and it's so easy to make.

Grilled Onion Cheddar Burger Recipe

When Ken and I discovered we could make our own (healthier) Big Macs at home, it was like a lightbulb went off — if we could so closely tackle the signature McDonald’s menu item, why not strive for even more?!? So far we’ve also nailed their cookie recipe and their buffalo sauce. 

This deliciously savory recipe for onion burgers was born of our deep love of the discontinued menu item, and we couldn’t be happier with it. These charbroiled beauties are proof that takeout fakeouts are often better than the originals.  

FYI, it pairs beautifully with these delicious sweet potato fries (which Mickey D’s still doesn’t carry). 😉

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• It only uses only 8 simple ingredients. Not to brag, but not even McDonald’s french fries have that short of an ingredient list!
• This delicious burger recipe is super easy, taking just 20 minutes to make from start to finish. 
• It tastes just like the McDonald's original, without all the weird preservatives and artificial ingredients.

Ingredients & Substitutions 

You'll only need a handful of ingredients to make these flavorful onion burgers, all of which can be easily found at your local grocery store.

The major ingredients are below. Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of the post for the full ingredient list and exact quantities.

• Ground Beef - We prefer using an 80/20 or 85/15 mix, which means it's an 80% lean cut with 20% fat (or 85% lean cut with 15% fat). This will give you a juicier burger without sacrificing flavor. Feel free to swap in ground pork, turkey, chicken, sausage, or a plant-based alternative instead.
• Butter - Butter makes everything better, including caramelized onion for burgers. You’re also welcometo use olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil instead.
• Yellow Onions - While yellow onions are traditional, you can easily swap in sweet, white, or red (purple) onions instead.
• Sugar - A touch of extra sugar helps to create a beautifully golden color on your onions. Instead of refined sugar, you can also use honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar. 
• White Cheddar Cheese - Since we were going for the look and taste of the OG McDonald’s grilled onion burger, we went for white cheddar. Feel free to use your favorite melty sliced cheese instead.
• Hamburger Buns - We used basic hamburger buns, but feel free to use sesame buns. You can also use brioche, whole wheat, cheese buns, or gluten-free buns. Alternatively,  use portobello mushroom caps or multiple leaves of iceberg lettuce as a low-carb option.

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations

As much as we love this McDonald’s-style onion burgers recipe just the way it’s written, there’s plenty of room for you to make your own stamp on it. Here are some variations worth considering:

• Dairy-Free - Swap in your favorite vegan cheese and use plant-based butter or oil.
• Vegan - Try using a vegan ground beef alternative like Impossible or Beyond Meat, then follow the above instructions to also make it dairy-free.
• Gluten-Free - Use your favorite GF buns, or swap in a low-carb alternative like lettuce or grilled mushrooms.
• Low-Carb - Rather than making your grilled onion cheddar burger Mcdonalds-style, take a page from the In-n-Out playbook and use lettuce leaves to make it “protein-style.” You can also double down on the meaty, umami flavor by swapping in grilled portobello caps as your bun. 
• Salt-Free - Use garlic powder, basil, oregano, thyme or rosemary, cumin, and paprika for seasoning instead of salt and pepper if you're looking to add flavor but not salt. You can also try adding garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, cumin, chili powder, or onion powder. You can also get creative with different herbs like oregano, thyme, parsley, or basil. Alternatively, you can opt for a pre-made burger seasoning blend which contains a combination of these spices and more.
• Spicy - Add a teaspoon of chili pepper flakes, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the beef or onion mixture to imbue heat into the dish. I will also occasionally add a teaspoon of our homemade hot pepper sauce (feel free to use your favorite hot sauce) to the onion mixture.

How To Make McDonald’s Grilled Onion Cheddar Burgers

These oniony cheeseburgers come together in a flash. It only takes a few steps, and I’d bet it's nothing you haven't done before.

The overview is below, but you'll find the complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Step 1: Caramelize Onions. Cook the sliced onions, butter, sugar, salt, and pepper in a covered skillet until tender.

Step 2: Make Burger Patties. Mix the ground beef, salt, and pepper and form into 4 equal patties. 

Step 3: Cook the patties over medium heat (either on a grill pan inside, or on the grill outside if weather permits) until cooked to at least 145F. HINT: Add a divot to the center of your patties using your thumb — this helps to prevent them from shrinking during cooking.

Step 4: Add Cheddar. When the burgers are done, add a slice of cheese to each and let melt. 

Step 5: Assemble & Serve. Add a cheddar burger to each bun, top with onions, and then top with the other half of the bun. Enjoy!

Storage Instructions

Refrigerator: Store leftover onions and patties in separate air-tight containers for up to 4 days.

Freezer: Store leftover onions and patties in separate air-tight, freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Place the burgers and onions in a baking dish with a little water. Then, cover and bake at 350 until heated through.

Make Ahead: Burgers can be reheated, but they're always the best when they're freshly made. I don't recommend making these ahead of time unless you absolutely have to. That said, you’re welcome to caramelize the onions ahead of time and shape the burger patties to help you cut down on prep. (Use parchment paper to keep the patties separate in the fridge.)

Serving Suggestions

These grilled onion cheeseburgers are delicious with your favorite sides like french fries, baked potatoes, mac and cheese, coleslaw, and all of your other backyard bash favorites.

As far as toppings, we think these cheesy grilled onion burgers are perfect as is. If you want to “beef” them up (HA) consider trying:

• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Pickles
• Candied Bacon, Glazed Bacon or plain old regular bacon
• Avocado
• Fried egg
• Ketchup
• Honey Mustard Mayo, Healthy Honey Mustard or your favorite mustard
• Chipotle Mayo, Garlic Mayo, Spicy Mayo or regular mayonaise
• Guacamole or Smoked Guacamole

Expert Tips

• Use high-quality ground beef (preferably grass-fed and organic). It should be bright red, without odor or discoloration, for the juiciest, most flavorful burger.
• Make sure to use thinly sliced onions cooked slowly over low heat for the perfect caramelized onions.
• Pop your onions in the freezer for 10 minutes before slicing to help prevent your eyes from watering.
• Preheat the grill before cleaning and oiling your grates or adding burgers to avoid sticking and uneven cooking times.
• The grill is hot enough when you can place your hand five inches above the grate surface and hold it there for 2 or 3 seconds.

Top Tip:

Be sure to stir your onions often while you cook them to prevent burning.

FAQ

More Hamburger Recipes

Do you like hamburgers? Here are some recipes you may also like to try