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    You are here: Home » Food » Beef » Western Burger with Beer Battered Onion Rings

    Western Burger with Beer Battered Onion Rings

    March 19, 2021 By Sean Martin Leave a Comment

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    This Western Burger is packed with beef, bacon, barbecue sauce, and beer battered onion rings. These burgers are huge and worth every bite. They are simply seasoned, and the mix of toppings is what makes this dish really shine.

    This post and recipe is sponsored by Wunderman Thompson, and it’s one heck of a western burger recipe. All opinions and content are my own.

    Western Burger with Beer Battered Onion Rings on a wood board
    Jump to:
    • Western Style Burger
    • Reducing Heartburn Symptoms When Eating Rich Foods
    • Western Burger Recipe: Preparation
    • Beer Battered Onion Rings
    • Best Beer For Onion Rings
    • Grilling Western Burgers
    • Toppings for Western Style Burgers
    • Other Inspiring Burgers
    • Western Burger Recipe with Beer Battered Onion Rings

    Western Style Burger

    A Western Style Burger is all about big bold flavors. When we think of the west, big comes to mind — big sky, big mountains, big flavors. While there are many variations on a Western Burger, our burger is comprised of these must have ingredients:

    • Beef – And not just any beef. We use high quality ground beef that is 80% lean and 20% fat. We don’t use any binding agent because they hold together due to the fat content.
    • Simple Seasoning – We add our beef rub to the ground meat to layer in flavor.
    • Bacon – Yes, thick cut bacon that is grilled and added as a topping. That crunch and savory bite is essential.
    • Barbecue Sauce – We use our Kansas City inspired sauce for the rich and thick flavor.
    • Onion – In our case, we deep fry white onions in a beer batter for the extra crunch, texture, and flavor. Sweet onions work great too.
    • Veggies – Thick cut fresh tomatoes balance the rich flavors as does a crispy butter lettuce. And if you have room, by all means add some avocado!
    • Cheese – We go all in on sharp cheddar cheese.
    Beer battered onion rings and western style burger with bacon. Sponsored by Omeprazole ODT.

    Reducing Heartburn Symptoms When Eating Rich Foods

    Before getting into our detailed western burger recipe, I wanted to talk heartburn. If you’re combatting frequent heartburn (2 or more days per week), a 14-day course of Kroger’s Omeprazole Orally Disintegrating Tablets (ODT) can really aid in treating those symptoms.

    Omeprazole ODT from Kroger is affordable compared to national brands and easy to consume. You simply take a tablet that disintegrates right on your tongue every morning for 14 days. No need for water. And when we’re grilling western burgers and enjoying delicious foods, it’s a game-changer.

    Use Omeprazole ODT as directed for 14 days to treat frequent heartburn (occurring 2 or more days a week). Omeprazole ODT is not intended for immediate relief and may take 1-4 days to feel the full effect. You can find it online at Kroger.com or at your local Kroger store.

    A Western Burger with Onion Rings on a wood board next to a box of Omeprazole

    Western Burger Recipe: Preparation

    This western burger recipe may seem complicated, but it’s easiest if done in stages.

    1. Prep Grill: Start the grill and make the bacon. This is also a good time to get the heat on for the frying oil, targeting 375 degrees measured in the center of the oil using a good instant-read thermometer.
    2. Season: Season beef and make the batter.
    3. Make Onion Rings: While bacon is cooking and the grill comes to temperature, make the onion rings.
    4. Grill Burgers: When onion rings are done, grill the burgers and finish prepping the remainder of the ingredients.
    5. Assemble Western Burgers: When the burgers are done, remove them from the grill and then serve.

    Beer Battered Onion Rings

    The secret to good onion rings is making sure the batter is the consistency of a thick pancake batter, using some type of carbonated beverage (we are using beer). Also, be sure the temperature of the oil stays at 375 degrees F throughout the process. Our favorite oil for frying is avocado or grapeseed oil (peanut is another good choice). We add a touch of corn starch to the batter for a light flaky texture, and we keep a separate bowl of just flour to dip the onion rings in. The flour will help the batter stick to the rings as they are dunked in the hot oil.

    Start by adding enough oil into a Dutch oven or other large pan so you have 1 ½ to 2 inches of oil covering the pan. Turn on the heat and get the oil hot, again, targeting the oil at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Now it’s time to fry the rings.

    1. Place three onion rings in the flour bowl. Coat with your hands.
    2. Next (using tongs, because this part is messy), place the onion rings in the batter. Move them around so they are completely coated.
    3. Drop the onion rings into the hot oil, they should immediately start to fry. If they don’t then the oil is too cool. If the oil is too hot, they will burn quickly. So adjust heat.
    4. Let the onions fry for 2 minutes and then, using tongs, flip them for another 2-4 minutes. This will allow both sides to crisp up and turn a golden brown color. Pull them when you like the color.
    5. Lay them aside to drain on a cookie sheet over paper towel (to catch the excess oil).
    6. Repeat this for 12 onion rings (or 3 per burger). You can do less if you want (but believe me when I say cook more than you think you’ll need, because you will snack on them). As they onion rings come out of the frying oil, immediately dust them with some kosher salt. It’s best to do this while they are hot so the salt sticks to the onion rings.
    7. As you finish the last batch, it’s time to start on the Western Burger.

    Warning – When using hot oil, be sure NOT to do this on the grill. Open flame can ignite from the oil. Also be sure your deep frying oil is in a pot that has high edges to avoid splatter or spilling over into the flame. It’s best to do this step on a stovetop or portable burner (not directly on the grill).

    If using a deep fryer or air fryer, follow the device instructions for use and adjust recipe as needed.

    Best Beer For Onion Rings

    We tested our western burger recipe with dark and light beer. A darker beer like a stout adds a rich flavor and dark color. Lighter beers made for very flaky batter. We prefer Pilsner or Lager for the most balanced flavor.

    Grilling Western Burgers

    When grilling western burgers we focus on a two-zone grill set up so we can also grill the bacon.

    • Start the grill and target 400 degrees ambient temperature in the grilling chamber. That means it will be closer to 500 – 550 over the direct heat. While the grill warms up, add the bacon to the indirect side and rotate every 5 minutes until they are crispy. Then remove. We do this before we put the burgers on.
    • Place the burgers on the direct side and grill for four minutes with lid closed. This will give a nice sear mark.
    • Flip the burgers and then sear another 4 minutes until you get nice sear marks.
    • Move the burgers to indirect heat and top with cheese. Remove the burgers when the internal temperature of the burgers is 160 – 165 degrees F.

    Then it’s time to construct the burgers.

    Toppings for Western Style Burgers

    It’s now time to make the actual western burger. We do this in layers starting with the bottom of the bun. Then we add a dollop of barbecue sauce. Next the lettuce (optional) and tomato. Follow this with the burger, then then bacon, and then the onion rings. Top with another generous dollop of barbecue sauce and then place the bun on top. Press down on the burger and get ready for a flavor explosion.

    Yes, this is going to be messy. But that’s the point. Enjoy!

    Other Inspiring Burgers

    • Smash Burgers with Caramelized Onions
    • Grilled Turkey Burgers
    • Fresh Salmon Burgers
    • Smoked Mexican Chorizo Burger
    Western Cheeseburger with Onion Rings on a wood board

    Western Burger Recipe with Beer Battered Onion Rings

    This burger is packed with beef, bacon, barbecue sauce, and beer battered onion rings. These burgers are huge and worth every bite. They are simply seasoned and the mix of toppings is what makes this dish really shine.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 930kcal
    Author: Mary Cressler | Vindulge
    Cost: $25.00

    Ingredients

    Beer Battered Onion Rings

    • ½ small white onion, sliced into thick slices (Plan 3 onion rings per burger, about ½ of a large onion. You can use more and have onion rings as a great side dish.)
    • 4 cups avocado oil (Alternatives include grape seed oil)
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour, separated (Reserve ½ cup for coating the onions and use 1 ½ cups for the batter.)
    • 2 tablespoons beef rub
    • 1 tablespoon corn starch
    • 1 12-ounce can beer (We use pilsner or a lager)
    • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

    Western Burger

    • 4 pieces crispy bacon
    • 1 pound ground beef 80/20
    • 1 tablespoon beef rub
    • 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
    • 4 burger buns
    • 1 large tomato, sliced
    • ½ cup Kansas City BBQ Sauce
    • 6 pieces butter or bib lettuce (Optional)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    For Onion Rings

    • In a medium sized Dutch Oven or large enough pan, add oil and turn on heat. Bring the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • In a large bowl whisk together 1 ½ cups flour, beef rub, cornstarch, and beer. Be sure to have another smaller bowl with ½ cup flour for coating the raw onions. The consistency should be like a thick pancake batter.
    • Place 3 onion rings in the dry flour bowl and coat with flour. Using tongs (because the batter is messy) take one onion ring at a time, place in batter and coat liberally. Place each piece of onion in the hot oil.
    • Allow each onion ring to fry for 2 minutes. Then using tongs flip them over and fry an additional 2 minutes until you see an even golden color. Then remove from the oil and place on a cookie sheet over paper towel. The paper towel will collect the excess oil. Season the hot onion rings with a touch of sea salt. Repeat this until you have 8 to 12 onion rings.

    Western Burger

    • Prepare your grill for two-zone grilling targeting 400 degrees ambient cooking temperature. Once the temperature hits 200, add the bacon on the indirect side. Occasionally flip the bacon to get crispy.
    • Place the burgers over direct heat and grill for four minutes with lid closed. This will give a nice sear mark. Flip the burgers and then sear another 4 minutes with lid closed until you get nice sear marks.
    • Move the burgers to indirect heat and top with cheese and close lid. Remove the burgers when the internal temperature of the burger is between 160 -165 degrees F.
    • Starting with a warm bun (we just warm them on the grill) add barbecue sauce to the bottom of the bun. Then add lettuce (optional) and tomato. Then add the burger patty. Layer on the bacon and onion rings and top again with more barbecue sauce. Finish with the top of the bun and get ready to enjoy.

    Video

    Notes

    Warning – Do not fry on the grill. This can cause a grease fire.
    Frying Oil Temperature – It’s important not to crowd the oil with too man onion rings. As soon as the rings are placed in the oil, the oil will cool as it fries. Too many in there at the same time cools it too much leading to a soggy batter versus the golden crispy batter. Be sure to let the oil come back up in temperature in between batches as well.
    If using an air fryer or deep fryer – follow manufacturers suggestions for times.
    Recommended Order to Prepare and Grill: This recipe may seem complicated, but it’s easiest if done in stages.
    1. Prep Grill: Start the grill and make the bacon. This is also a good time to get the heat on for the frying oil, targeting 375 degrees measured in the center of the oil using a good instant read thermometer.
    2. Season: Season beef and make the batter.
    3. Make Onion Rings: While bacon is cooking and grill comes to temperature, make the onion rings.
    4. Grill Burgers: When onion rings are done, grill the burgers and finish prepping remainder of ingredients.
    5. Assemble Western Burgers: When the burgers are done, remove from the grill and then serve.
    Find the perfect wine pairing at the Vindulge Wine Shop

    Nutrition

    Calories: 930kcal | Carbohydrates: 91g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 983mg | Potassium: 723mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 827IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 355mg | Iron: 8mg
    Tried this recipe? We would love to see!Mention @vindulge or use the hashtag #vindulge
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    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

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