French Onion Burgers

If you love French Onion Soup, you are going to love these juicy French Onion Burgers. Onion seasoned ground beef patties are topped with gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and garlic Dijonnaise and served on brioche buns with a little baby arugula. Not your average burger!

Gourmet, restaurant quality burgers are super easy to make at home with the right combination of ingredients.

If you love the flavor of French Onion, be sure to try our French Onion Meatballs, French Onion Salisbury Steak, and French Onion Stuffed Chicken.

Ingredients Needed For French Onion Burgers

Olive oil and butter
Sweet Onions– yellow onions can be substituted.
Balsamic vinegar and thyme– give a burst of flavor to the onions. Fresh thyme can be used instead of dry.
Ground Chuck– I like to use ground chuck for burgers. The higher fat content creates really juicy, flavorful burgers. You can use lower fat ground beef if you wish.
Packet of Dry Onion Soup Mix– provides all the flavor and seasoning for the burgers. So easy!
Gruyere Cheese– I love the sharp, buttery flavor of gruyere. Swiss cheese can be used instead or even provolone.
Arugula– green leaf lettuce can be substituted.
Brioche Buns– I love, love, love brioche buns. They are pillowy soft in texture and have a great buttery flavor. Look for them in the deli section of your grocery store.

How To Make

(More detailed instructions and video in recipe card below.)

Caramelize the onions. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-low heat and add the onions. Cook, stirring frequently for about 25 minutes. Stir in balsamic vinegar and thyme and season with salt and pepper.
Make Garlic Dijonnaise. Stir together the ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate.
Form burgers. Mix together ground chuck and dry onion soup mix and shape into 4 patties.
Cook burgers. Heat cast iron skillet and cook burgers for 4 minutes, Flip over and cook 3 minutes. Add cheese and cook until cheese is melted.
Assemble burgers. Top the bottom bun with arugula and add Dijonnaise. Then add burger and caramelized onions. Top with other bun and serve.

Recipe Tips

These burgers can either be grilled or cooked in a cast iron pan.

Take your time cooking the onions for best flavor. You don’t want the heat too high or you will burn them.

Ground sirloin can be used instead of ground chuck but will produce a less juicy burger.

What To Serve With Burgers

I always like burgers served with some slaw or a crispy cucumber salad. Or you can go all in with the French onion theme and make some French Onion Potatoes to go with them. Also great with sweet potato fries.

Variations

These burgers are easy to customize to suit your own flavor preferences and use what you have on hand.

Add crispy bbacon
Use swiss, provolone or white cheddar cheese
Add sauteed mushrooms
Make them spicy with Pepper Jack cheese and jalapenos

Make-Ahead and Storage

Caramelized onions can be made up to 3 days ahead.
Dijonnaise can be refrigerated for 5 days.
Leftover burgers keep for 3–4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Reheat gently in a microwave, skillet, or air fryer.

Close-up of French Onion Burgers on brioche bun.

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French Onion Burgers

French Onion Burgers- onion seasoned ground beef patties are topped with gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and garlic Dijonnaise and served on brioche buns with a little baby arugula. Not your average burger!

Course Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword burgers, ground beef

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Total Time 35

Servings

Calories 964kcal

Ingredients

Onions

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 medium sweet onions halved and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

Dijonnaise

1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove minced

Burgers

1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1 packet dry French onion soup mix
1 cup shredded gruyere cheese
4 brioche buns, toasted
1 cup baby arugula

Instructions

Heat olive oil and butter in a large nonstick skillet or cast iron skillet. Add onion and cook over medium to medium-low heat until golden, about 25 minutes. Be sure to stir them frequently so they don't burn.
Stir in balsamic vinegar and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a small bowl, stir together dijonnaise ingredients. Refrigerate until needed.
In a medium bowl, mix together ground chuck and onion mix. Shape into 4 patties.
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add patties and cook 4 minutes. Flip over and cook another 3 minutes.
Divide shredded gruyere between the burgers. Turn heat to low and cover skillet for 1 minute to melt cheese.
Place some arugula on the bottom of each bun. Top with Dijonnnaise, a burger patty and onions.
Top with bun tops and serve.