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This burger recipe reminds me of my favorite California drive-thru style burgers. Without needing to drive to California.
I grew up with a mother who was born and bred in California and was a huge fan of their popular drive thru burger restaurants. I was raised in Wisconsin, so it wasn’t until I was an adult myself on a trip to the west coast that I experienced my first California fast food burger. From that time forward, I became a huge fan myself.
Given the fact that I live in Oregon, I had to find a way to make this type of delicious handburger at home. Tha tis how this copycat recipe was born.
Ingredients Needed
- Beef Ground Chuck, minimum 60% lean
- Hamburger Buns
- American Cheese
- Butter
- Oil
- Iceberg Lettuce
- Mustard
- Mayonnaise
- Ketchup
- Sweet Pickle Relish
- White vinegar
- Dill Pickle Chips, optional
- Tomato
- Onions
- Salt and Pepper
How to Make a California Drive Thru Style Burger
- Combine ketchup, mayonaise, vinegar, and relish.
- Stir to combine, then refrigerate until needed.
- Finely chop your onion and add into a frying pan with oil. Stir and saute for a few minutes.
- Cover them and allow them to cook slow for about 30 minutes until they are golden and soft. Watch your heat and don’t let them burn.
- Uncover them once they have started to brown and caramelize and cook for about 5 more minutes uncovered.
- Add in 1/2 C water and simmer until the water evaporates, set aside.
- Heat electric griddle and brush it lightly with vegetable oil.
- Place your buns split side down on the griddle and toast until golden brown.
- Form your hamburger patties. Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to both sides.
- Cook for until your preferred doneness, about 3-5 minutes.
- Spread the uncooked side with mustard and flip.
- Top the cooked side with a slice of American cheese.
- Spread burger sauce on toated bun.
- Add lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty and caramelized onions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grill the California style burger?
The burger will have a different flavor to it if you grill it. To get a buger that tastes more like a popular California drive thru burger, cook it on a griddle.
What kind of hamburger should I use?
For more delicious burgers try these:
Be sure and follow me over on YouTube for weekly cooking demos.
California Style Drive Thru Burger Recipe
This delicious burger recipe is a California drive thru style burger you will love, topped with a delicoius burger suace and carmelized onions.
Prep:15 minutes
Cook:15 minutes
Total:30 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil and more for brushing griddle
- 2 large onions finely chopped
- salt
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 2 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 Tbsp sweet pickle relish
- 1/2 tsp white vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp mustard
- 2 lbs. ground chuck 60%
- 4 hamburger buns
- dill pickles I left off
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce bun size pieces
- 4-8 slices tomato
- pepper
- 8 slices American cheese I used cheddar
Instructions
- Heat oil in pan and add onions.
- Cook onions covered, over medium heat for 30 minutes or until onions begin to turn golden brown and caramelize. Watch them so they don’t burn.
- Remove lid and cook for 5 more minutes and then add 1/2 C water. Allow water to evaporate.
- Set aside, onions can be made several days ahead of time and refrigerated.
- Mix together the mayo, ketchup, relish and vinegar in a bowl and set aside.
- Form meat into 8 patties about 4 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick.
- Heat griddle and lightly brush with vegetable oil.
- Toast the buns on the griddle, split side down.
- After they are toasted golden brown spread the bottom bun with 1 Tbsp of the mayo mixture.
- Top with tomato and lettuce.
- Salt and pepper both sides of hamburger patties and cook on the griddle for 3-5 minutes.
- Spread top of patty with 1 1/2 tsps mustard and flip.
- Top patty with cheese and allow to cook until desired doneness.
- Add hamburger to bun and top with caramelized onion.
Tips & Notes:
If you use your grill, the burger will have a different flavor. If you want a more authentic California drive thru style burger, use a griddle.
The recipe calls for ground beef chuck (at least 60% lean) This is different than regular ground beef. If you can’t find beef chuck use a 70/30 or 80/20 ground hamburger.
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Nutrition Facts:
Serving: 8g Calories: 524kcal (26%) Carbohydrates: 16g (5%) Protein: 26g (52%) Fat: 38g (58%) Saturated Fat: 16g (100%) Cholesterol: 104mg (35%) Sodium: 645mg (28%) Potassium: 459mg (13%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 5g (6%) Vitamin A: 400IU (8%) Vitamin C: 4.6mg (6%) Calcium: 286mg (29%) Iron: 3.2mg (18%)
Kimberly Wells says
This recipe really mimics an In-Out burger. They were delicious! All my family members agreed when I cooked them last night for dinner.!
Leigh Anne says
Kimberly, So glad you and family enjoyed it!
Vanessa says
I’ve been making these copy cat burgers for over a few years now. I had never had In-N-Out until we were in California last week. Now that I’ve tried the real thing, I have to say, these are much better! Maybe because they are made with love. Either way, I’ll be making these again in the near future! Thank you!
Leigh Anne says
Vanessa, I had a real In n Out burger this last week too and I like these better too!
eva says
In n out also boils their grill onions in beef broth. I personally love the american cheese on in n out burgers…. that’s what gives it its creamy texture, it’s not the same without it.
Jennifer says
We live in Chicago – so no In and Out Burgers here. Just made it – tastes fabulous! I actually used 96/4 ground beef and they were delicious.
Leigh Anne says
So glad you loved them too!
Sophie says
Im from Australia and see all these pics of drool worthy burgers from the U.S and im so jealous! Stumbled across this recipe on pinterest and omg was amaaaazing. Thanks for posting!