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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%)
Liz says
I am excited to try this recipe. I grew up in SoCal, but when I was 11 when we moved to Oregon and been here ever since. I remember eating them often and anytime we visit family in California its the go to place… always ordering fries and a chocolate milkshake. Dipping fries in the milkshake is a must. For those that have never been to an In-N-Out, the burgers do not come with caramelized onions unless you order it “animal style” and you can also order fries this way– delicious. Anyways, this excites me. And, I want to let all you Oregonians know that Medford should be getting an In-N-Out very soon. Thanks for posting this. Blessings from this at home mom to you. 🙂
Leigh Anne says
Liz, Hope you enjoy the recipe. I am anxiously awaiting In N Out to move farther north!!!
Bea says
I know you wrote this post a while ago but I had to comment. I made these last night and they are the.best.burgers.ever!! I’ve never had anything like it. I ate both of my burgers – greedy! My husband agreed that they were awesome.
I’ve visited the West Coast but never had the opportunity to experience In-N-Out but if the original is better than what I had last night, I can’t wait!
Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Leigh Anne says
Bea, thanks so much for your comment. I love that you loved them so much. I’ve had many an In and Out burger and they are good but this homemade version is better!!
Jack says
I have not eaten In N Out in at least 20 years, but I do remember the divine aroma. I hope I can duplicate it with this. Those are some of the best burgers I ever had, and look forward to trying this recipe. I tried duplicating it before, but it seemed like there was always something missing. Hopefully. this will solve it. Thanks!
Leigh Anne says
Hope you like the recipe! My husband likes it better than the real thing.
Jack says
I really want to try this, but will this work with wheat buns? Perhaps that’s silly, much like getting a greasy pizza with a Diet Coke… oh, never mind. I will get the correct buns.
Chris says
I have little red plastic baskets with the white and red checked paper to put inside. They came with the baskets. I am wondering where to buy refills. Thanks
Leigh Anne says
Mine came from Cash & Carry, a restaurant supply house.
Brianna at Mending the Piggy Bank says
This looks absolutely delicious. I am a long-time central PA resident, but I did get the opportunity to try In and Out Burger on a short Las Vegas getaway my husband and I took. It was our first meal after a long flight and it was divine! I’m looking forward to trying out the recipe. Thanks!
Leigh Anne says
Hope you’ll try it. My husband likes it better than the real thing!