Wagyu Beef Cheeseburger is a rich and juicy burger packed full of flavor and requires minimal effort. The marbled wagyu patties are served on toasted brioche buns with homemade wasabi mayo spread. Top the burgers with melted gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and arugula for a gourmet restaurant-style burger.
If you're in the mood for a delectable meal, make yourself a wagyu burger. This recipe results in perfectly charred tender patties cooked in their own juices. The marbled wagyu is naturally flavorful, tender, and juicy, and only calls for a few ingredients to make it the perfect burger.
For this recipe, you can use Japanese, American, or Australian ground wagyu beef. Make this decadent dinner complete with a side of Parmesan Truffle Fries with Truffle Aioli and Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers.
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About Wagyu Beef Burgers
- Taste - Wagyu beef burgers are packed with flavor. The combination of wagyu, caramelized onions, and cheese is rich and satisfying. Add wasabi aioli for a spicy and uniquely pungent kick.
- Texture - The wagyu beef falls apart in your mouth while the caramelized onions and arugula add a light crunch.
- Effort - For this burger, you will need to make wasabi mayo, caramelized onions, and the burger. If you want to simplify this recipe, omit the wasabi mayo or caramelized onions.
- Time - It takes just a couple minutes to make the wasabi mayo then you can let it chill while you cook the onions and burger. The onions and burger can be cooked together in about 20 minutes.
What is Wagyu?
In Japan, wagyu refers to a specific purebred cattle. The 4 breeds are Japanese Black (the predominant Wagyu exported to the U.S), Japanese Brown, Japanese Polled and Japanese Shorthorn. These cows have more intramuscular fat cells so their fat is more evenly distributed throughout their muscles. As a result, the beef is more marbled and tender then other beef.
Ingredients
Wasabi Aioli
- Mayonnaise - Mayo is the creamy base for the wasabi aioli.
- Wasabi - Wasabi poweder adds a pungent and unique spice.
- Soy sauce - Soy sauce, or shoyu, adds a deeply umami-rich component.
- Garlic - Fresh garlic adds the quintessential aroma to the mayo.
Grilled Onions
- Onion - Onion is a pungent and sweet aromatic. We like to use yellow onions because they have a mild flavor and taste delicious when browned.
Butter - Butter is a delicious fat to cook the onions in. - Water - Water rehydrates the onions while cooking to keep them from drying out.
Wagyu Burger
- Wagyu beef - Wagyu ground beef is more buttery, tender, and tasty than other beef.
- Brioche bun - Brioche is a fluffy and buttery bun. Its rich yet light flavor balances the other ingredients. See our post to learn How to Toast Burger Buns 3 different ways.
- Gruyere Cheese - Gruyere is a rich and creamy cheese that pairs deliciously with wagyu.
- Arugula - Arugula adds a sharp and peppery flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Burger
- Mix meat and form patties while onions cook - In a mixing bowl, combine beef, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined, careful to not overmix. Form the meat into 4 equal-sized patties and use your thumb to make an indentation in the middle of each patty. This prevents the meat from puffing up in the center when cooked. (Photo 1, 2, and 3)
- Heat skillet - Heat a skillet or griddle on medium heat and add oil. (Photo 4)
- Cook patties - Once the skillet heats for about 2 minutes, add the patties to the pan. For medium rare (internal temperature 130°-140°F), cook for 4 minutes on each side; for medium (internal temperature 140°-150°F), cook 5 minutes on each side. If the pan is small, cook 2 patties at a time. (Photo 5)
- Add cheese and toast buns - In the last minute of cooking wagyu, add cheese on top of each patty if desired and place a lid on the skillet to allow the cheese to melt. Remove the lid from the skillet and remove the skillet from the heat. Toast buns. (Photo 6 and 7)
- Assemble burger - Assemble on toasted buns with wasabi spread, grilled onions, and arugula.
Wasabi Aioli
- Whisk ingredients - Add mayonnaise, wasabi, soy sauce, and garlic to a small bowl and whisk until combined.
- Chill - Chill for at least 30 minutes.
Caramelized onions
- Melt butter - While the wasabi mayo chills, cook the onions. First, place a medium skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter.
- Caramelize onions - Add chopped onions and cook for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and stir. Continue to cook for another 15-20 minutes, until the onions are caramelized and browned.
- Add water, stir, repeat - Add about a tablespoon of water every few minutes and give the onions a stir. This rehydrates the onions and deglazes the pan, incorporating all of the browned flavorful bits that get stuck on the pan. Repeat this until the onions are deep brown and caramelized.
Pro tip: Let the beef patties temper for 10 to 15 minutes before you cook them so the meat cooks more evenly.
What to Serve with This Wagyu Burger
This wagyu burger recipe is a rich and flavorful dinner that is delicious with sides. We love it with Parmesan Truffle Fries, Spicy Cajun Fries, or Classic Seasoned Fries. We also love to make veggies on the side like Elotes Style Corn with Furikake, 10 -Minute Sautéed Broccolini (Broccoletti), or Furikake and Lemon Shishito Peppers for a complete and filling meal.
Substitutions
- Beef - If you want a cheaper beef, you can make this burger with ground chuck, round, or brisket.
- Cheese - While we love gruyere, this burger will also be delicious with other classic cheese like a sharp cheddar, white cheddar, gouda, or muenster.
- Regular onions - Instead of caramelized onions, use regular onions if you want the onions to have a sharper bite
- BBQ Sauce - Use BBQ sauce instead of wasabi mayo.
- In N Out Sauce - Substitute wasabi with In N Out sauce if you prefer a milder sauce similar to thousand island dressing.
- Spicy Sriracha Aioli - Use Spicy Sriracha Aioli instead of wasabi aioli if you prefer the spice of sriracha to wasabi.
- Ketchup or mustard - Enjoy this burger with classic toppings like ketchup or mustard.
- Lettuce - Instead of arugula, you can use regular romaine lettuce or spinach.
- Bun - Instead of brioche, use a classic white bun, potato bun, or pretzel bun.
- Gluten free - Use gluten free buns to make this recipe gluten free.
- Wagyu steak - Enjoy a wagyu steak instead of a wagyu burger for a special occasion
Variations
- Hamburger - Omit cheese to focus on the rich taste of the wagyu and other ingredients.
- Fried Egg Burger - Add a sunny side up or an over easy or for extra protein and a delicious runny yolk.
- Jalapeño - Add sliced jalapeño to the burger to make spicy. You can use pickled jalapeño for a milder spice or fresh jalapeño if you want it extra spicy.
- Truffle salt - Sprinkle truffle salt on the burger to add a hint of umami flavor.
- Pickles - Add pickles for a delicious briny accent.
- Pesto - Spread basil or kale pesto on the burger for nutty zest.
Recipe FAQs
Besides being tastier than normal steak, wagyu cattle are fed much more than the average cattle and as a result, cost a lot more to raise.
No, most wagyu farmers just follow the standard regulations for raising wagyu which do not include giving beer to their cows. However, some farmers have been known to provide beer to cows and even massage them to make the meat more tender.
Wagyu is available in most grocery stores, including Safeway. If you are looking for a reliable brand wagyu brand, Snake River Farms American wagyu beef is consistent and high quality.
Skillet burgers tend to be more flavorful because they are juicier. Grilled burgers allow burger juices to drop into the grill while skillet burgers trap the juices in the pan, keeping the patties moist.
Equipment
This burger recipe calls for a few kitchen essentials that can be used for countless other recipes. For this recipe, you will need a mixing bowl, tongs, knife, cutting board; cast iron skillet, non-stick pan, or standard skillet; and a silicone baking spatula.
Storage
Store leftover wagyu burgers in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Store the wet ingredients (burger, lettuce, tomato, onion) and dry ingredients (buns) in separate air-tight containers and recombine when ready. In order to reheat the patty and grilled onions, let them temper to room temperature for about 15 minutes then reheat them in a skillet over low heat until warm.
Cooking tips
- Wagyu beef cooks much faster than typical beef. Keep a close eye on your burger patties to ensure they don't overcook.
- Be careful to not over mix patties or the burgers will be tough.
- Drizzle any leftover juice in the pan onto the meat when you make the burger.
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Wagyu Beef Cheeseburger
Equipment
- 1 knife
Ingredients
Wasabi Aioli
- ½ cup mayonnaise kewpie mayo
- 1 teaspoon wasabi
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic grated
Caramelized Onions
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- kosher or sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoon water
Burger
- 1 lb ground Wagyu beef 85% lean, 15% fat
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- neutral cooking oil vegetable, avocado, or grapeseed oil
- 4 sliced gruyere cheese optional
- 4 burger buns
- arugula
Instructions
Wasabi Aioli
- Whisk ingredients - Add mayonnaise, wasabi, soy sauce, and garlic to a small bowl and whisk until combined. Place in the refrigerator while you prepare the burgers.½ cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon wasabi, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 clove garlic
Caramelized onions
- Melt butter - First, place a medium skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter.1 tablespoon butter
- Caramelize onions -Â Add chopped onions and cook for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and stir. Continue to cook for another 15-20 minutes, until the onions are caramelized and browned.1 medium onion, kosher or sea salt, freshly ground black pepper
- Add water, stir, repeat -Â Add about a tablespoon of water every few minutes and give the onions a stir. This rehydrates the onions and deglazes the pan, incorporating all of the browned flavorful bits that get stuck on the pan. Repeat this until the onions are deep brown and caramelized.4 tablespoon water
Burger
- Mix meat and form patties while onions cook - In a mixing bowl, combine beef, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until combined, careful to not overmix. Form the meat into 4 equal-sized patties and use your thumb to make an indentation in the middle of each patty. This prevents the meat from puffing up in the center when cooked.1 lb ground Wagyu beef, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Cook patties - Heat a skillet or griddle on medium heat and add oil. Once the skillet heats for about 2 minutes, add the patties to the pan. For medium rare, cook for 4 minutes on each side; for medium, cook 5 minutes on each side. If the pan is small, cook 2 patties at a time.neutral cooking oil
- Add cheese - In the last minute of cooking, add cheese on top of each patty if desired and place a lid on the skillet to allow the cheese to melt. Remove the lid from the skillet and remove the skillet from the heat.4 sliced gruyere cheese
- Toast buns - Toast the burger buns in a skillet or in the broiler for 20-30 seconds.4 burger buns
- Assemble burger - Assemble on toasted buns with wasabi spread, grilled onions, and arugula.4 burger buns, arugula
Notes
- Wagyu beef cooks much faster than typical beef. Keep a close eye on your burger patties to ensure they don't overcook.
- Be careful not to over mix patties or the burgers will be tough.
- Drizzle any leftover juice in the pan onto the meat when you make the burger.
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