Beer Cheese Burgers on Pretzel Buns with Caramelized Beer Onions and Jalapeños

I am seriously obsessed with these beer cheese burgers. Well, anything with beer cheese really. It's just so damn good. Beer cheese just takes a hamburger to another level, and I can't get enough. Not only do I top my burger with beer cheese, but I also dip my burger in more beer cheese!

This beer cheese is seriously the best! A while ago, Nate told me that he hates beer cheese, and per usual, I told him that he has to try mine before he sticks to that conclusion. Well, guess what, Nate LOVES my beer cheese sauce!!

It all started when I made Pretzel Pigs in a Blanket with Beer Cheese Dip, and I made him try the beer cheese. He was instantly hooked. You should see him now - he dips everything in beer cheese.

I love to serve these beer cheese burgers with fries or onion rings, and dip them in the beer cheese, too!

I also highly recommend serving the burgers on toasted pretzel buns because beer cheese + pretzel buns is a no brainer! The combination is incredible!

And don't forget the beer caramelized onions and jalapeños. They absorb the flavor of the beer and are the perfect addition! If you don't like spicy foods, you can leave out the jalapeño!

The Secret to Juicy Hamburgers.

1. Use 80/20 ground beef. A ratio of 80% lean protein and 20% fat is best for juicy hamburgers. The high fat content prevents the burgers from drying out while cooking and keeps them juicy. When buying meat, look for this ratio - it will be labeled on the packaging.
2. Make the hamburger patty larger than the bun. When shaping a burger patty, make it slightly larger than the bun, about ¾ inch thick, and put a thumb indent in the center. You want to do this for a few reasons. As burgers cook, they puff up in the center and the diameter of the burger shrinks. The combination of the thumbprint and the large patty size help to prevent this. This allows the burgers to cook more evenly, resulting in a juicer burger.
3. When the burger is cooking, don't smash it down. When you first drop the patty into the hot pan, you can smash it at this point to achieve your desired burger size, if desired. But after those first few seconds, don't smash the burger as it will squeeze out juices, resulting in a dry burger.
4. Don't overload the beef with seasoning. When making burgers, keep it simple. Salt, pepper and Worcestershire. Over mixing hamburger makes it tough.
5. Grill the Hamburgers or Use a Cast Iron Skillet on the Stove. When cooking burgers on the stovetop, I recommend using cast iron because it conducts heat evenly and allows you to get a nice crust on the burgers. On the stove, I like to cook my burgers in salted butter for added flavor and fat. You can also use canola oil or olive oil. You will want to use an oil or fat with a high smoke point.
6. Only Flip the Hamburger Once. When using cast iron, the burger patty will release from the pan once it forms a nice crust, which should take about 3-4 minutes.  Once the crust is formed then flip the patty.
7. Use a Meat Thermometer. The key to juicy, tender meat, including burgers, is to use a meat thermometer. This will ensure that you don't overcook and dry out the meat.

How Long to Cook a Hamburger.

When cooking a hamburger, here are approximate times:

• Rare: 6 minutes
• Medium Rare: 7 minutes
• Medium: 8 minutes
• Medium Well: 9 minutes
• Well Done: 10 minutes

If using a meat thermometer, here are the temperatures:

• Rare: 120-125 degrees F.
• Medium Rare: 130-135 degrees F.
• Medium: 140-145 degrees F.
• Medium Well: 150-155 degrees F.
• Well Done: 160-165 degrees F.

BEST Beer Cheese Sauce.

This beer cheese sauce really is the BEST!! It's so creamy, cheesy and flavorful!!

My secret ingredient? Cream cheese! It's creates the best, smooth texture. I've tried making beer cheese without cream cheese, and it just isn't as good.

I also add lots of sharp cheddar cheese and a little squeeze of dijon mustard to amp up the flavor. The combination is unreal!

Best Beer for Beer Cheese Sauce.

When it comes to beer cheese, you want to choose a beer that is on the lighter side so the flavor of the beer doesn't overpower the flavor of the cheese. So, I opt for a light lager or a pale ale. If you use a dark beer, it will definitely intensify the beer flavor, so choose accordingly.

I typically use Busch Light or New Glarus Spotted Cow because I often have both in the fridge.

Is There Alcohol in Beer Cheese Sauce?

The short answer, yes.

This beer cheese recipe calls for ¾ cup of beer, and although the sauce boils for a couple minutes, it may not boil off all the alcohol. So keep that in mind when it comes to children and pregnant women.

If alcohol is an issue, simply replace the beer with chicken broth, creating a traditional cheese sauce. It will still taste great!

Tips & Substitutions.

Is there a substitute I can use in place of beer? Yes, most certainly! You can broth or stock in place of beer - I recommend chicken broth.

Can you make the beer cheese ahead of time? Yes - it reheats well! The beer cheese can be made ahead of time, covered and stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it. The beer cheese can be reheated in the microwave or in a pot on the stove. If you reheat the beer cheese on the stove, make sure you're stirring frequently.

Can you make the caramelized beer onions and jalapeños ahead of time? Sure can! Cook them as the recipe states, then store covered in the fridge until you're to use them. Reheat in a saucepan with a little butter or in the microwave.

Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is covered in an anti-caking agent called cellulose to prevent the cheese from sticking together. Cellulose makes it a little more difficult when it comes to melting cheese. So, when a recipe calls for shredded cheese, I always recommend that you buy a block of cheese and shred your own - it melts nicer and tastes better.

Substitute for pretzel buns. If you can't find pretzel buns or don't like pretzel buns, I recommend brioche buns. You want a bun that is thick but soft and can hold up to all the beer cheese!

What to Serve with Beer Cheese Burgers.

Zesty Balsamic Marinated Grilled Vegetables

Creamy Italian Ranch Pasta Salad

Tequilaberry Salad

Best Classic Potato Salad

Cheesy Au Gratin Mixed Potatoes

If you make this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Please rate the recipe below using the stars or leave a comment. If you’re on Instagram, share a picture of the food you created and tag me at Modern Farmhouse Eats! I love seeing all the pictures! 😊