This post is sponsored by Ohio Beef Council, although all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Whiskey Burgers are a great way to take your average burger to a not-so-average burger. The burgers are marinated in garlic, whiskey (bourbon), and a little salt and pepper. It sounds so simple but will leave a flavor that you won’t forget!
I am a burger queen!
Like really, burgers are my jam. Arguably one of my favorite things to eat on the planet.
Not just any burger, a good burger. I can enjoy something as simple as a Steak Garlic Butter Burger or something as robust as a Bacon Cheeseburger with a whole bunch of stuff on it. I’m talking about the works like caramelized onions, lots of cheese, and onion rings. When I first heard of a whiskey burger, which was a while ago, I had to try them. I honestly don’t know why it took me so long to try them. I’m sure glad I did because they are super tasty.
How to make Whiskey Burgers
To make these burgers is quite simple. You pretty much are going to start the process with how you would normally make burgers for the grill.
- Take your ground beef and place it in a bowl.
- Season the beef with your favorite seasoning.
- Form into beef patties.
Pretty simple, right?
The next step after you form your patties is to make the whiskey marinade. All you do in this step is:
- Add about 1 ½ cups of whisky to a bowl
- Add about 3-4 crushed garlic gloves
- Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Whisk together and pour over the burgers.
You can marinate the burgers one of two ways, both of which I tried. The first way is to put the patties in a large plastic bag and pour the whiskey marinade into the bag and seal it. Toss the bag back and forth to coat both sides of the patties and place them back in the refrigerator. The second way is to pour the marinade into a shallow bowl or plate and place the patties in the bowl for 15 minutes on both sides.
Once the patties have sat in the marinade, you move forward to cooking them on the grill!
Toppings for these burgers
How a person makes a hamburger is much like their personality. For instance, I am pretty straightforward and low-key so I always go with sliced cheddar cheese, lettuce, mustard, and pickles on my burger and I’m fun. But my husband likes a fried egg, special burger sauce, and everything else but onions. My recommendation if you are going to make these hamburgers is to make a hamburger bar where people can make their own burgers how they like. Here are some favorite toppings ideas:
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Bacon
- Lettuce
- Sliced Red Onion
- Sliced Tomatoes
- Carmelized onions
- Cheese Slices: Cheddar, American, Pepper Jack
- Onion straws
- Sliced Avocado
- Fried Eggs
- Brioche hamburger Buns
- Regular Hamburger Buns
Tips for grilling burgers
Beef is a great source of protein that provide 10 essential nutrients including B-vitamins, zinc, niacin, and iron. This protein supports a healthy eating lifestyle, helps to curb cravings, and maintains healthy levels of blood sugar and cholesterol. When it comes to grilling hamburgers, it’s important to keep the beef delicious and tasty. Here are a few tips for the best outcome:
- For food safety, it is best to keep the beef chilled until the burgers are ready to right on the grill.
- Place a dimple in the middle of the patties to minimize shrinking.
- Never press down on a burger, only flip once. This will help the burgers from becoming dry.
- Always use a meat thermometer when trying to determine beef’s doneness! The temperature should read 145°F for medium-rare beef, 160°F for medium, and 170°F for well done. Keep in mind that beef’s internal temperature will continue to rise, even after it’s removed from the grill.
To learn how to become a grill master, follow these simple grilling guidelines.
Commonly Asked Questions
No. I made this recipe twice before sharing and it leaves an amazing flavor. You can tell that there is a whiskey/ bourbon in the burgers, but they don’t have a strong alcohol taste to them.
Yes. This may increase the whiskey/ bourbon flavor in the burgers. If you are okay with that, it should be fine.
That is a good question. I am not a whiskey person so I can’t tell you anything specific, but I am sure whatever you have will be fine. If you don’t have “whiskey”, using a bourbon (a type of whiskey) is fine to use as well.
Similar Recipes
If you like burger recipes like this one, you will like the recipes below!
- BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger
- Lean Beef Burgers with Kale Slaw
- Copycat McRib Sandwich
- Grilled Greek Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce
Easy Whiskey Infused Burgers Recipe
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
This Whiskey Infused Burgers recipe is great for parties. This recipe is for an easy whiskey-infused burgers recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 c. whiskey
- 3–4 Garlic Cloves, crushed
- 2 lb. ground beef
- 1 tbsp. Kosher Salt
- 1 tbsp. BBQ Seasoning
- 2 tsp. Onion powder
- 2 tsp. Garlic powder
- 1/2 tbsp. Coarse Black Pepper
- 1 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
- Toppings: Hamburger Buns, lettuce, red onion slices, slices of cheese, pickle, and bacon.
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, pour the whiskey, add the crushed garlic cloves, and pinch of salt and pepper. Stir together and set aside.
- Add the ground beef to a medium mixing bowl. Add the kosher salt, BBQ Seasoning, onion and garlic powder, black pepper, and Worctershire sauce. Use your hands to mix in the seasonings into the beef.
- Form the beef into 4 ½ pound patties and flatten to about a ½ inch. You can make more burgers if you would like. Sprinkle the patties on both sides with kosher salt and pepper on both sides.
- Place the burgers in a large refrigerator sealed plastic bag. Pour the whiskey mixture over the bugers inside of the bag. Seal the bag. Toss the bag back and forth to coat the burgers. Place in the refrigerator for, at least, 30 minutes.
- Prepare the grill, according the manufacturers instructions. Once the grill is ready for cooking, spray the grill grate with non stick cooking spray. Place the burgers on the grill, and cook them one side at a time for 5-7 minutes. Do not flip back and forth, only once. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature for doneness.
- Once the burgers are near done on both sides, add the cheese while still on the grill. Once the cheese has melted, remove from grill and allow to site for 5-10 minutes covered with aluminum foil. Serve the burgers as desired.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sandwiches
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: American
Oh wow I never would have thought of marinating burger patties in whiskey. I will totally be trying this at the cottage this weekend. I’m sure they will be a hit!
These look like the perfect summer “kickback” burgers! I’m definitely saving this one!!