Wagyu Burger
Wagyu Burger – Elevate your burger game with some of the juiciest, most flavorful beef patties you’ve ever tried. These Wagyu burgers are all the rage and turn your backyard barbecue into a true-blue gourmet experience. 🤩
The word is out on Wagyu burgers! And you can find this ultra-tender ground beef everywhere. They even serve Wagyu burgers at fast food joints. But trust me when I say a homemade Wagyu burger will blow the Arby’s Wagyu burger out of the water!
Besides being insanely delicious, these burgers are easy to make. Honestly, it’s not much different than a regular hamburger. A few simple techniques will help you optimize this premium meat’s juiciness; otherwise, they’re easy-peasy.👌
What Is a Wagyu Burger?
Wagyu beef originated with Japanese wagyū cattle, renowned for their superior marbling and high-fat content. American Wagyu from cattle crossbred with Japanese wagyū has made it more affordable.
For the best hamburger, go with the highest quality you can. You can see the difference marbling makes in premium Wagyu ground beef (the extra fat gives it a lighter color). Who would have thought it would make an excellent fast-food burger?
Recipe Ingredients
- Wagyu Ground Beef – Get a pound or two of high-quality Wagyu beef for the tastiest burgers. The 20% or more fat content makes it extra delicious.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, garlic, and onion enhance the hamburger’s flavor. But a couple of tablespoons of burger seasoning won’t hurt.
- Burger Toppings – These burgers are super flavorful. So, keeping the toppings to a minimum allows you to enjoy the burger’s pure goodness. American cheese, thinly sliced red onions, pickles,
- Buns – Nestle your juicy grilled Wagyu burgers between regular burger buns or, even better, brioche buns. 😋
How to Make Wagyu Burgers
Prepare the Wagyu Beef Burgers
- Clean the grill grates thoroughly and lightly oil them to prevent the burgers from sticking. If using a charcoal grill, create a two-zone fire by placing the charcoal on one side and leaving the other empty. That way, you can move the burgers to the cooler side if they cook too quickly.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high (around 375-400°F/190-205℃). If using a charcoal grill, ensure the coals are evenly lit and glowing.
- Mix – Lightly mix Wagyu beef, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic and onions, burger seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Don’t overwork the mixture—the goal is to combine the ingredients without overmixing. (Photos 1-2)
- Make Patties – Divide the mixture into 4-6 equal parts and form into patties. Then, make a slight depression in the center of each one with your thumb to prevent them from puffing up on the grill. If possible, let the patties firm up in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before grilling. (Photo 3)
Grill Them
- Grill – Place the prepared patties on the preheated side of the grill and cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, undisturbed, before flipping the burger over. That gives the beef time to sear and firm up. (Photo 4)
Note – If the surface of the burger patty is cooking too fast, turn off one side of the gas grill or move the patties on the unlit side, away from direct heat. Wagyu burgers are notorious for flaring up because of their high-fat content, so keep a close eye on the grill. - Flip the burgers, then cook for 3-5 minutes, depending on preference. Also, you can lower the heat at this stage so it cooks evenly.
- Check Doneness – Keep in mind that cooking time may vary depending on the patties’ thickness and the desired level of doneness. As long as the burger’s internal temperature reaches 160°F (70°C), it fulfills FDA recommendations for ground beef food safety.
- Toast Buns – Optional step: Toast the hamburger buns during the last 2 minutes of grilling.
- Serve – Remove the burgers from the grill and allow them to rest for a few minutes. Assemble your Wagyu burgers with the toasted buns and your favorite toppings like grilled onions, blue cheese, and lettuce. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Bacon ranch Wagyu steakhouse burger. Add bacon, ranch dressing as your burger sauce, and maybe a slice of cheddar! 🤤
- Stovetop. No grill? No problem! Cook these patties on the stove over medium-high in a cast iron skillet.
- Go bunless. For your gluten-free friends, wrap these patties and the burger toppings up in a giant piece of lettuce. They’re still ultra delicious.
Tips and Tricks
- Overmixing the beef mixture can lead to tough, dense burgers. Mix just until the ingredients combine to maintain a tender texture.
- Keeping the patties cold until they go on the grill ensures the fat remains solid for a more juicy, flavorful burger.
- A drip pan under the grates catches fat drips, making grilling safer by preventing flare-ups. To be extra safe, have a spray bottle of water nearby to extinguish small fires and prevent accidents.
- Avoid pressing the patties as it removes the fat, leading to flare-ups and dry burgers.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Prepare your patties the day before you grill, or freeze them raw for up to three months before cooking. Thaw them in the fridge the night before you plan to grill.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Serve Wagyu burgers hot off the grill with your favorite toppings. How does a deluxe Wagyu steakhouse burger sound?
If you have any leftovers, refrigerate them in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Reheat them on the grill or in a skillet over medium heat until warmed.
FAQs
Wagyu beef is ideal for keto because it has higher monounsaturated fats. However, the overall high-fat content may not be suitable for a low-fat diet. So enjoy them in moderation.
Cook Wagyu burgers quickly over high heat to retain their tenderness and juiciness. Aim for medium-rare to medium doneness to fully appreciate the meat’s flavor and texture.
You can. It’s expensive, so stretching it with high-quality ground beef is an option. But to enjoy the pure goodness of Wagyu beef, use 100%.
What Goes With Wagyu Burgers
Pair your Wagyu burgers with seasoned fries or grilled potato wedges. And how about some grilled pineapple with ice cream for dessert? 😍
More Ultra Tasty Grill Recipes to Try
Conclusion
Try these easy, juicy, tender Wagyu burgers for a mind-blowing burger! Have you made them already? Let me know what you think. 😉
Wagyu Burger
Ingredients
Wagyu Burgers
- 1-1½ pounds (450-900g) ground Wagyu beef
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup minced onions
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons burger seasoning (optional)
- 4-6 burger buns (or brioche buns)
Optional Toppings
- Grilled onions
- Blue cheese
- Jalapenos
Instructions
- Clean the grill grates thoroughly and lightly oil them to prevent the burgers from sticking.
- If using a charcoal grill, create a two-zone fire by placing the charcoal on one side and leaving the other empty. That way, you can move the burgers to the cooler side if they cook too quickly.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high (around 375-400°F/190-205℃). If using a charcoal grill, ensure the coals are evenly lit and glowing.
- Lightly mix Wagyu beef, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic and onions, burger seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Don't overwork your hamburger mixture—the goal is to combine the ingredients without overmixing.
- Divide the mixture into 4-6 equal parts and form into patties. Then, make a slight depression in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent the burgers from puffing up on the grill. If possible, let the patties firm up in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before grilling.
- Place the prepared patties on the preheated side of the grill and cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, undisturbed, before flipping the burger over. That gives the beef time to sear and firm up.
- If the surface of the burger is cooking too fast, turn off one side of the gas grill or move the patties on the unlit side, away from direct heat. Wagyu burgers are notorious for flaring up due to their high fat content, so keep a close eye on the grill.
- After flipping, cook for 3-4 minutes or more, depending on preference. Also, you can lower the heat at this stage so it cooks evenly.
- Keep in mind that cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the patties and the desired level of doneness. As long as the burger's internal temperature reaches 160°F (70°C), it fulfills FDA recommendations for ground beef food safety.
- Optional step: Toast the hamburger buns during the last 2 minutes of grilling.
- Remove the burgers from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes.
- Assemble your Wagyu burgers with the toasted buns and your favorite toppings like grilled onions, blue cheese, and lettuce. Enjoy!
Notes
- High-quality Wagyu beef ensures better flavor and texture because the marbling enhances juiciness and taste.
- Overmixing the beef mixture can lead to tough, dense burgers. Mix just until the ingredients are combined to maintain a tender texture.
- Keeping the patties cold until they’re on the grill ensures the fat remains solid for a juicier, more flavorful burger.
- Setting up a two-zone cooking area on your grill allows you to move the patties away from direct heat in case of flare-ups and prevents charring and uneven cooking.
- Placing a drip pan under the grates to catch dripping fat reduces the chance of flare-ups for safer and more consistent grilling
- For extra precaution, keeping a water spray bottle close by lets you quickly douse any flare-ups, preventing burning and potential fire hazards.
- Try not to press down on the patties because it squeezes out the fat, which not only causes flare-ups but also results in dry burgers.
- Allowing the patties to rest for a few minutes after grilling helps redistribute the juices within the patty, making it juicier.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.