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Pesto Burgers with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms - a delicious, unique hamburger for BBQ season
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5 from 1 vote

Pesto Burgers with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

The ultimate burger! Pesto sauce, caramelized onions and mushrooms yield the most incredible flavors here!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Course: Lifestyle
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 burgers
Calories: 629kcal
Author: Julia

Ingredients

Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
  • 2 large yellow onions thinly sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 cups baby bella mushrooms chopped

Burger Meat:

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Basil-Walnut Pesto:

For Serving:

  • 4 to 6 burger buns
  • sautéed kale optional

Instructions

Prepare the Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms:

  • Add the oil to a large non-stick skillet and heat to medium. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions begin to brown on the edges, about 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until onions are dark brown and caramelized, about 40 minutes. Add a small amount of water twice throughout the cooking process to deglaze the pan when the onions begin sticking. 
  • Once the onions are almost fully caramelized, add the mushrooms. Continue cooking until onions are a deep brown color and mushrooms have leached mush of their liquid, have softened, and have a golden-brown sear on them.

Prepare the Pesto Sauce:

  • While the onions are caramelizing, make the pesto sauce and prepare the burgers. Add the basil, walnuts, and sea salt to a food processor and pulse until chopped. Leave the food processor on while streaming the oil through the top. Taste for flavor and add more sea salt or oil as desired. Set aside until ready to use.

Make the Burgers

  • Add the ground meat to a mixing bowl along with the sea salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix well with your hands. Form 4 to 6 burger patties (according to your size preference).
  • Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of avocado oil (or cooking oil of choice) to a large cast iron skillet and heat to medium-high. Once the skillet is fully hot, carefully place the burger patties on the surface. Cook until deep brown char marks appear, about 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully flip and continue cooking to desired doneness, another 2-3 minutes for medium-rare, 5 minutes for medium, and 7 to 8 minutes for well-done.

Prepare the burgers:

  • Toast your burger buns (if desired), then add sauteed kale (or green of choice), a burger patty, pesto sauce, and caramelized onions and mushrooms. Sink your teeth in, and enjoy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Burger | Calories: 629kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 41g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g