Indulge in the iconic Animal Style Burger! This decadent creation features juicy beef patties, caramelized onions, secret sauce, and crispy pickles for a flavor explosion.

Animal Style Burger

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 4 tablespoons pickle relish, drained
• 2-3 tablespoons ketchup (3 for more sweetness and tanginess)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons water
• 1.5 to 2 pounds 80/20 ground beef
• salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• 4 tablespoons butter, split in half
• 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 8 hamburger buns
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard
• 8 slices American Cheese
• Optional Toppings: raw onion slices, grilled onion slices, diced pepperoncini peppers, tomato slices, iceberg lettuce, dill pickle slices

Instructions

1. To make the burger sauce, mix together the mayonnaise, relish, ketchup, sugar, and vinegar in a small bowl. It will be a pink color. Set aside.
2. Slice raw onions, tomatoes, and pepperoncini peppers. Tear off pieces of iceberg lettuce to prepare the burger toppings.
3. To make caramelized onions, dice 1 large onion finely. In a saute pan over low to medium-low heat, add 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil, finely diced onions, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. 
4. Continuously stir, making sure to scrape the pan, for about 12 minutes until it starts to get golden brown. Then, turn up the heat to medium. 
5. Add 1 tablespoon of water to the onions and stir until it evaporates. Repeat this process with the other 3 tablespoons of water, one at a time. 
6. At the end, it should be a dark golden brown and completely translucent. Set aside.
7. Weigh out 8 portions of 3 to 4 oz of ground beef or eye it out. Gently flatten the patty into a circle to desired thin or thickness, making sure to not mix or mold it too much. Sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides to prepare the patties. Set aside.
8. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Brush the insides of both buns with the butter and place face down on a pan over medium heat. 
9. Take them off the pan when a nice golden brown develops around the edges.
10. Over medium-high heat in a skillet or pan, add 1-2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. 
11. Add the patties in and if doing animal style, add half a tablespoon or more to taste of mustard on the raw side and spread evenly. 
12. It will take about 2-3 minutes for the patty to get a nice brown crust. 
13. Flip over and add a slice of American cheese on top. Let it cook for about 1 more minute, then take off the heat.
14. Add spread to the bottom of the bun. Then add the pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, patty and cheese, onions and peppers, and then add spread to the top bun as well and seal the burger. 
15. Enjoy!