Make Burgers 10X More Flavorful When You Cook Them In Butter And This Nearly 200-Year Old Sauce

While a decent fat to lean ratio in ground beef can make a world of difference to its taste, there are plenty of upgrades you can make when cooking the patties in a skillet. One of the best seasoning combinations to bring your burgers to the next level is butter and Worcestershire sauce. A nearly 200-year old sauce that combines anchovies, molasses, tamarind, garlic, and spices, Worcestershire sauce is flavor powerhouse, encompassing umami, sweet, spicy, and savory notes that will add instant depth to your burgers. Butter is the luxurious dairy rich fat that makes anything taste better and also keeps burgers from drying out as they cook. 

You might have thought to brush butter over burger patties before grilling them or even to add Worcestershire sauce to the ground beef before forming the patties. But blending the two ingredients into a sizzling cooking foundation is the best way to infuse tons more flavor into burgers.

Simply add two tablespoons of butter and two splashes of Worcestershire sauce to a hot skillet until melted and sizzling before adding the burger patties. Cook the patties for around 5 minutes per side. Once you've flipped them, add another two tablespoons of butter and two splashes of Worcestershire sauce to the pan for the second side to absorb. You can apply the same treatment you'd normally give to steak by basting the burgers as they cook using a spoon to coat the burgers in the buttery sauce they're swimming in.

Worcestershire sauce also works well as a seasoning for frozen burgers; however the protocol is different. You can pan sear frozen patties in butter, but because they have quite a bit of water content, the best way to ensure they absorb seasonings is to add a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the patties after cooking them on one side. Once you've flipped the burgers, brush a little more Worcestershire sauce onto the patties.

This umami and dairy rich upgrade to burgers will enhance their flavor and keep them moist and juicy as they cook. You can keep the burger seasoning simple with a hearty sprinkling of salt to each patty before throwing them on the skillet. If you want to add pepper, wait until the burgers have come off the heat to avoid a bitter mistake. Seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne make a great blend to mix into the ground beef before forming the patties. However, be sure not to overwork the beef as this will result in tough, dense burgers. 

When it comes to toppings, a buttery, Worcestershire-sauce infused burger will taste good with any garnish you have in mind. Bring bacon, American cheese, pickles, and fresh veggies into the mix, or fancier options like caramelized onions, sharp cheddar, and sun-dried tomatoes for even more umami goodness. Reserve some of that melted butter to brush onto your burger buns, as well.