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    Grits and Pinecones » Recipes » Beef

    The Ultimate Southern Style Burger

    June 11, 2017 by Sharon Rigsby, Updated January 22, 2023 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest pin showing two hamburgers topped with a fried green tomato, melted pimento cheese, and fried onion rings.

    The Ultimate Southern Style Burger recipe offers a unique Southern twist to a classic beef burger or homemade burger recipe and incorporates all things Southern, including melted savory pimento cheese, yummy fried green tomatoes, crispy and oh-so-crunchy onion rings, and tangy sweet and savory tomato jam!

    You won’t believe how juicy and flavorful this easy beef burger recipe is, and I promise your family and friends will love it!  Yes, I know, it’s a little over the top, well, maybe a lot, but trust me, the combination of flavors in this award-winning burger recipe will rock your burger world.

    A hamburger with onions rings, melted pimento cheese and fried green tomato

    Burgers, such as my Southern Crispy Fried Chicken Burger, Smoked Burger, and even Homemade Shrimp Burgers, have a long-standing and well-deserved tradition of being one of the most popular foods in America. And it should come as no surprise that this ultimate southern burger will quickly become one of the most popular dishes in your arsenal of recipes. 

    The Ultimate Southern Style Burger does have a few moving parts which take a little time to prepare, but it’s so worth it. However, if you are short on time, you can always substitute store-bought pimento cheese, canned onion rings, and ripe tomato slices for the fried green tomatoes.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredient notes:
    • How to make the ultimate southern burger:
    • What to serve with this burger:
    • More southern recipes you will love:
    • 📋 Recipe:

    Ingredient notes:

    See the complete recipe below for specific measurements.

    Crispy Onion Rings in a homemade cast iron pan garnished with parsley.
    • Ground beef – I usually use 80/20 ground beef, which means the beef is 80% lean meat and 20% fat, or you can substitute ground chuck.
    • Kosher salt and ground black pepper
    • Peanut or canola oil
    • Pimento Cheese Spread – purchased or homemade.
    • Fried Green Tomatoes – or sliced fresh tomatoes
    • Crispy Onion Rings – or you can substitute a can of fried onions
    • Lettuce and hamburger buns
    • Tomato jam – purchased or homemade, or you can substitute catsup, bacon jam, or bacon and onion jam.
    Fried Green Tomatoes sliced and served on a white plate.

    How to make the ultimate southern burger:

    1. Gather your ingredients and use a light touch to divide the meat into four equal portions.  Use your hands to form each portion into a patty about three-quarters of an inch thick. Make a deep depression with your thumb in the middle. (This will keep the patty from puffing up when it cooks.)
    Raw ground beef shaped into a hamburger patty.
    1. Season the patties on both sides with kosher salt and pepper.
    2. If grilling the hamburger patties, preheat your grill to high and oil the grates. Grill the burgers for about three minutes on the first side, flip them over and cook for an additional four minutes or until they are cooked through. Top with a quarter cup of pimento cheese during the last minute of cooking and allow it to melt. Remove the burgers from the grill and keep them warm until you are ready to assemble.
    Hamburger patties cooking in a cast-iron skillet.
    1. If cooking the burgers inside, use a cast iron skillet and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the oil and when it is hot, add the patties. Cook the burgers for about three minutes on the first side, flip them over, and cook for an additional four minutes or until they are cooked through.
    2. During the last minute of cooking, top the burgers with a quarter cup of pimento cheese, place a lid on the pan and let the cheese melt. Remove the burgers from the pan and keep them warm until you are ready to assemble.
    Pimento cheese melting on hamburger patties cooking in a skillet.
    1. If desired, toast your buns on the grill or under the broiler.
    2. To assemble the burgers, spread one tablespoon of tomato jam on the bottom bun. Add lettuce and top with the burger and melted pimento cheese. Add a slice of fried green tomato and a handful of onion rings. Then, top with another tablespoon of tomato jam. Add the top bun and serve immediately.
    Burgers piled high with onion rings, fried green tomatoes and melted pimento cheese.

    What to serve with this burger:

    This southern beef burger pairs beautifully with casual sides such as Homemade French Fries, Southern Potato Salad, Southern Broccoli Salad, Smoked Baked Beans, Deviled Eggs, or Southern Baked Mac and Cheese.

    More southern recipes you will love:

    • Southern Black-Eyed Peas Recipe
    • Easy Southern Cornbread Pudding
    • Easy Southern Cornbread with Buttermilk
    • Best Southern Crispy Fried Oysters

    For more menu ideas or recipes, you can find all of my southern-style recipes here.

    ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ If you make this dish, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it! Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones; I hope you come back soon!

    📋 Recipe:

    Two hamburgers topped with pimento cheese, fried onion rings, and a fried green tomato.

    The Ultimate Southern Style Burger Recipe

    Sharon Rigsby
    The Ultimate Southern Style Burger offers a unique Southern twist to a classic hamburger and incorporates all things Southern, including melted savory pimento cheese, yummy fried green tomatoes, crispy and oh so crunchy onion rings, and tangy sweet and savory tomato jam.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Lunch, Main Dish
    Cuisine American, Southern
    Servings 4 burgers
    Calories 871 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1½ pounds ground beef or ground chuck
    • Kosher salt and ground black pepper to taste
    • 1 tablespoon peanut or canola oil
    • 1½ cups pimento cheese spread, See the link for this recipe in notes and substitution notes.
    • 4 slices fried green tomatoes, See the link for this recipe in notes and substitution notes.
    • ½ cup tomato jam, See the link for this recipe in notes and substitution notes.
    • 2 cups fried onion rings, See the link for this recipe in notes and substitution notes.
    • 4 lettuce leaves
    • 4 hamburger buns

    Instructions
     

    • Divide the meat into four equal portions, and with your hands, form each portion into a patty about three-quarters of an inch thick. Make a deep depression with your thumb in the middle. (This will keep the patty from puffing up when it cooks.)
    • Season the patties on both sides with kosher salt and pepper.
    • If grilling the hamburger patties, preheat your grill to high and oil the grates. Grill the burgers for about three minutes on the first side, flip them over and cook for an additional four minutes or until they are cooked through. Top with a quarter cup of pimento cheese during the last minute of cooking and let it melt. Remove the burgers from the grill and keep them warm until you are ready to assemble.
    • If cooking the burgers on the stove, use a cast-iron skillet and preheat over medium-high heat. Add the oil and when it is hot, add the patties. Cook the burgers for about three minutes on the first side, flip them over and cook for an additional four minutes or until they are cooked through. During the last minute of cooking, top the burgers with a quarter cup of pimento cheese, place a lid on the pan and let the cheese melt. Remove the burgers from the pan and keep them warm until you are ready to assemble.
    • If desired, toast your buns on the grill or under the broiler.
    • To assemble the burgers, spread one tablespoon tomato jam on the bottom bun. Add lettuce and top with the burger and melted pimento cheese. Add a slice of fried green tomato, a handful of onion rings and top with another tablespoon of tomato jam. Add the top bun and serve immediately.

    Notes

    Old-Fashioned Pimento Cheese Spread  (can substitute purchased  pimento cheese)
    Southern-Style Crispy Onion Rings (can substitute canned french fried onion rings)
    Easy Southern Fried Green Tomatoes  (can substitute regular tomato slices)
    Sweet and Spicy Tomato Jam (can substitute purchased tomato jam, bacon jam, or bacon and onion jam)

    Nutrition

    Calories: 871kcalCarbohydrates: 73gProtein: 33gFat: 59gSaturated Fat: 22gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 122mgSodium: 1290mgPotassium: 549mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 550IUVitamin C: 12.4mgCalcium: 260mgIron: 4.1mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

    More Beef Recipes recipes

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    • Smoked Ribeye Steak (Reverse Seared)
    • Quick and Easy Hanky Panky Recipe
    • Cheesy Hamburger Noodle Casserole

    Reader Interactions

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    1. Gretchen

      January 26, 2022 at 7:13 am

      Do you have a recipe for the tomato jam? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        January 26, 2022 at 10:14 am

        Yes, I do, here is a link: https://www.gritsandpinecones.com/tomato-jam-recipe/

        Reply
    2. Dave Henning

      October 09, 2018 at 12:34 am

      Oh my gosh!!! I’m originally a Yankee from Wisconsin (we KNOW cheese!), but as I was looking for a burger idea I came across yours!! I’m thoroughly against putting Ketchup on any good meat that I grill. But tomato JAM? I spent most of my life in Texas, and I have yet to see Tomato Jam. But I will certainly scour the Internet for it! Your’s is the best burger recipe I’ve found yet! Keep up the good work. I’ll have to see if my girlfriend will consume fried green tomatoes! LOL! Have a blessed day!

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        October 09, 2018 at 9:23 pm

        Hi Dave,
        I’m so glad you like my southern burger. And, I know you will become addicted to tomato jam! It is delicious on so many things.
        Thanks so much for leaving such a kind comment!
        All my best,
        Sharon

        Reply
    3. Karyl | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade

      June 20, 2017 at 11:16 am

      Oh my…there is so much fabulous happening in this burger! I’ve never tried to make fried green tomatoes, but I do love them. This burger is going on my to-do list!!

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        June 20, 2017 at 11:30 am

        Hi Karyl, I do hope you like it. The fried green tomatoes are easy to make and they add a great taste to this burger!

        Reply
    4. Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago

      June 18, 2017 at 7:17 pm

      This burger looks and sounds amazing!! Love the onion rings and pimento cheese!!

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        June 19, 2017 at 11:14 am

        Thanks so much Kathryn! It’s over the top but delicious!

        Reply
    5. Elaine @ Dishes Delish

      June 12, 2017 at 5:27 pm

      There is nothing like a good burger! Your recipe looks fabulous!! Especially with the pimento cheese. mmmm

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        June 12, 2017 at 6:01 pm

        Thanks so much Elaine! It is delicious but unfortunately not something you could eat every day!!!

        Reply

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    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have well over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and there is nothing I like better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

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