Copycat White Castle Burgers
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My White Castle Burgers are perfectly tender, juicy, and delicious! I’ve figured out the secret to getting tasty results every single time… and it doesn’t involve pulling out my grill! Make my White Castle burger recipe for dinner (or your next cookout) and you’ll never go back to takeout again.
White Castle Burgers
Instead of going to White Castle, why not bring White Castle to you?!
Listen, I love a good drive-thru meal just as much as the next person, but there’s something so satisfying about making things yourself from scratch.
You know exactly what’s in your food, you don’t have to worry about leaving your house, and a lot of the time the results are a whole lot more delicious.
That’s why I have a whole treasure trove of copycat recipes up on the site!
It’s also why I decided to make homemade White Castle burgers! How to make White Castle burgers, you may be wondering?
It’s true that these babies have a different flavor and look when you compare them to other fast food restaurants. But it’s not as hard to pull off as you may expect!
My trick? I make a tray of burger patties that I bake in the oven instead of grilling to get that “steamed” burger look and feel… without actually steaming them and stinking up my whole kitchen in the process.
I’m thrilled with the results and I know you guys are going to love my White Castle burger recipe too!!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Ground Beef – I like 80% ground beef best. If you prefer, you can use ground chuck or sirloin for a richer flavor. Though, they will be fattier!
- Dried Minced Onion – This is one of my secrets to getting burgers that taste just like White Castle!
You should be able to find dried minced onion in the spice aisle at the supermarket. I love the subtle onion flavor it adds to the burger patties! - Slider Buns – Did you know that the original White Castel burger was actually a slider?!
The restaurant actually brought back the original sliders for its 100-year anniversary in 2021 and hasn’t removed them from the menu since!
All this to say… that’s why I’m using slider buns in my White Castle burgers recipe!
- American Cheese – It just wouldn’t be a burger without a slice of American cheese on top.
If you don’t love American, you can use cheddar, Swiss, or even Pepper Jack are good alternatives. - Pickle Slices – The same goes with crunchy pickle slices! White Castle burgers always come with them, and I’m doing the same in my copycat version.
You can easily find them pre-sliced, or you could slice your own. - Salt & Pepper – To taste.
How to Make White Castle Burgers Tips and Tricks
- Let the burger patties rest.
After mixing the ground beef with the seasonings, you may want to let the mixture rest for about 10-15 minutes before placing it onto the prepared baking sheet.
Yes, it adds a little extra time to this White Castle burgers recipe, but it also allows the flavors to meld together. You’ll get a much more flavorful burger in the end!
- Grease the baking sheet.
Speaking of baking sheets, you absolutely need to either grease yours with non-stick cooking spray or place a sheet of parchment paper on top before adding the burger mixture.
Not only will this prevent sticking and make it easier to remove the meat once it’s cooked, but cleanup is even easier!
- Drain any excess grease.
When the burgers are done cooking in the oven, you may notice a bit of excess grease in the pan. Make sure to drain it before you slice the meat into squares.
This will help keep the burgers from becoming soggy! You may also want to toast the slider buns too.
It adds a nice crunch and helps the bread hold up to the juicy burgers and toppings.
- Slice ‘em while they’re hot.
You’ll want to slice the burger meat into squares while it’s hot if you want them to keep the shape of the classic fast food burgers you know and love.
This simple trick is one of the keys to learning how to make White Castle burgers exactly like the restaurant!
Plus, if you wait too long, you run the risk of the meat drying out!
Prep Ahead
- Line or grease the baking sheet
- Preheat the oven to 400°F
- Split the slider buns
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Baking Sheets lined with parchment paper – Used for anything from cookies to roasting, a good baking pan will last for years. Remember, you can always use non-stick cooking spray instead.
- Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
- A Sharp Knife – The best way to cut through the meat mixture is with a sharp knife.
Serving Suggestions
Like all good burger recipes, White Castle burgers pair best with crispy French fries! You could also switch things up a bit and enjoy them with sweet potato fries, Cottage Fries, or even some air fried zucchini fries for something lighter.
Onion rings are another great option, or some coleslaw and potato salad if you’re having a cookout.
And, by all means, feel free to add some ketchup, mustard, and mayo too!
Storage and Reheating
If you end up with leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
You can reheat single servings in the microwave in 30-second bursts. warm larger portions in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
White Castle Burger Recipe FAQ
The classic White Castle burgers recipe is steamed, not grilled! They typically cook the burgers on a bed of onions, allowing the steam to cook them rather than the heat from the grill.
Steaming helps hold onto moisture, which results in a super juicy burger. Plus, they’re automatically infused with onion flavor.
I was able to achieve the same effect by adding dried minced onion to the meat mixture and baking the burgers instead of grilling!
Yes, you can certainly make the meat mixture and refrigerate it for up to 1-2 days. I recommend waiting to cook them just before serving for the best results — the burgers could become dry if you leave them in the fridge for too long.
Sure! I’m using a simple combination of salt, pepper, and dried onion to get that classic flavor. You can add things like garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, or paprika if you’d like. Just be aware that it will change the overall flavor of the burgers!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Copycat White Castle Burgers
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef, preferably 80% lean
- 3 tablespoons dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 12 slider buns
- American cheese slices
- pickle slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a baking pan with non-stick cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, dried minced onion, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Transfer the meat mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and press it into an even layer, covering the entire sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and browned on top.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and carefully drain any excess grease.
- While the meat is still hot, slice it into 12 equal-sized squares, resembling the classic White Castle patty shape.
- Split the slider buns and place them on another baking sheet, cut side up. Toast them in the oven for a few minutes until lightly golden.
- Place a square of meat on the bottom half of each bun.
- Top each patty with a slice of American cheese and pickle slices.
- Cover the sliders with the top halves of the buns.
- Serve the White Castle Sliders immediately while they’re warm and enjoy!
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published April 2024
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White Castle was a favorite of mine when we lived in Tennessee
, it has been many years since I have had one of their burgers. I was so excited to see this recipe I nearly fell out of my chair! They taste exactly like the original!