Beef Burger with Watermelon

Grilled hamburger with watermelon, feta cheese, and red onions, sliced watermelon in background.

Course: barbecue, BBQ, Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: beef burger, watermelon burger, watermelon burger with mint

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 15

Chill Time: 2

Total Time: 2 45

Servings: servings

Calories: 674kcal

Author: Laureen King

Thanks to the dynamic flavor of the savory beef patty, the soft richness of brioche bread, and the refreshing sweetness of watermelon, this burger with a twist is truly unforgettable.

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Marinated Red Onions

½ cup Balsamic Vinegar
¼ teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Granulated Sugar
¼ teaspoon Chili Flakes optional
½ tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ medium Red Onion thinly sliced

Mint Yogurt Sauce

1 ½ cups Plain 10% Greek Yogurt
1 clove Garlic minced
2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
⅓ cup Fresh Mint Leaves finely chopped

Beef Patties

2 pounds Lean Ground Beef
¼ cup Red Onion minced
1 clove Garlic minced
10 leaves Mint Leaves finely chopped
½ teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper
½ teaspoon Kosher Salt

Watermelon Patties

⅙ small Watermelon seeds removed
Grapeseed Oil for coating the watermelon

Additional Burger Ingredients

8 slices Creamy Feta Cheese
8 buns Brioche Buns

Instructions

Marinated Red Onions

To make marinated red onions, combine balsamic vinegar, salt, sugar, and olive oil in a jar or medium bowl. Mix until well combined. Add the onions and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Mint Yogurt Sauce

To make the mint yogurt, blend Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and mint in a food processor. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Burger Patties

For burger patties, mix ground meat, onion, garlic, mint, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
Shape the mixture into 8 medium-sized patties.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Watermelon Patties

To make watermelon patties, first remove the seeds from the watermelon while keeping the fruit intact.
Slice the watermelon into thin pieces, about the thickness of a tomato slice used in a burger or slightly thicker. Create 8 patties.
Lightly coat the each patty with oil. Use just enough oil to prevent sticking and promote even cooking while grilling the fruit.

Grilling and Serving

Once you are ready to cook the burgers, slice the feta into thick pieces. Keep the slices about the same thickness as, or slightly thinner than the watermelon. Set Aside.
To cook the meat patties, grill them on a BBQ or skillet over medium-high heat (400°F) until they reach the desired level of doneness, typically about 5 minutes per side. I like my burger to reach an internal temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the burgers are done, add the watermelon to the grill and cook for approximately 2 minutes on each side so that the outside is caramelized and slightly golden brown. Remove From heat.
To assemble the burger, place the feta cheese, grilled watermelon marinated red onions, and mint yogurt on top of the cooked burger patty (in that order!).
Serve the Watermelon Burger immediately after assembling to enjoy the textures and flavors at their best.

Nutrition