Love homemade burgers? Try my ground chicken burgers, bison burgers, lamb burgers, and shrimp burgers next. One bite into my homemade Wagyu burgers and you’ll never settle for a regular hamburger again! In my recipe, I keep the spices simple to really let the meat shine, and it’s so flavorful it pretty much melts in your mouth!

Why I love this recipe

The best ground beef. Making burgers with ground wagyu beef is the best way to uplevel an everyday hamburger or cheeseburger. Ridiculously easy. Like any good burger, you shape them and grill them. There is nothing more to it! Crowd-pleasing. Wagyu beef has an incredibly rich, umami, and buttery tenderness that always ‘wows’ my guests. Less is more. What I really love about this recipe is that, unlike regular hamburger meat, you don’t need elaborate seasonings to infuse the wagyu with flavor. Salt and pepper are more than enough to elevate the beef’s already mouthwatering flavors!

Ingredients needed

Ground wagyu beef. You can buy ground wagyu beef from local butcher shops or online. Because it’s quite an expensive cut, I try to source the best quality possible. Kosher salt and black pepper. All you need is salt and pepper to season the burgers because Wagyu is already naturally flavorful. To assemble. Brioche burger buns, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mushrooms, and some sauce or spread (I like spicy mayo or Big Mac sauce). Other ideas include pickles, onions,

How to make Wagyu burgers

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Wagyu (pronounced wah-g-yoo) is a rich, fatty, and superior type of beef from Japan known for the exceptional amount of fat marbling throughout the muscle rather than around the sides like a regular cut of American steak. All of this fat gives the beef a melt-in-your-mouth flavor and a natural tender texture. In other words, it’s one of the best kinds of meat you could ever buy!  Step 1 – Divide and form the ground wagyu beef into four patties. Season both sides of each patty with salt and pepper. To finish, press your thumb into the middle of the patties to make a slight indentation. Step 2 – Grill. Place the burger patties on a preheated grill and cook for 3-5 minutes, or to your desired doneness. Add a slice of cheese on top at the end. Step 3 – Assemble. Spread the mayo on the burger buns then add your favorite fix-ins and enjoy.

Arman’s recipe tips

Pressing your thumb into the burger patties will prevent them from puffing up too much during grilling and help them cook more evenly. Try not to skip this part! Bring your meat to room temperature before cooking. It makes all the difference. Wagyu burgers are best when they’re grilled to medium rare or have an internal temperature of 130F to 135F (55C to 57C). Of course, if you prefer them well done, aim for 165F. Let the burgers rest off the heat when they’re done. After about 5 to 10 minutes, the juices will soak back into the meat, giving you more flavorful burgers.

Storage instructions

To store: Place the leftover cooked burgers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Don’t fret if you don’t own a grill- these burgers work just as well in a cast iron skillet or hot grill pan. Simply place either of these pans over high heat and cook the burgers for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. To freeze: Wrap the cooked and cooled burger patties in aluminum foil, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat: Microwave the burger patties for 30 to 40 seconds or reheat them in a skillet until warmed through (about 1 or 2 minutes).

More impressive grilling recipes to try

Tomahawk Steak New York Strip Steak Grilled Swordfish Filet Mignon Ribeye Steak

Originally published June 2023, updated and republished May 2024

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