Adorable Mini Hamburgers
Homemade Mini Hamburger Recipe for Your Kitchen
Perfect for kids’ snacks or a home party! Make these cute and delicious mini hamburgers yourself.
Main Ingredients- 400g ground beef
- 6 mini buns (like brioche)
Burger Patty Seasoning- 1/2 onion, finely minced
- 40g green onion, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp sake (or rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.3 tsp salt
- 0.3 tsp black pepper
Caramelized Onions- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Pinch of salt
- Appropriate amount of black pepper
Teriyaki Sauce- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp sake (or rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp mirin (sweet rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup (or honey)
- 2 Tbsp Tonkatsu sauce (Japanese pork cutlet sauce)
Spreads- Mayonnaise, as needed
- Strawberry jam, as needed
Additional Toppings- 3 slices cheddar cheese (cut in half)
- Dill pickle slices, as needed
- 1/2 onion, finely minced
- 40g green onion, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp sake (or rice wine)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 0.5 Tbsp sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce
- 0.3 tsp salt
- 0.3 tsp black pepper
Caramelized Onions- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Pinch of salt
- Appropriate amount of black pepper
Teriyaki Sauce- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp sake (or rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp mirin (sweet rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup (or honey)
- 2 Tbsp Tonkatsu sauce (Japanese pork cutlet sauce)
Spreads- Mayonnaise, as needed
- Strawberry jam, as needed
Additional Toppings- 3 slices cheddar cheese (cut in half)
- Dill pickle slices, as needed
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp sake (or rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp mirin (sweet rice wine)
- 2 Tbsp corn syrup (or honey)
- 2 Tbsp Tonkatsu sauce (Japanese pork cutlet sauce)
Spreads- Mayonnaise, as needed
- Strawberry jam, as needed
Additional Toppings- 3 slices cheddar cheese (cut in half)
- Dill pickle slices, as needed
- 3 slices cheddar cheese (cut in half)
- Dill pickle slices, as needed
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the aromatic vegetables for the burger patties. Finely mince half an onion and finely chop the green onions. Heat a pan with a little cooking oil, add the minced onion and green onion, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté until the onions become translucent and fragrant. Once cooked, set them aside to cool completely. Cooling them prevents the patty mixture from becoming too wet.
Step 2
Now, let’s make the delicious burger patties. Place 400g of ground beef in a bowl. Add the cooled sautéed onion and green onion mixture. Then, add the patty seasoning ingredients: 2 Tbsp sake, 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 0.5 Tbsp sugar, 0.5 Tbsp soy sauce, 0.3 tsp salt, and 0.3 tsp black pepper.
Step 3
Using your hands, knead the mixture until it becomes cohesive and slightly sticky, like making mochi. Thoroughly kneading is crucial for the patties to hold their shape well after cooking. This ensures they don’t fall apart and maintain a pleasant texture.
Step 4
Divide the kneaded meat mixture into 6 portions. Shape each portion into a flat, round patty that fits the size of your mini buns. Aim for a thickness that will cook through evenly. You can also make these patties in advance and refrigerate them.
Step 5
Next, we’ll make the sweet and flavorful caramelized onions. Thinly slice one onion. Heat a pan with a little oil, add the sliced onions, and cook slowly over medium heat. The key is to sauté the onions until they become tender and their natural sweetness is released.
Step 6
Once the onions are translucent and soft, add 3 Tbsp of balsamic vinegar to enhance the flavor. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Finally, drizzle in 1 Tbsp of olive oil to finish the caramelized onion mixture. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
Step 7
Let’s create the delicious teriyaki sauce that will elevate the burgers. In a small saucepan, combine 2 Tbsp Tonkatsu sauce, 2 Tbsp sake, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp mirin, and 2 Tbsp corn syrup. Stir well to mix the ingredients.
Step 8
Simmer this mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it thickens into a glaze. This gentle simmering prevents burning and develops a rich flavor. Once you achieve a glossy, thickened sauce, remove it from the heat and set aside.
Step 9
Now it’s time to cook the prepared beef patties. Heat a pan with a little oil over medium-high heat. Place the patties in the hot pan and cook until browned on both sides and cooked through. Avoid flipping them too often to retain their juices and ensure a nice crust.
Step 10
Instead of regular hamburger buns, we’re using soft mini buns for these adorable hamburgers! Slice the mini buns in half. You can lightly toast the cut sides for extra flavor, but they are also delicious as is.
Step 11
Spread your chosen condiments on the cut sides of the mini buns. Apply a layer of sweet strawberry jam on one half and a generous smear of creamy mayonnaise on the other. This creates the base flavor profile for your mini burgers.
Step 12
Now it’s time to assemble the mini hamburgers! On the bottom half of the bun, place some dill pickle slices. Top with a cooked beef patty. Drizzle a good amount of the prepared teriyaki sauce over the patty. Add half a slice of cheddar cheese and let it melt slightly. Finally, pile on the sweet caramelized onions, and place the top half of the bun to complete your creation. Repeat the process for as many mini burgers as you like. (Tip: We cut each cheddar cheese slice in half to use half per burger.)
Step 13
Your cute and delicious mini hamburgers are ready! They make a delightful snack for kids or a fun item to share at gatherings.
