The Buddy Burger is one of my favorite items at A&W. With prices rising on many menu items, I’ve been ordering Buddy Burgers more often — and they’re even cheaper to make at home. I’ve cooked this copycat version several times, and it tastes very close to the original.
If you like A&W-style burgers, check out the Teen Burger recipe as another option.
🍔 Deconstructing the Buddy Burger
The Buddy Burger is simple to break down: the main components are mustard, ketchup, grilled onions, a beef patty, and mayonnaise. The flavors are straightforward, so recreating it at home is mostly about technique — especially the onions and the thin, smashed patties.
A&W lists ingredients on their site and refers to a special “Teen sauce,” but in practice the burger’s creamy component is just mayonnaise. I use Hellman’s and get the same familiar flavor.
Below I explain each component and how I prepare them for the best results.
Buns
Use soft white hamburger buns — Wonder white-style buns match the original closely. Toast them lightly before assembling so they hold up to the juices and add a little crunch.
Patty
The patties are plain ground beef — nothing fancy. Use full-fat ground beef for juiciness. Divide the meat into small portions and smash them thin in a hot skillet to get the proper texture and browning.
Grilled Onions
Grilled onions are the star of this burger: soft, rich, and lightly caramelized. Cooking them down with a bit of beefy stock deepens the savory flavor and brings them close to A&W’s version.
I dissolve 1 teaspoon of beef base in ¼ cup water and cook the onions in a skillet with a bit of oil until the liquid has evaporated and the onions are tender and golden in spots. If you use regular beef stock instead of a concentrate, taste and adjust salt as needed.
Condiments
The condiment mix is simple: classic yellow mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise. I use a ratio of 1 part mustard, 2 parts ketchup, and 2 parts mayonnaise for the right balance of tang and creaminess.
Heinz ketchup and classic yellow mustard give the familiar fast-food flavor; Hellman’s mayonnaise replicates the creamy component best.
🔪 Instructions
STEP 1: Prepare the grilled onions. In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon beef broth concentrate with ¼ cup water. Heat 2 tablespoons neutral oil in a large skillet over high heat, add diced onions and the beef broth mixture, and cook for about 10 minutes until the liquid is gone, the onions are very soft, and some edges are caramelized.
STEP 2: Make the patties. Divide 1 pound of ground beef into six equal portions. Heat a cast-iron pan over medium-high until it’s nearly smoking. Place a portion of meat in the pan, cover with parchment, and press quickly to about 1/4-inch thickness using a burger press or spatula. Remove the parchment, season with salt and pepper, cook about 1 minute, flip, and cook another minute until nicely browned.
STEP 3: Assemble. Lightly toast the buns. On the bottom bun spread 1 teaspoon mustard, then 2 teaspoons ketchup, add a spoonful of grilled onions, and top with the beef patty. Spread 2 teaspoons mayonnaise on the top bun. Close the burger and serve immediately.
📋 Recipe
Copycat A&W Buddy Burger
Ingredients
Grilled Onions
- 1 teaspoon beef broth concentrate
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil
- 2 medium onions, diced
Beef Patties
- 1 pound ground beef
- salt
- ground black pepper
Assemble
- 6 Wonder white hamburger buns
- classic yellow mustard
- ketchup
- Hellman’s mayonnaise
Instructions
Grilled Onions
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Combine 1 teaspoon beef broth concentrate with ¼ cup water. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet over high heat, add diced onions and the beef broth, and cook about 10 minutes until the liquid evaporates and the onions are soft and caramelized in places.
Beef Patties
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Divide ground beef into six portions. Heat a cast-iron pan until nearly smoking. Place a portion in the center, cover with parchment, and smash to ¼-inch thickness. Remove parchment, season with salt and pepper, cook 1 minute, flip, and cook another minute.
Assemble
-
Toast buns lightly. On the bottom bun spread 1 teaspoon mustard and 2 teaspoons ketchup, add grilled onions and the patty. Spread 2 teaspoons mayonnaise on the top bun and close the burger.
Nutrition
🍽 More Recipes You’ll Love
- A&W Teen Burger (Copycat)
- Copycat A&W Onion Rings (Extra Crispy)
- Copycat McDonald’s McChicken Recipe
- Tim Hortons Iced Capp Recipe