A&w Recipe
Make A&w Recipe in just 45m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Burger Patties & Assembly
A&W-style Sauce (Root Beer BBQ-ish)
Optional - Fries & Toppings
Method
Burger Patties & Assembly
- 1
Form and season patties
Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 4 oz each). Gently form each portion into a patty about 3.5 inches in diameter and 3/4 inch thick, making a slight dimple in the center with your thumb to minimize puffing during cooking. Season both sides of each patty with salt, black pepper and onion powder.
- 2
- 3
Cook patties
Place the patties on the hot surface, leaving space between them. Cook without moving for 3 minutes to develop a crust. Flip once and cook another 2–3 minutes for medium (adjust time for desired doneness). During the last 30–45 seconds, place a slice of American cheese on each patty and cover the pan briefly to melt.
- 4
- 5
Assemble burgers
Spread about 1 tablespoon of A&W-style sauce on the bottom bun. Place shredded lettuce and a tomato slice on the sauce if using. Add the cheeseburger patty, top with two pickle slices, additional sauce on the top bun if desired, then close the burger.
A&W-style Sauce (Root Beer BBQ-ish)
- 6
Reduce root beer (optional)
Pour 1/4 cup root beer into a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat until reduced to roughly 2 tablespoons (about 6–8 minutes). This concentrates the root beer flavor. Let cool slightly. If you prefer, you can skip reduction and use 1 tablespoon undiluted root beer.
- 7
Make the sauce
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, reduced root beer (or undiluted if you skipped reduction), apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and adjust seasoning to taste. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes to let flavors meld.
- 8
Use and store
Use about 1 tablespoon of sauce per burger as noted in assembly. Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Optional - Fries & Toppings
- 9
Cook fries
Bake or fry the frozen French fries according to package instructions until crisp and golden. Season with salt immediately after cooking, tossing to distribute evenly.
- 10
Serve
Plate fries alongside burgers, offer malt vinegar if desired, and serve with a chilled root beer float (pour root beer over vanilla ice cream) for a classic A&W-style meal.
