American Buffalo Bill Burger Recipe

1. Make and season patties

Divide the ground beef into two equal portions (about 8 oz each). Gently form each portion into a patty about 3/4-inch thick and slightly wider than your buns. Do not overwork the meat. Press a shallow dimple in the center of each patty with your thumb to promote even cooking. Season both sides of each patty with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and lightly brush or sprinkle about 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce across the two patties (or mix into the meat before forming).

2. Make buffalo sauce

In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, combine 3 tbsp hot sauce and 1 tbsp unsalted butter. Warm gently over low heat until the butter melts and the sauce is homogenous (about 1–2 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Taste and adjust heat if desired. Reserve about 1 tbsp of this sauce to brush the cooked patties and leave the rest for spreading or dipping.

3. Make burger spread

In a small bowl combine 2 tbsp mayonnaise and 1 tsp yellow mustard. Stir until smooth. Optionally, fold in 1 tsp of the buffalo sauce to give the spread a mild kick.

4. Toast buns

Butter the cut sides of the buns with about 1 tbsp unsalted butter total (split across buns). Heat a skillet over medium heat and toast the buns cut-side down until golden and slightly crisp, about 1–2 minutes. Remove and keep warm.

5. Cook patties

Heat a heavy skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat until very hot (a drop of water should sizzle). Add the patties and cook undisturbed for 3–4 minutes to develop a crust. Flip once and cook another 3 minutes for medium (adjust ±1 minute for desired doneness). In the final 30–45 seconds of cooking, brush the top of each patty with the reserved buffalo sauce, place one slice of American cheese on each patty, and cover the pan with a lid to melt the cheese for about 30–45 seconds.

6. Rest patties

Transfer the patties to a plate and let rest for 1–2 minutes while preparing the buns and toppings.

7. Assemble burger

Spread about 1 tbsp of the mayonnaise-mustard (or buffalo-mayo) on the bottom bun. Place a lettuce leaf on the spread, then set the cheesy buffalo patty on top. Add tomato slices (2–3 thin slices from half a tomato), red onion rings if using, and pickle slices if desired. Drizzle additional buffalo sauce to taste (about 1 tsp per burger) over the cheese or veggies. Top with the bun crown and press gently to finish.

8. Serve the American Buffalo Bill burger hot with remaining buffalo sauce on the side for dipping and your choice of fries, chips, or a simple salad.