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Grilled Hamburger with Caramelized Onions and Grilled Pineapple - easy and delicious way to serve grilled hamburgers.
Some of my friends are not too much into sweets or cookies, so lately, since I've been on a Holiday cookie baking craze, I've started receiving complaints from them to stop posting pictures of cookies and requests to finally post something more meaty. Well, what could be more meaty than a hamburger? Especially, a juicy hamburger with caramelized onions, grilled pineapple, topped with melted cheddar cheese, tomato slices and red onion:
I've had a hamburger with a grilled pineapple for the first time in Hawaii, and ever since I began to appreciate the addition of something sweet to the grilled beef. Because the pineapple is somewhat acidic, even a little bit tart, but yet sweet - it combines perfectly with a hamburger meat, cutting through the fat and creating a balance of flavors!
I like to serve these hamburgers open-faced - that way you can really see the grilled pineapple on top, and I don't like too much bread with meat anyway. But, it's up to you - use a whole bun or only half of it!
If you like to use pineapple for your dinner recipes, you might really like these recipes:
- Bacon Pineapple BBQ Chicken
- Broiled Salmon with Mango-Pineapple Salsa
- Shrimp with Mango-Pineapple Salsa
Grilled Hamburger with Caramelized Onions and Grilled Pineapple
Ingredients
Caramelized onions:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 onions , medium or large, sliced
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Burger patties:
- 1 pound ground beef 80% lean
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
Grilled pineapple:
- 8 slices pineapple or pineapple rings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
Other fixings:
- 4 hamburger buns , toasted and warmed
- 1 cup lettuce
- 2 tomatoes , sliced
- ½ red onion , sliced
Instructions
How to caramelize onions:
- First, we need to caramelize the onions, prior to grilling the burgers and the pineapple. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on high heat in a large skillet, when oil is heated, add sliced onions and cook on high heat for about 10 minutes, constantly stirring with spatula. The onions should start to brown, but without burning (a couple of onions may be burnt here and there, but overall they should not be charred).
- Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking onions for 10 more minutes, continuing to stir, as onions brown even more without burning. At this point add just a pinch of salt over onions.
- Continue cooking for 10 more minutes on medium or low heat, stirring occasionally to make sure onions don’t stick to the bottom of the pan or burn.
- Total you should have cooked onions for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle onions with a small amount of balsamic vinegar to deglaze the pan. Using spatula, mix the onions, scraping the bottom of the pan and coating onions with a pinch of balsamic vinegar you just added.
How to grill hamburgers:
- Make 4 equal hamburger patties out of ground beef. Season both sides of each patty with salt and pepper. Because the ground beef has been refrigerated before you formed the patties, allow the burgers rest at room temperature, for about 20 minutes, while the grill heats up.
- Heat a gas grill to high heat, about 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Brush both sides of each hamburger patty with vegetable oil (otherwise, they will stick to the grill). Grill hamburger patties for about 3 minutes on the first side.
- Flip them over, and cook the other side of each hamburger patty for 4 minutes for medium-rare burgers or 6 minutes for well-done burgers.
- In the last minute of cooking, arrange a slice or two of cheddar cheese on top of each hamburger patty to melt.
How to grill pineapple:
- In a microwave, melt honey just a little bit, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and combine – in a medium bowl. Add pineapple slices (or rings) to the bowl and stir to coat the pineapple slices.
- At the same time you’re grilling hamburgers, place pineapple on the grill and cook for about 3 or 4 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and keep warm.
Assemble burgers:
- Arrange lettuce on the bottom of each bun.
- Place grilled hamburger patties (covered with melted cheddar cheese) on top of lettuce.
- Top each burger with caramelized onions, then tomato slices, and red onion slices.
- Finally, add grilled pineapple slice(s).
- Close with the top bun, if desired, or serve these as open-faced hamburgers.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Wow, I gotta make that one for the husband. It sounds like a very interesting combination.
I love the flavor that pineapple gives to all the dishes it's mixed into! This burger looks sooo divine!
Thank you! 🙂 I love pineapple too!
I need this tropical burger! Fabulous! Pinned!
What a fantastic idea for a burger! Got to try it! Happy New Year! 🙂 ela
I've just gotten into pineapples as a pizza topping, and I can so get on board with this idea! That hamburger looks insanely good!
I don't think I've ever had a burger topped with pineapple before. But I love the idea! Maybe add a piece of bacon, too. 😉 Thanks for this, and Happy New Year!
That looks like a very juicy burger. Happy New Year, Julia.
This burger is so tropical! I've added all different kind of things to my burger but never pineapple! This is such a great idea. The photos are amazing, I just want to dive into the screen and grab that burger!
Your burger with grilled pineapple looks scrumptious, Julia! Love the addition of caramelized onions, too. Gorgeous photos as always, my friend. Thanks for sharing! And...warmest wishes to you and yours for a happy and healthy New Year! xo
I don't like too much bread with my meat either, and pinneaple is one of my very favorite fruits, so I'm sure I'd adore these. They look gorgeous and your pics are terrific! I loooove them <3
Happy New Year Julia! x
Holy burger! This looks amazing Julia! I love adding grilled pineapple to my burgers but I've never also added caramelized onions! Such a great idea!
Now that's a burger Julia! Wow, I love the savory sweet combo! I've heard that burgers are one of the hardest things to photograph but you've done a wonderful job, very mouthwatering! Happy New Year!
Julia..I love to bake..like ou..but don't eat sweets..where I do succumb..is adding sweet to meat..such as asian chicken dishes .. and burgers:) I like a sweet addition..This looks fantastic.
This looks terrific, Julia! What a scrumptious way to welcome 2014! Happy New Year!!!
wow who said burgers can't be delicious and healthy? This looks droolworthy, Julia.