Blue Cheese and Balsamic Burger Salad

I love a good burger, but when I want something that feels just a little more nourishing than an order of burger and fries, I turn to this Blue Cheese and Balsamic Burger Salad. There is so much flavor in every single layer and I’ve honestly come to crave it just as much as an old-school drive-thru order.

 

This is a savory, umami-packed dinner that starts with homemade caramelized onions—and no, you don’t have to spend an hour hovered over the stovetop making them! This shortcut approach takes just 15 minutes but you’d never know it. They get a lot of their sweet, rich flavor from balsamic vinegar—a key ingredient that you’ll end up using three different ways for this salad.

For the burgers, I like to use ground sirloin, which is leaner and milder in flavor compared to regular ground beef. It’s such a good blank canvas for the blue cheese crumbles and balsamic glazed onions. If you can’t find it, though, regular ground beef or ground bison would both be totally suitable substitutes. And if it’s grilling weather where you live, I highly recommend that you take the burger patties outside to cook so that get that deep char and smoky flavor. It makes such a difference in this salad!

Ingredients:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Yellow Onions
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Coconut Sugar
• Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
• Dijon Mustard
• Honey
• Garlic Clove
• Dried Thyme
• Blue Cheese Crumbles
• Baby Arugula or Mixed Greens

Step-by-Step:

step one: cook the onions

Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet set over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until they’re tender and beginning to brown around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes.

step two: add the balsamic vinegar and seasonings

Stir in the balsamic vinegar, coconut sugar, salt, and pepper and continue to cook, stirring, until the liquid is absorbed and the onions are deep golden and caramelized, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover to keep warm, and set aside.

step three: Make the Balsamic Vinaigrette

Combine all vinaigrette ingredients in a wide-mouth jar and, using an immersion blender, blend until smooth and emulsified. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

step four: form the patties

Divide the beef into 6 equal portions, 5 to 5.5 ounces each, and form into patties. Place the patties on a sheet pan and use your thumb to press a shallow dimple into the center of each one (this helps them hold their shape while grilling).

step five: preheat the grill

Preheat the grill (or grill pan) over medium-high heat, maintaining a temperature between 400℉ and 450℉.

step six: season the burgers

Right before grilling, brush the tops of the patties evenly with Dijon mustard, then drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.

step seven: cook the burgers

When the grill is hot, add the burgers and cook until a golden-brown crust forms on each side and they reach desired doneness, 5 to 6 minutes per side for medium. Avoid pressing on the patties, as this forces out the juices, and flip only once for best results. During the last 1 to 2 minutes of cooking, top each patty with blue cheese crumbles, close the lid, and let the cheese melt just enough to adhere to the burgers. Transfer the patties to a clean plate and rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to settle.

step eight: assemble the salads

To serve, fill the bottom of a shallow bowl with a generous handful of salad greens and drizzle with the balsamic vinaigrette. Spoon a hearty amount of balsamic glazed onions over the greens, then top with a blue cheese–topped burger patty. Finish with one more drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette, serve immediately, and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs:

The next time you’re craving a burger, you have to try this Blue Cheese and Balsamic Burger Salad. Comment below once you’ve tried this recipe and let me know what you think!

want even more recipes for burger night? try these!

Smashburgers with Special Truffle Sauce

Monterey Melt Smash Burgers

Greek-Inspired Grilled Lamb Burgers

Food Photography and Styling by Eat Love Eats.