Copycat Culver's Butter Burgers - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

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August 13, 2023 by Stephanie Manley 32 Comments

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If you want to up your burger game, thisburger recipeis at the top of my list.Culver’s Butter Burgershave so much flavor, but you won’t believe the secret to making this burger. Some people think they put butter in the meat. Let me help you out in recreating this fantastic butter burger recipe, this copycat recipe is super easy to make at home.

Copycat Culver's Butter Burgers - CopyKat Recipes (1)

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Table of Contents

Why This Recipe Works

If you have never been to a Culver’s and there is one in your area, you must go – it’s that simple. Freshly made burgers and more – did I mention the fried cheese curds and their frozen custard? They are delicious.

I haven’t ordered anything on their menu that I have disliked. You can’t beat food when it’s made fresh. Scroll down to see my video on how to make Culver’s Butter Burgers.

What is a Butter Burger?

This fast food chain is known for its signature butter burgers, delicious custard, and crinkle-cut fries. Some people think they put butter in the meat to make the burger taste good. While that would make a hamburger patty taste great, that isn’t quite how they make theirburger recipe.

The key is a hot grill and fresh, never-frozen meat seared quickly.Where does the butter come in? You spread a little butter on the buns and toast them. This makes the toasted buns delicious!

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need to make a Culvers Butter Burger:

Butter
Hamburger Buns
Ground beef – Ground chuck makes the best beef patties
American Cheese
Onions
Dill pickles
Tomato
Salt & Pepper

Copycat Culver's Butter Burgers - CopyKat Recipes (2)

How to Make a Butter Burger

Making a butter burger is easy! Here are the recipe steps:

Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat and swirl it around.
Place hamburger buns in the melted butter, toast them fora minute, and remove them from the skillet.
Divide the beef into four equal portions and form 4 patties. Place the patties in the skillet.
Use a spatula to press down on thepatties. Then, take a sizeable aluminum-wrapped soup and press down each meat patty in the skillet. (see the how-to video below)
Cook the patties for 2 minutes.
Flip them over and do the same pressing forthe other side.
Season the pattieswith salt and pepper.
For cheeseburgers, add a slice of cheese to each patty.
Cook the patties for 1 minute.
Remove the butterburger patties from the skillet and place them on the bottom bun.
Add desired burger toppings. Great options include crisp lettuce, a slice of ripe tomato, pickles, sweet red onion, bacon, ketchup, mustard, and mayo. Make it a deluxe with all of them.
Place the top bun on top. Enjoy!

Copycat Culver's Butter Burgers - CopyKat Recipes (3)

Recipe Notes

The key to this burger recipe is in the bun. Put the butter in a skillet and place the hamburger buns face down to let the butter soak into the buns!

I also have a secret I use to help sear the flavors into the meat. I take a meat patty. Then I smash it out on the grill (you can use a skillet).

Then I take a large soup can I have wrapped with aluminum foil to help smash the burger patty down onto the grill. A quick sear on both sides and you are done.

Just check out my video to see how to smash burgers:

What to Serve with Butter Burgers

Serve these juicy burgers with fries, onion rings, or coleslaw.

Copycat Culver's Butter Burgers - CopyKat Recipes (4)

Love a great burger? Try these copycat burger recipes!

Backyard Burger
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Stuffed Burger
Smashburger Buffalo Blue Cheese Burger
Swiss Mushroom Burger
21 Club Burgers
Burger King Cheeseburger
Steak and Shake Burger
Whopper
McDonald’s Hamburgers
McDonald’s Big Macs
Homemade White Castle
Krystal Burgers

Be sure to look at more of my famous restaurant copycat recipes and the best burger recipes here on CopyKat.

Did you make and love this recipe? Give your review below! And make sure to share your creations by tagging me on Instagram.

Culvers Butter Burgers

If you are looking to up your burger game, this burger recipe is at the top of my list. Culvers Butter Burgers have so much flavor but you won't believe what the secret to making this burger is. Some people think they put butter in the meat, let me help you out in recreating this fantastic hamburger.

4.76 from 25 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Burger Recipes, Butter Burgers, Culvers Butter Burgers

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 521kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter softened
4 hamburger buns
1 pound ground chuck
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 slices American cheese
4 slices onion
8 to 12 dill pickle slices
8 tomato slices

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
Place butter in the skillet and swirl it around.
Place hamburger buns cut-side down in the melted butter. Allow the buns to toast for about 60 seconds. Remove buns from skillet.
Form 4 beef patties and place them in the skillet.
Take your spatula and press down on the hamburger patties. Take a large soup can that has been wrapped in aluminum foil and press each meat patty down on to the skillet.
In about 2 minutes, the burger patty will have cooked on one side. Flip it over and do the same for the other side.
In about 60 seconds the other side will be cooked.
Season patties with salt and pepper.
If you want to make cheeseburgers, add cheese when you flip the burger over to the other side.
Remove burger patties and place them on the buns.
Add onion, pickles, tomato, or any desired toppings to your burger and enjoy.

Video

Nutrition

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Barb A. J.
September 25, 2023 at 11:18 am

We love going to Culver’s here in N. C. They are the best.
Reply
Luke
May 3, 2023 at 11:11 am
I decided to look up copycat recipes for Culvers and came across this one. The fist thing I noticed is the Culvers in our area uses Red Onion which makes a big difference in the taste of the burger. I may check out a few other sites and see what comes up. I do agree it makes more sense to butter the buns and not the meat 🙂
Reply
Maris
May 13, 2021 at 1:57 pm

About to try it out ——- but hunny, please stop scratching up that pan with all those metal utensils 😫.
Reply
Dave
February 22, 2020 at 9:29 am

Great!
Reply
Cheryll
January 22, 2020 at 4:09 pm
Culver’s is awesome! The Butter Burgers are to died for. We like the fish and shrimp too!
Reply
Krista
August 28, 2019 at 8:55 am

Had to put my two cents in. …simply blathering butter on a bun does NOT make a butter burger. A generous helping of real butter as the burgers fry…using a spatula to flip the butter onto the burger as well
Reply
- Stephanie
  August 28, 2019 at 9:01 am
  I totally appreciate your thoughts on this. I don’t believe this is how they prepare their burger.
  Reply
  - Jessica
    April 18, 2020 at 2:42 pm
    Culver’s most definitely does NOT add butter to the beef patty while it cooks. It’s called a butter burger because they butter the inside of the top bun before toasting it. Culver’s cooks their burger on their flat top exactly as the author of this recipe described.
- Meggan
  December 1, 2020 at 7:42 pm
  
  Culver’s does not fry their burgers in butter. The author is correct. Have you even been to Culver’s???
  Reply
- Kim
  October 3, 2022 at 9:25 am
  Krista, They cook the burgers in butter and also put it on the top bun, before serving.
  Reply
Tony
September 13, 2018 at 5:10 pm

Great recipe. I know these comments are two years old. Hope someone will read this one. One of the commentors said they don’t have a Culver’s in Texas. I have to say if you enjoy a What a Burger when you get a chance have a Culver’s they taste the same.
Reply
- Sherrye Woodworth
  January 16, 2019 at 12:09 pm
  
  I now live in Texas and have had whataburgers and they definitely do NOT taste the same. Butter burgers have much more flavor, at least in the Michigan restaurants I’ve been to. Maybe the Texas Culver’s (none close to me) don’t have the same quality.
  Reply
  - Stephanie
    January 16, 2019 at 12:47 pm
    Thank you for letting me know that the Culver’s in Texas taste different. I have had both, but there was a gap in time. Thank you for checking out the copycat recipe.
- Stephanie
  May 18, 2019 at 8:58 am
  
  I don’t know of Sherrye meant that Culver’s in Texas taste different in Texas than they do in Michigan. Whataburger does not taste like Culvers at all to me.
  I prefer Culvers over Whataburger, I love the char on their burgers, and I am partial to the fries there.
  Reply
- Justin
  April 10, 2020 at 6:20 am
  I hope others see my reply, i live in texas, dallas specifically, we have culvers and what-a-burger here, and if you think they taste the same then your have brain has sensory issues or you have dead taste buds. I dont eat at what-a-burger because i dont like their burgers and culvers is my favorite burger place, they dont even remotely come close to tasting the same. Some major confusion going on here if you think that…
  Reply
Raye
May 18, 2018 at 8:35 am
Best diet root beer & onion rings
Reply
Diana
August 15, 2017 at 5:29 am
Now if we could only get Culver’s prime rib sandwich recipe, my hubby would be ever so happy!!! We drive from Cleveland, Ohio to Columbus for it!!
Nice job on the recipes! Seems like you have fun with it.
Reply
- Josh Wright
  October 4, 2018 at 8:23 am
  
  I work at the Columbus store, very happy y’all enjoy it!
  Reply
Denis
July 18, 2017 at 12:50 am

This damn is so good and i ‘ll make it tonight
Reply
Wyla Thomas
July 5, 2017 at 3:35 pm
Looks so tasty!
Reply
Sean
April 7, 2017 at 8:04 pm
Culver’s is the best
Reply
Kay
December 30, 2016 at 11:55 am
I have passed by a local Culver’s at least a million times. Thought it was just another fast food joint. You had me at “butter”. I will be visit soon. Thanks for the tip on buttering the bun on both sides and squishing and grilling the meat. Trying your copycat recipe soon. New to your site, and really love it. and your comments. Keep them coming…please!
Reply
Teresa
June 16, 2016 at 7:13 am
Do you have the recipe for their custard and concrete mixers? My husband and I love Culver’s!
Thank you so much for all the recipes you share!!
Hugs, Teresa
Reply
- Stephanie
  August 4, 2016 at 5:28 pm
  I am sorry I don’t have these recipes at this time. Thanks for checking out this recipe.
  Reply
MarieJoy
May 13, 2016 at 9:03 am
Do you have the Culver’s Custard recipe?
Reply
Hafsa
May 10, 2016 at 11:20 am

These burgers looks delicious I am going to try this soon. Thanks for sharing this recipe 🙂
Reply
Tambra Nicole
May 6, 2016 at 4:33 pm
This place sounds great! It doesn’t look like they’ve made their way to my part of Texas yet. When they do come my way I’ll be sure to stop in.
Thanks!
Tambra
Reply
- Stephanie
  May 8, 2016 at 6:24 am
  You must go when they do. They are one of my favorite fast food restaurants to go to. Everything is made fresh, and made to order.
  Reply
elenka
May 6, 2016 at 2:52 pm
This needed a recipe?? (Culver’s burger?)
Reply
- Stephanie
  May 6, 2016 at 3:10 pm
  I had requests for it!
  Reply
- GeriGreene
  May 6, 2016 at 5:11 pm
  Oh be nice ! This is a great recipe site. Some of us appreciate all the recipes.
  Reply
Shirl Meckley
May 5, 2016 at 10:15 pm
I would love to have your recipe for Chicken and Dumplins? I have never ever made good ones. And EASY. Thanks
Shirley
Reply

4.76 from 25 votes (14 ratings without comment)

Copycat Culver's Butter Burgers - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What makes a Culver's butter burger a butter burger? ›

What a lot of folks don't know is why it's called a ButterBurger. We call our ButterBurgers “ButterBurgers,” not because they've been cooked, marinated, dunked, fried or drizzled with butter but because we lightly butter the crown of the bun for an extra touch of goodness.

What is the unhealthiest food at Culvers? ›

The Bratwurst Pub Burger at Culver's is considered unhealthy due to its high calorie and fat content, as well as its high sodium content, Chun comments. "One serving of the Bratwurst Pub Burger contains 1,010 calories, 65 grams of fat (28 grams of saturated fat), and 2,100 milligrams of sodium.

Keep Reading ›

Why is there no Culvers in California? ›

Culver's is currently available in 26 states, but not California. The closest location to San Francisco is about 580 miles, or 9 hours away, in Bullhead City, AZ. According to the Culver's website, California is listed as a “Future Market” currently not available for franchising.

Discover More Details ›

What makes Culvers burgers butter burgers? ›

It's a Culver's family specialty and the burger that started it all. We use only fresh, never frozen beef, seared on a grill after you order and served on a lightly buttered, toasted bun.

Learn More ›

Does Culver's put mayo on their burgers? ›

We start with fresh, never frozen beef. Layer on real Wisconsin cheese, crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, pickles, sweet red onion and our signature mayo. Then cap with a lightly buttered, toasted bun. It's our ButterBurger^® at its best.

Learn More ›

What kind of cheese sauce does Culver's use? ›

Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce | Our Menu | Culver's.

Keep Reading ›

What's the difference between a ButterBurger and a regular burger? ›

A butter burger is a hamburger topped with butter, either directly on the patty, or on the bun. Likely invented in Wisconsin, they remain popular in some northern parts of the midwestern United States, and are the principal item of Wisconsin-based fast food restaurant Culver's.

What does butter do to burgers? ›

Butter is readily available, affordable, and adds moisture and fat to beef — making for a tender, juicy burger.

Get More Info ›

What is a Milwaukee butter burger? ›

Since 1936, the venerable Solly's Grille in Milwaukee has been the prized purveyor of the butter burger, which is one-third-pound sirloin patty topped with what seems like a more or less equal amount of sweet and creamy Wisconsin butter.