Corned Beef Burger
On March 09, 2022 (Updated October 24, 2023)
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For a burger that packs all the flavor into a single bite, try out this recipe for a corned beef burger. Not your average burger, this guy combines thinly sliced corned beef with a juicy ground beef patty for a one-of-a-kind meal.
Grilled Burger with Corned Beef
Both my husband, Todd and I hail from Utah, and while it is highly debated, we like to think that the all-amazing pastrami burger originated in Salt Lake City. It sounds simple, but lemme tell ya, this burger is on a whole other level. Start with a simple burger and add a heaping stack of delicious pastrami. It’s beyond good.
While I love myself a good pastrami burger, I suddenly got to thinking, “How would the same burger taste with corned beef instead of pastrami?” The answer? So. Freaking. Good.
Ingredients for Corned Beef Burgers
If you love Reuben sandwiches, you’ll absolutely love this corned beef burger. It’s basically like if a Reuben and pastrami burger had a meat baby. A delicious meat baby topped with a thousand island burger dressing. The burger fixings are simple, and it’s a breeze to turn a regular burger into something otherworldly with a few extra ingredients.
- 80/20 ground beef. This ratio for burger patties is a must-have. Fat means flavor, and 20% fat in your ground beef will mean you end up with a juicy patty that is full of beefy goodness.
- Hey Grill Hey Beef Rub. This rub is a great salt and pepper-based rub perfect for seasoning hamburgers. You can buy it ready to go from the Hey Grill Hey Store. If you don’t own any Beef Rub, season the patties with equal parts salt and pepper.
- Thinly sliced corned beef. Feel free to keep things simple and snag some corned beef from the store for this ingredient. If you’re feeling fancy and have some extra time on your hands, I suggest making some homemade corned beef using my tutorial and recipe for How to Make Corned Beef.
- Swiss cheese. The thicker the slices the better!
- Saurkraut. This ingredient is a must-have for added brininess and crunch.
- Butter lettuce.
- Marbled rye bread. Keeping this recipe just like a burger/Reuben combo, sandwich everything between two thick slices of marble rye bread.
- Homemade thousand island dressing. This homemade dressing recipe is available in the recipe card below, but you can always use storebought if you’re strapped for time.
How to Make a Corned Beef Burger
The process of making a corned beef burger is relatively simple. If you can grill a patty, you can make this burger! Here’s how to make a corned beef burger.
- Prep the patties. Form the patties by dividing the meat into 4 equal parts and shaping them into patties. Season on both sides with Beef Rub or equal parts salt and pepper.
- Make the sauce. Scroll to the recipe card below for ingredients and instructions on making the homemade thousand island burger dressing. Set the sauce aside while you cook the burgers.
- Grill. Place the seasoned patties on a grill preheated to 450 degrees F. Grill for 3-4 minutes per side. Add the corned beef to the grill for the last two minutes of cooking. Top each burger with the corned beef then the swiss cheese, and cook until the patties have reached your desired doneness or an internal temperature of 155-160 degrees F.
- Toast the bread. Place the marble rye bread on the grill grates and toast for a few minutes per side.
- Assemble the burgers. Remove everything from the grill. Layer the thousand island sauce a toasted slice of bread followed by lettuce and sliced red onion (if desired). Top with a cheesy, corned beef-covered patty, sauerkraut, more sauce, and the top slice of bread.
This burger tastes great with a side of Grilled Sweet Potato Fries, Grilled Potato Wedges, or Crispy Grilled Baby Potatoes.
Corned Beef Grilled Burger Variations
Now, I’m all for switching some things up on this burger so it’s tailored just for you and your tastebuds.
- Swap corned beef for pastrami. This burger has a good heft of flavor, but if you want to get creative or mess around with your burger, try out some Homemade Pastrami for a similar tasty bite. It’ll still have that Reuben feel with slightly different meat. Both delicious and both worth trying.
- Try a burger bun. To make this an authentic burger, switch out the marble rye bread for a classic burger bun.
- Top it with onion rings. Feeling really, really adventurous? Top this burger high with Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings. They’ll add the most incredible flavor to the burger with a killer crunch. (Plus, bacon? Can we really say no to bacon?)
- Whole grain mustard. If you aren’t a fan of Thousand Island dressing, keep things simple with a nice slather of whole grain mustard.
Any special toppings or variations you used on your corned beef burger with success? Share them in the comments section below the recipe card!
More Grilled Burger Recipes
If you’re a fan of awesome burgers that bring a little something more to the table, try these other awesome grilled burger recipes from Hey Grill Hey.
Corned Beef Burger Recipe
Whether you cook this burger up for a unique St. Patrick’s Day treat or you decide to try it on a whim, I can guarantee it will be one you come back to making time and time again.
Follow the recipe below and let’s make something delicious! I’m all about helping you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a BBQ hero. If you want to see more of my recipes, tips, and behind-the-scenes action, follow along on my social channels. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!
Grilled Corned Beef Burger
Ingredients
- 8 slices marble rye bread thickly sliced
- 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
- 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Beef Rub or equal parts salt and pepper
- ½ pound corned beef thinly sliced
- 4 thick slices swiss cheese
Homemade Thousand Island
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Toppings
- sauerkraut
- sliced red onions
- butter lettuce
Instructions
- Preheat. Fire up the grill and allow it to preheat to 450 degrees F.
- Make the sauce. Make the homemade thousand island sauce by combining all ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside and prepare all burger toppings.
- Season. Form patties by dividing the pound of ground beef into 1/4ths. Season both sides with Hey Grill Hey Beef Rub or equal parts salt and pepper.
- Grill. Place the seasoned patties on the grill grates and close the lid. Grill for 3-4 minutes. Flip the patties over. Arrange slices of corned beef right on the grill grates to crisp up for about 2 minutes. Top each burger with an equal portion of the grilled corned beef and a slice of Swiss cheese. Close the lid and cook the burgers to your desired doneness and cheese meltiness.
- Toast the bread. Slide the burgers over to a portion of the grill with no direct heat. Set the slices of marbled rye onto the grill grates and toast each side for 1-2 minutes.
- Assemble your burgers. Place a layer of burger sauce on the bottom slice of rye, followed by lettuce and onion. Top with a corned beef burger patty. Top with a pile of sauerkraut, more burger sauce, and the top slice of toasted rye bread. Serve with lots of napkins and a cold beverage.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can’t review until I make…Can’t make until I know how to slice corned beef into those thin “sheets”shown in your pics. Thanks!