Oktoberfest Beer Cheese Pretzel Burgers for Easy Dinner

Crispy Oktoberfest beer cheese pretzel burgers are the ultimate easy dinner. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to the perfect pretzel bun. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Sesame Garlic Shrimp Rice Stacks and Easy Skirt Steak Rice Bowls with Fresh Chimichurri Sauce.

What You'll Need for Oktoberfest Beer Cheese Pretzel Burgers for Easy Dinner

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 4 cups beer
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 large pretzel buns
• 1 large onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• Optional: Lettuce
• Optional: Tomato
• Optional: Pickles
• Optional: Onion
• Optional: Ketchup
• Optional: Mustard

How to Make Oktoberfest Beer Cheese Pretzel Burgers for Easy Dinner

1. Burger Patties: Combine ground beef, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Form into 4 equal patties and refrigerate.
2. Beer Cheese: In a saucepan, combine beer, cornstarch, and shredded cheese. Cook over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in garlic.
3. Pretzel Buns: In a large bowl, mix 1 cup warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes. Add flour, salt, and baking soda. Knead until smooth. Divide into 4 equal pieces and shape into buns. Boil buns in a mixture of water and baking soda for 1 minute. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 425°F for 10 minutes.
4. Cook Burgers: Preheat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Add burger patties and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side or until desired doneness. In the last minute of cooking, top each patty with beer cheese.
5. Assemble Burgers: Slice buns and toast if desired. Place a burger patty on the bottom bun, top with lettuce, tomato, and any other desired toppings. Spread beer cheese on the top bun and place on top of the burger.

Storing & Reheating Oktoberfest Beer Cheese Pretzel Burgers for Easy Dinner

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover burgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The beer cheese can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge.

Freezing Oktoberfest Beer Cheese Pretzel Burgers for Easy Dinner

Freeze cooked burgers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. This may make the bun soggy.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: Use a meat thermometer to ensure your burgers are cooked to perfection.
• Best substitution: Substitute the beer with chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version.
• Make-ahead: The beer cheese can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If the buns are overcooked, soak them in water for a few seconds before boiling to soften them.

Oktoberfest Beer Cheese Pretzel Burgers for Easy Dinner

⏱

Prep

1 hour

🍳

Cook

20 minutes

⏳

Total

1 hour 20 minutes

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free (if using gluten-free buns)

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 4 cups beer
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 large pretzel buns
• 1 large onion
• 4 cloves garlic

Seasonings

• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tbsp cornstarch

Optional Toppings

• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Pickles
• Onion
• Ketchup
• Mustard

Instructions

1. Burger Patties: Combine ground beef, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Form into 4 equal patties and refrigerate.
2. Beer Cheese: In a saucepan, combine beer, cornstarch, and shredded cheese. Cook over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in garlic.
3. Pretzel Buns: In a large bowl, mix 1 cup warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes. Add flour, salt, and baking soda. Knead until smooth. Divide into 4 equal pieces and shape into buns. Boil buns in a mixture of water and baking soda for 1 minute. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 425°F for 10 minutes.
4. Cook Burgers: Preheat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Add burger patties and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side or until desired doneness. In the last minute of cooking, top each patty with beer cheese.
5. Assemble Burgers: Slice buns and toast if desired. Place a burger patty on the bottom bun, top with lettuce, tomato, and any other desired toppings. Spread beer cheese on the top bun and place on top of the burger.

Notes

• Chef tip: Use a meat thermometer to ensure your burgers are cooked to perfection.
• Best substitution: Substitute the beer with chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version.
• Make-ahead: The beer cheese can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If the buns are overcooked, soak them in water for a few seconds before boiling to soften them.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftover burgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked burgers for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. This may make the bun soggy.
• Make ahead: The beer cheese can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 750
• Protein: 45g
• Fat: 35g
• Carbs: 55g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 2300mg
• Cholesterol: 145mg
• Sat. Fat: 18g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Oktoberfest Beer Cheese Pretzel Burgers for Easy Dinner FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Oktoberfest Beer Cheese Pretzel Burgers for Easy Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!