Wagyu Burgers

Top-quality delicious Wagyu burgers are not just for fancy restaurants. Enjoy a juicy rich Wagyu hamburger at home with this easy recipe. For all the melt-in-your-mouth flavor you get from ground Wagyu beef without the high price, grill these juicy patties & elevate any cookout into a special occasion.

Grilling these burgers with ground Wagyu beef is a yummy way to enjoy every summer cookout. But you can make these any time of year with my tips on how to make crispy smash burgers or skillet-cooked burgers even while camping. No more excuses, it's burger time!

For a gourmet BBQ, grill up these & serve them with some homemade sweet potato fries & sip on a few fresh watermelon martinis. Perfect for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, tailgating on game day, or treating dad for Father's Day.

Jump to:

• What is Wagyu?
• What Does Wagyu Taste Like?
• Where to Buy Wagyu & Why is it Expensive?
• Ingredients for Wagyu Beef Burgers
• How to Form Burger Patties
• How to Grill Wagyu Burgers
• Best Temperature for Cooking Wagyu Burgers
• Other Ways to Cook Wagyu Burgers
• Toppings
• Equipment
• Storing & Reheating
• Top Tips
• FAQ
• Other Grilling Recipes
• What to Serve with Wagyu Hamburgers
• Wagyu Burgers
• Food safety

What is Wagyu?

Wagyu is considered a superior quality cut of beef with extensive fat marbling, rich flavor, and amazing tenderness. Wagyu ('wagyou') is a specialty breed of cattle native to Japan. Wagyu literally means Japanese beef – 'wa' means Japanese & 'gyu' means beef.

There are different levels of quality ratings for the beef raised to meet the Wagyu standards. In Japan, it is graded by giving a letter from A-C and a number between 1 - 5. A is the best letter and 5 is the best number. For example, A5 is the highest quality rating & C1 is the lowest awarded in Japan by the government. All Japanese Wagyu are purebred and not crossbred with other cattle, such as the ones in Australia or America.

Four types of cow produce Wagyu beef: Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Polled, and Japanese Shorthorn. These breeds store fat differently, resulting in the fantastic marbling that Wagyu beef is known for worldwide.

All Wagyu, even beef from other countries, are genetically related & can be traced back to these 4 kinds of cows. For beef to be designated Wagyu, it must come from one of these breeds and be raised & fed by standards recognized by government food designations.

What Does Wagyu Taste Like?

The taste of Wagyu beef is a delicacy enjoyed around the world and for good reason, it is unmatched in quality, texture, & flavor. It is buttery, rich, & will likely be the most tender beef you have ever tried. The perfect ratio of meat to fat in the marbling of Wagyu beef allows every bit to literally melt in your mouth.

Where to Buy Wagyu & Why is it Expensive?

Some Costco & Sam's Club locations now offer a 3-pk of American Wagyu Ground Beef. Each 1-pound sealed pack is perfect for making 4-6 patties or even 2 half-pounders for the burger lovers in some of us. I have also seen it at Wal-Mart under the name Marketside.

Your local butcher shop, market, grocery store, or meat supplier may be able to supply or sell you ground Wagyu. There are many online stores to purchase real Wagyu beef & here are a few choices:

• The Wagyu Shop - including A5 Japanese, Australian, & American steaks & other cuts.
• Snake River Farms - restaurant-quality American ground beef sold in 1-pound packs at a great price.

Ingredients for Wagyu Beef Burgers

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• Wagyu Ground Beef - for this recipe I am using American Wagyu Beef that I purchased at Costco - try Japanese or Australian also.
• Seasoning Blend - Kinder's Butchers Blend or Buttery Steakhouse are both great overall spice blends for grilling burgers.
• All the fixings - buns, condiments, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, etc

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to Form Burger Patties

I like to use my hands to roll & press the ground beef into rustic-looking patties. I try to not overwork the meat and just get it to call come together into a round flat patty. Pressing the center down so it is lower than the edges, allows the burger to rise as it heats in the center without it become a meatball.

For uniform Wagyu beef patties, use a burger press. These patty makers are inexpensive, easy to use, & small for easy storage in your kitchen or RV.

How to Grill Wagyu Burgers

There are several ways to cook ground beef patties from Wagyu. In summer, grilling is our favorite way. If you don't have a grill see the next below for how to make a Wagyu Smash Burger or Pan-Fried Burgers in a skillet.

Whenever forming, prepping, & cooking burgers at home, one of the top things to remember is to make sure the beef is at room temperature. This allows the meat to cook evenly when it is not at a different temperature on the surface versus the center which may be colder. I also find that meat seizes up and tightens in the reaction going from cold to hot. That makes the meat tough - no thank you!

While the meat is coming to room temperature, preheat your grill so it is at the right temperature before you throw those patties over the flame. Also, prepare the other ingredients such as slicing tomatoes & onions or washing & preparing lettuce.

Best Temperature for Cooking Wagyu Burgers

When grilling Wagyu hamburger patties, the ideal temperature for the charcoal, gas, or propane grill will be between 325-350°. This allows for a crust to sear on the burgers to hold in the juices without it being too high to overcook & dry out the top-grade beef. Start your coals early or turn up the heat on your propane or gas grill.

For 4-ounce Wagyu burgers, grill them for 3-5 minutes on each side. Add a slice of cheese in the final minute if you want to make Wagyu Cheeseburger!

Cooking time will depend on how thick they are. For example: if you want medium-rare, remove them when they reach 130°, while they rest for 1-2 minutes they will reach 135°.

I recommend removing the patty when it reaches the low end of the guide so it will not overcook once it comes off the heat and rests while you assemble your burger.

Make it your way. But I will be honest if you are going to cook it too well done - Wagyu may not be what you want to spend your money on. It is the best-enjoyed medium at a safe but juicy temperature of 140°.

Other Ways to Cook Wagyu Burgers

Here are two more great ways to cook these beef patties made with fresh ground Wagyu. Besides barbecuing over a gas or charcoal grill, you can use these alternate cooking methods.

• SMASH BURGER - instead of making patties, roll meat into 4 balls. Preheat a griddle or flat surface like a blackstone grill to 350°. Place each ball of beef on the hot surface, using parchment paper over the meat, and firmly smash it straight down (use the bottom of a glass, the back of a spatula, or a smash burger press) into a thin patty. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side.
• PAN-FRIED IN SKILLET - form patties & preheat a cast iron skillet to 350° (this works while camping over a fire too). Place the patties in the hot skillet & cook until desired internal temperature has been reached - about 3-5 minutes per side.

Toppings

Everyone likes to build a burger to their liking. Top your freshly cooked hamburgers and cheeseburgers with these great toppings. Besides the classics like iceberg lettuce, juicy tomatoes, dill pickles, & red onion, here are some more fun things to add to your hamburger sandwich.

HINT: I personally don't like to overdo it with a ton of things or bold flavors. I like o really enjoy and taste the Wagyu flavor!

• Spicy - add grilled jalapenos or pepper jack cheese.
• California - add Monterey Jack cheese, homemade ranch, & sliced avocado.
• Kid-friendly - just ketchup & pickles.
• Deluxe - add sauteed mushrooms or caramelized onions.
• Asian-Inspired - use Kewpie spicy mayo & some spears of yamagobo on the side.

This burger recipe is already gluten-free, keto-friendly, low-carb, & diabetic-approved. Enjoy a Wagyu burger on a Fat Heat Keto Roll or as a lettuce wrap.

Equipment

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Storing & Reheating

Leftover grilled burgers store well in the refrigerator. Place the cooked & cooled Wagyu burger patties in a container with a tight-fitting lid & refrigerator for up to 3 days. The best way to reheat them is in the air fryer at 380° for 5 minutes or place them back on the grill for a few minutes on each side.

Though raw Wagyu beef can be frozen for up to 6 months, I do not recommend freezing cooked burgers. It is safe to freeze leftovers but they will be tough & not taste their best. When you spend the money on Wagyu, enjoy it fresh!

FAQ

Food safety

When working with raw meat, here are some safety tips & healthy cooking guidelines to follow:

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 145 °F (medium) for the safest cooking for ground beef
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands & kitchen surfaces/equipment after coming into contact with raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave food cooking on a grill unattended

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.