Old-School Deli Burgers
with Tangy Mayo, Creamy Coleslaw & Crispy Fried Onions
- Eggs
- Milk
- Soy
- Wheat
Is there anything more satisfying than a burger? We checked, and the answer was “no!” This classic deli version (for a quickie dinner idea) will not disappoint: You’ll smash juicy beef patties right in the pan to create craggy, crispy edges. Tuck those perfect patties into extra-soft potato buns, top with a pile of tangy slaw (plus crispy fried onions for extra texture and flavor), and slather in a top-secret deli sauce that’s creamy, tangy, sweet, and packed with umami.
Ingredients
1 unit
Lemon
1 unit
Ketchup
4 tablespoon
Mayonnaise
(Contains: Eggs)
1.5 tablespoon
Sour Cream
(Contains: Milk)
2 teaspoon
Dijon Mustard
1 tablespoon
Fry Seasoning
10 ounce
Ground Beef
4 ounce
Coleslaw Mix
2 unit
Potato Buns
(Contains: Eggs, Milk, Soy, Wheat)
1 unit
Crispy Fried Onions
(Contains: Wheat)
Not included in your delivery
½ teaspoon
Sugar
1 teaspoon
Cooking Oil
Salt
Pepper
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Cooking Steps
• Wash and dry produce. • Quarter lemon. • In a small bowl, combine ketchup, half the mayonnaise, half the sour cream, half the mustard, ¼ tsp sugar, ¼ tsp Fry Seasoning (you’ll use the rest in the next step), juice from one lemon wedge, ½ tsp salt, and pepper. (For 4 servings, use ½ tsp sugar, ½ tsp Fry Seasoning, juice from two lemon wedges, and 1 tsp salt.)
• In a medium bowl, gently combine beef*, remaining mustard, remaining Fry Seasoning, a big pinch of salt, and pepper. Form beef into two equal-size balls (four balls for 4 servings). • Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once pan is hot, add beef; firmly flatten each ball with a lightly oiled spatula to create patties, each slightly wider than a burger bun. Cook until browned and cooked through, 3-5 minutes per side. (Don’t worry if the patties aren’t perfectly round—those irregular edges will turn crispy.)
• Meanwhile, in a second medium bowl, combine coleslaw mix, remaining mayonnaise, remaining sour cream, ¼ tsp sugar (½ tsp for 4 servings), juice from two lemon wedges (four lemon wedges for 4), a pinch of salt, and pepper. • Halve buns; toast until golden.
• Spread a thin layer of tangy mayo on bottom buns. Fill buns with patties, crispy fried onions, and as much remaining tangy mayo as you like. • Divide burgers and slaw between plates. (You can also top burgers with a bit of slaw for an authentic deli special.) Serve.
Ground Beef is fully cooked when internal temperature reaches 160°.
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Sep 2026- Flavor: The tangy deli sauce and crispy fried onions are highlights, and the smash-burger technique delivers juicy, flavorful patties. Some found the fry seasoning in the meat overpowering; others felt the overall dish needed more depth — adding garlic, cheese, or pickles helped.
- Ease of prep: This comes together quickly on the stovetop, though smashing the patties can get a bit messy with oil splatter.
- Suggestions: Make the coleslaw first and let it sit so the flavors meld; reduce the lemon juice by half if you prefer a milder slaw, and add a pinch more sugar to balance the acidity. Add a slice of cheese to the burger — many customers felt it was the one missing element.
- Leftovers: The sauce doesn't store especially well overnight, so this one is best enjoyed fresh.
- Portions: The coleslaw doubles as both a burger topping and the only side, leaving some customers hungry — consider adding potato wedges, fries, or a simple salad to round out the meal.
Reviews from our home cooks
I only gave 3 stars because I had to make several changes in the recipe. The tangy Mayo had way too much salt, I would decrease to only 1/8 of a teaspoon. I had to increase the sugar to a tablespoon just to balance it out. As far as cooking the hamburger, do NOT add oil. It has more than enough already. The slaw, I would increase the sugar to 1 tsp or more and decrease the lemon juice by half. After these changes, I will say your meal was excellent!
Ooohhh! Soo good! I think this is the 2nd time I've had a burger with the crispy fried onions - how have I never thought of that before?! Everything about this burger was delicious!
The burger was great! We wanted to make a suggestion to switch the recipe to make the coleslaw first so it can get colder.
This meal was excellent. The slaw was so easy and fresh. I actually added green onion and made it even better (I had remembered this from a previous recipe). I also added some cheese to the burger. It was great!
Loved the crispy onions on top of burger. I wish I had chopped the cabbage finer...a little too coarse for me.
Awesome flavors. I loved the crunchy fried onions and tangy slaw with mayo... OMG, so good.
This was good! I did the coleslaw a little different because I like it more vinegary & I didn't make the sauce I like my burgers old school just ketchup mustard pickles but still good
These burgers were delicious. Easy recipe and everything went so well together. My husband loved those crispy onions!
The burgers were good, sauce was flavorful - but the coleslaw was more of a condiment than a side. Didn't feel like a 'complete' meal. Would have liked sweet corn or a caesar salad with it!
Easy prep, quick cook/assemble time, and very flavorful! I only wish the side was better than just the coleslaw, which goes well on the burger!
