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How To Make USO Burgers

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Years ago my husband came back from a deployment to Okinawa raving about the USO burgers. He couldn’t wait to make them for me and now, years later, they are one of my kids’ favorite meals!

This is one of my favorite Blackstone Griddle recipes, so if you have one since you can make a big batch at once. But we’ve also done them on a small indoor griddle.

USO burger on a white plate on a brown table with a bag of wonder hamburger buns and camouflage clothing in the background with title text reading USO Burgers

For those who don’t know, USO stands for United Services Organization. It’s a non-profit organization that supports the U.S. military and their families in a number of ways, including operating centers near military installations and in airports to provide hospitality.

It was at the Camp Schwab USO in Okinawa where my husband first enjoyed what he refers to as either USO Burgers or Man Burgers, depending on his mood and who he’s talking to.

My husband loves the USO burgers because he feels like he gets breakfast, lunch, and dinner in one meal. These are mega burgers, loaded up with lots of extras. Skip the side dishes when you make these burgers because the burgers are a meal in themselves!

USO burger on a white plate on a brown table with a bag of wonder hamburger buns and camouflage clothing in the background

And, as it turns out, the perfect inspiration for me to share my husband’s favorite burger recipe. This is not a simple burger recipe but the end result is worth the effort.

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Key Components of USO Burgers

My husband loves the USO burgers because he feels like he gets breakfast, lunch, and dinner in one meal. These are mega burgers, loaded up with lots of extras. Skip the side dishes when you make these burgers because the burgers are a meal in themselves!

USO burger on a white plate on a brown table with camouflage clothing in the background

The first USO burger my husband made for me included:

  • hamburger bun
  • 1/4 lb hamburger patty
  • one slice of cheddar cheese
  • lettuce
  • one slice of tomato
  • sliced onions
  • one fried egg
  • crisp bacon slices
  • sliced jalapenos

For some reason, the epic magnitude of these burgers wasn’t quite enough for my husband. Over the years, he’s slowly added nuances to make his version of USO burgers even more special.

These nuances are the things my kids love best about USO burgers.

Seasoned Beef

We always make the patties ourselves. And by we, I mean my husband, since this is his go-to meal when he volunteers to take dinner duty.

Originally, he would season the hamburger with salt, pepper and garlic powder. A couple of years ago he started adding Montreal steak seasoning and the family agreed this was an improvement.

Bacon Weave

Because the burger is stacked quite high by the time all of the ingredients are piled on, my husband started experimenting with ways to make the layers more stable. He had a stroke of genius when it came to the bacon.

strips of uncooked bacon in a weave pattern on a black background

It’s almost impossible to eat a USO burger without a piece of bacon sliding out the side. So, my husband decided to weave the bacon together before cooking it to create a bacon blanket that sits nice and flat on the burger. And more importantly, holds the bacon pieces together so you don’t lose any of that salty goodness while you eat the burger.

Edible Egg Circle

The fried egg was also a frequent casualty during dinner. As you’ve probably noticed, fried eggs can be pretty slippery, which meant they are always trying to slide off the USO burger.

My husband solved this dilemma by using a large ring of fresh onion to contain the egg. He slices the onion, sets it on the griddle (or in the skillet) and cracks the egg into the center.

an egg cooking in the center of an onion slice in a frying pan

The egg might still be slippery, but the onion tends to hold its position on the burger. Look at how perfectly sized it is for the burger!

a cooked egg in the center of an onion on top of a uso burger on a white background

Avocado

Avocado is one of those foods we love so much that we try to put it on everything. USO burgers were the perfect home for it so they are naturally included in our version, even though they weren’t on the original in Okinawa.

USO burger on a white plate on a red cloth with a bag of wonder hamburger buns, a glass of water and camouflage clothing in the background

Ready to cook up your own homemade USO Burgers? Here are the detailed measurements and directions. Enjoy!

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๐Ÿ“‹ Recipe

USO Burgers

Corinne Schmitt
These burgers will be a huge hit, I promise!
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 1211 kcal

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Ingredients
  

For Hamburger Patties

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 Tablespoon Montreal steak seasoning
  • 1 egg

For USO Burgers

  • 4 Wonder hamburger buns
  • 4 hamburger patties
  • 12 slices bacon
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 large onion
  • 4 slices cheddar cheese
  • lettuce
  • 1 large tomato
  • sliced jalapenos optional
  • 1 avocado optional
  • condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo, BBQ sauce) optional

Instructions
 

  • Combine ground beef, steak seasoning (OR 1 teaspoon each of salt, pepper and garlic powder) and egg in large bowl. Using your hands, mix together and shape into 4 hamburger patties. Set aside.
  • Lay out 4 open Wonder hamburger buns on a large platter or individual plates. Add desired condiments to each bun. Set aside.
  • Cut bacon slices in half. Take 3 bacon strip halves and lay them side by side on a griddle. Take 3 more bacon strip halves and create a square, weaving the new pieces alternately over and under each of the 3 pieces laying on the griddle. Repeat 3 more times to create a total of 4 bacon weaves.
  • Turn on griddle and cook bacon weaves for several minutes until edges are just starting to brown, then carefully flip each bacon weave. If you flip too soon, the weave may fall apart. Cook an additional few minutes until bacon reaches desired crispness. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to cool. Then place one bacon weave on each hamburger bun bottom.
  • Cook hamburger patties on a grill or griddle over medium-high heat. Just before meat is cooked to desired doneness, top each patty with a slice of cheese. When cheese is melted, place each hamburger patty on top of a bacon weave on each bun.
  • If desired, add jalapenos to the top of each hamburger patty. Next, add lettuce and tomato slices.
  • Slice onion into rings that are approximately 1/2-inch thick. Remove inner rings and set aside. Place 4 rings on the griddle and crack one egg into each one. Cook over medium heat until cooked through. Place each onion-ringed egg on top of a tomato slice.
  • If desired, add sliced avocado on top of each egg. Then, put the top of the bun in place and serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 1211kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 64gFat: 90gSaturated Fat: 34gCholesterol: 418mgSodium: 1071mgPotassium: 1305mgFiber: 6gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1081IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 368mgIron: 8mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

3 thoughts on “How To Make USO Burgers”

  1. 5 stars
    Love USO Burgers. Fell in love in the same place when I was with 3rd a long time ago. Those, the fries, and Yaki Soba. Couldnโ€™t be be beat. Thank you for the recipe and I guess you know why I was looking; have a craving for one of these.

    Reply
    • Thank you for your service! I’m glad you found this recipe to help you satisfy your craving for USO Burgers.

      Reply
  2. This looks delicious! I agree two meals (breakfast and lunch) in one!

    Reply
5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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