A&W Teen Burger (Copycat) (2024)

Ask anyone in Canada about their favorite fast-food burger, and they'll say the Teen burger at A&W. If they don't - they're lying - Or they work for Mcdonald's.

The Teen burger is the most delicious fast-food burger ever made. Period. This is my copycat recipe, and I believe it tastes even better than the original.

🍔 Dissecting the burger

The beauty of replicating your favorite burgers at home is that it's REALLY easy. Burgers are already deconstructed. Just lift off each ingredient, and you basically have the recipe.

So I bought a Teen burger, and this is each ingredient from bottom to top:

• Bottom bun
• Yellow mustard
• Ketchup
• Dill Pickles
• Onions
• Beef Patty
• A&W seasoning salt
• Cheddar cheese
• Bacon
• Tomato
• Iceberg lettuce
• Mayonnaise
• Top bun

Yes, there is no magical Teen sauce - it's just mustard, ketchup, and mayo. The A&W burger ingredients are all basic and available at any major grocery store. Having said that, it's important to buy the right ingredients to deliver the best copycat Teen burger recipe.

🥩 The burger patty

The A&W Teen Burger is a classic smash burger, which means that the patty is smashed onto a hot griddle or skillet to create a crispy, caramelized exterior and juicy interior.

For my recipe, I use plain ground beef. It offers the most crumbly texture and crisps up nicely using a smash burger press.

Make sure you use beef with at least 20% fat. This is usually labeled as "Regular ground beef" in grocery stores. Try to avoid lean or extra-lean, as you really need the extra fat for the burgers to taste juicy.

🍞 The buns

After many sandwich attempts, I've discovered Dempster's white hamburger buns to be the closest match. They're soft, fluffy, and just like the ones at A&W.

I buy them in bulk at Costco for less than $6 for 18 buns. Here's a picture of the kind I use:

After many sandwich attempts, I've discovered Dempster's white hamburger buns to be the closest match. I buy them in bulk at Costco for less than $6 for 18 buns.

🍳 The sauce

Unlike Mozza burgers, there is no secret sauce. A&W Teen sauce is just individual layers of mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise.

I think the brand of the condiments is what matters the most.

For the ketchup and mustard, use a popular brand like Heinz. Make sure you use classic yellow mustard instead of Dijon.

For the mayonnaise, I'm almost certain they use Hellmann's. I saw the employees unloading boxes once, and they had many giant boxes for it.

Use a 2-1-2 ratio of ketchup, mustard, and mayofor the best results.

🧂 The seasoning

My recipe only uses salt and black pepper for the A&W burger seasoning. In my opinion, it needs nothing else! What makes my A&W Teen burger recipe so delicious is the ratio of condiments and contrasting textures from the various ingredients, not the seasoning.

I've served my copycat recipe to many different groups, and most of them agree it tastes the same or better than A&W. But, if you really want A&W seasoning salt, I've added a quick recipe in the recipe card and instructions below.

But I recommend starting with just black pepper and salt - you'll be amazed at how much flavor they add!

🥓 The bacon

Along with the beef patty and iceberg lettuce, bacon provides a layer of crunchiness to my copycat recipe.

Teen burgers contain one slice of crispy bacon cut in half. I like my bacon EXTRA crispy, so I cook my bacon for at least 10 minutes on a nonstick pan until all the fat is rendered out.

STEP 2: Prepare vegetable toppings:

• Slice the dill pickles into ⅛-inch slices and transfer to a small bowl.
• Cut onions into 1/16-inch dice and transfer to a small bowl.
• Wash and tear your iceberg lettuce into burger-sized pieces. The best parts of the lettuce are the white and light-green sections near the base of each leaf. They offer a terrific crunch.
• Slice tomatoes into ⅛-inch rounds. Beefsteak tomatoes are the best for sandwiches and burgers.

STEP 3: Place bacon in a single layer on a large nonstick pan. Cook them for 10 minutes on medium heat, flipping every 1 minute, until they're crispy and their fat has mostly rendered out. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.

STEP 4: Divide ground beef into 4 balls (about ½ cup or 175g each). They should be about the size of a tennis ball. Set aside.

STEP 5: Heat a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat until it's smoking. Place a beef ball in the center of the pan. Place a piece of parchment paper on top and press down with a burger press to form a patty about ¾-inch thick.

Let the burger cook for 2-3 minutes undisturbed. During this time, the bottom will get browned and crispy.

STEP 6: After 2-3 minutes, flip the patty and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Ensure the center of the patty reaches 165°F (74°C) to kill off any harmful bacteria.

STEP 7: Season the patties with A&W seasoning or salt and black pepper, place a slice of cheddar cheese on top, and add two pieces of crispy bacon.

STEP 8: Toast 4 hamburger buns in a toaster or toaster oven.

For the bottom bun: Spread 1 ½ teaspoons of yellow mustard. Then, spread 1 tablespoon of ketchup. Finally, add two slices of dill pickles and 2 teaspoons of minced onions.

For the top bun: Spread 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Then, add 2-3 pieces of iceberg lettuce and 1 slice of tomato.

You should end up with three components that comprise the whole burger. Place the patty on the bottom bun, and then place the top bun on top. Repeat with the remaining burgers, and enjoy!

👨🏻‍🍳 Variations

The Teen Burger is actually the most complex burger of all the "family burgers." Unlike the other burgers, it has cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon. To make the other "family burgers," you simply remove those ingredients and add extra patties.

For example, to make a:

• A&W Mama burger: Remove the cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes.
• A&W Papa burger: Make a Mama burger and then add an extra patty.
• A&W Grandpa burger: Make a Papa burger and add an extra patty.

A&W Teen Burger (Copycat)

Looking for a copycat A&W Teen burger recipe that you can make at home? Look no further than this easy homemade smash burger recipe! With this thin burger recipe, you can recreate the delicious flavors of the classic Teen burger right in your own kitchen.

Nutrition

Calories: 756kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 42gFat: 51gSaturated Fat: 20gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 156mgSodium: 598mgPotassium: 898mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1225IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 239mgIron: 6mg

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.