Wisconsin’s love affair with butter burgers borders on legendary status. These juicy, messy masterpieces feature beef patties slathered with creamy Wisconsin butter that melts gloriously into the bun.
I’ve eaten my way through the Badger State searching for the most diet-destroying burgers around, and let me tell you, willpower crumbles faster than a butter-soaked bun when you’re facing these temptations.
1. Kroll’s West: Green Bay’s Griddle Glory
Nestled near Lambeau Field, Kroll’s West serves butter burgers that Packers fans swear by before and after games. Their charcoal-grilled patties develop a beautiful crust while staying juicy inside, the perfect canvas for that signature Wisconsin butter.
Where Kroll’s truly shines is their bun-buttering technique. Rather than just slapping it on top, they toast their buns in butter, creating a protective barrier that somehow prevents sogginess while maximizing flavor. Hungry football fans have been known to brave snowstorms just to get their Kroll’s fix.
After experiencing their perfect combination of smoky beef and sweet cream butter, I completely understand the dedication. The cheese curds on the side aren’t exactly diet-friendly either!
2. AJ Bombers: Explosive Flavor in Madison
How does a place named after bombing aircraft deliver such precision with butter burgers? AJ Bombers in Madison has mastered the art of controlled indulgence. Their Milwaukee Burger, crowned Wisconsin’s best burger in 2015, combines local beef with a generous butter bath.
Though gimmicky with their peanut delivery system (they literally bomb your table with peanuts), there’s nothing but serious craftsmanship in their kitchen. The burgers arrive with Wisconsin cheese curds melted directly into the patty, creating pockets of gooey surprise beneath the butter-painted surface. Hence my diet’s repeated demise at their hands.
The combination of mushrooms, Swiss cheese, and their signature “Bomber sauce” alongside all that butter creates a flavor explosion worthy of the restaurant’s name.
3. Mihm’s Charcoal Grill: Menasha’s Flame-Kissed Legend
Where butter meets fire, magic happens. Mihm’s in Menasha has been charcoal-grilling their butter burgers since 1958, creating a smoky complexity that perfectly complements the richness of Wisconsin butter. Family-owned and fiercely traditional, Mihm’s refuses to change with the times, thank goodness!
Their burgers arrive wrapped in wax paper that quickly becomes translucent from the magnificent butter content. The charcoal imparts a distinctive flavor that can’t be replicated on standard grills. Watching the grill master at work is half the experience. With practiced precision developed over decades, they know exactly when to flip, when to butter, and when to serve.
My personal recommendation: order the double with fried onions and prepare for a transcendent butter burger experience.
4. Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry: Madison’s Butter Burger Royalty
Madison students and butter burger aficionados alike bow before Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry. Operating since 1974, Dotty’s has perfected the art of indulgence with their Heart Throb burger, featuring a thick layer of molten butter mixed with herbs and spices.
While most butter burger joints keep it simple, Dotty’s isn’t afraid to experiment. Their signature creation includes a secret three-cheese blend that merges with the butter to form an almost sauce-like consistency that coats every bite. However tempting their creative options might be, I always return to their classic butter burger.
There’s something magical about their seasoned butter that elevates the entire experience. The vintage décor and location near the University of Wisconsin campus only add to the charm of this Madison institution.
5. Oscar’s Pub & Grill: Milwaukee’s Hidden Treasure
Hidden on Milwaukee’s south side, Oscar’s elevates the butter burger to a culinary art form. Their “Big O” burger features a half-pound patty that’s seasoned so perfectly you’d think your grandmother was in the kitchen.
What makes Oscar’s special is their balance, generous with butter without crossing into excess. The beef-to-butter ratio achieves harmony rarely found in this indulgent category. They also add chipotle jack cheese that melts beautifully into the butter, creating a spicy-creamy combination that’s absolutely addictive.
Though the neighborhood might seem unassuming, locals pack this place nightly. After one bite, I understood why Milwaukee natives try keeping Oscar’s their little secret. Their hand-cut fries deserve their own special mention too!
6. Solly’s Grille: The Original Butter Bomb
If you’re serious about butter burgers, pilgrimage to Solly’s in Milwaukee, where they’ve been clogging arteries since 1936. The moment your burger arrives, you’ll notice the pool of melted butter literally cascading down the sides and forming a golden puddle on your plate.
Though health experts might faint at the sight, your taste buds will throw a party. Each bite delivers a perfect harmony of savory beef, sweet onions, and that unmistakable rich butter flavor that’s become Solly’s signature.
My cardiologist winces every time I mention this place, but some pleasures are worth the extra treadmill time. Their classic butter burger remains the standard against which all others are judged, and most are found wanting.
7. Kopp’s Frozen Custard: Butter Burgers With Sweet Endings
Famous primarily for their frozen custard, Kopp’s locations throughout Milwaukee suburbs secretly serve some of Wisconsin’s finest butter burgers. Their double cheeseburger arrives with a generous layer of butter that slowly melts into both the top and bottom buns.
Unlike competitors who might skimp on patty size to compensate for butter richness, Kopp’s goes all-in with substantial beef that stands up to the butter onslaught. The real genius comes in their burger-to-custard ratio, the savory butter burger perfectly prepares your palate for their legendary frozen custard.
Whenever friends visit from out of state, I bring them to Kopp’s for the full Wisconsin experience. The look on their faces when they see butter deliberately added to an already indulgent burger is priceless, matched only by their expression after the first bite.
8. Pete’s Hamburger Stand: Prairie du Chien’s Butter Burger Time Machine
Since 1909, Pete’s Hamburger Stand has been serving butter burgers from a humble window in Prairie du Chien. Their burgers are steamed rather than grilled, a technique that infuses every fiber of the meat with buttery goodness.
Though they’re only open seasonally, devotees plan entire road trips around Pete’s schedule. The burgers arrive wrapped in paper with nothing but butter and onions, no ketchup, no mustard, no distractions from butter burger perfection. Waiting in the inevitable line becomes part of the experience, as generations of families share stories of their first Pete’s burger.
My summer isn’t complete without at least one pilgrimage to this historic stand. After 110+ years in business, they’ve clearly mastered the art of the butter burger in its purest, most unapologetic form.
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