Copycat Burger King Whopper

Beef Recipes Reading Time: 5 minutes
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This Copycat Burger King Whopper brings the iconic flame-grilled flavor home with just a few simple ingredients.

Juicy beef patties are seasoned with Worcestershire sauce and a touch of liquid smoke, giving them that signature smoky taste, then layered on toasted sesame seed buns with mayo, ketchup, crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, onion, and tangy pickles.

Add a slice of American cheese for the “Whopper with Cheese” version and enjoy a homemade burger that rivals the drive-thru fast food favorite.

Copycat Burger King Whopper

Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes

A sesame seed hamburger with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and pickles, served with French fries and an onion ring on a white plate. A cup of fries and a drink are in the background.

How To Make Copycat Burger King Whopper

Ingredients for burgers arranged on a white surface, including ground beef, cheese slices, burger buns, pickles, tomato, lettuce, onion, sauces, and seasonings.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef (80/20 for juicy patties)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 4 large sesame seed hamburger buns
  • 4 slices American cheese
  • 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 4 teaspoons ketchup
  • 8 dill pickle slices
  • 4 slices tomato
  • 4 leaves iceberg lettuce
  • 4 rings white onion
A Burger King meal with a cheeseburger, French fries, onion rings, a soft drink, and condiments on a white plate over a red and white checkered napkin.
A hand holds a Burger King cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles on a sesame seed bun; Burger King cup and fries in the background.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. In a large bowl, gently combine ground beef with Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Raw ground beef with various spices sprinkled on top in a clear glass mixing bowl on a white marble surface.

2. Divide into 4 portions and shape into thin, wide patties (about 5 inches across).

3. Heat a grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat.

4. Cook patties 3–4 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through (160°F internal temperature).

Three cooked ground beef patties are arranged on a white plate, set on a light marble surface.

5. Add cheese in the last minute if making Whoppers with cheese.

6. Lightly toast the sesame seed buns on the grill or skillet until golden brown.

7. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise on the bottom bun. Add lettuce, tomato, and the beef patty.

A plate with a cooked hamburger patty topped with a slice of melted cheddar cheese, with sesame seeds scattered around on the plate.
Open-faced cheeseburger patty topped with tomato slices and onion rings on a white plate, viewed from above.

8. Layer with pickles, onion slices, and ketchup.

9. Add the top bun and serve hot.

A Burger King meal with a cheeseburger, french fries, onion rings, and a soft drink on a white plate, served on a red checkered napkin.
A hand holds a cheeseburger with a sesame seed bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a slice of cheddar cheese. A drink is blurred in the background.

Tips & Tricks

  • Go light on liquid smoke: A little goes a long way, start with ½ teaspoon.
  • Make patties wide and thin: They should be larger than the bun since they shrink during cooking.
  • Grill if you can: For the closest taste, cook on a grill, but a skillet works great too.
  • Toast the buns: That little bit of crunch keeps them from getting soggy.
  • Customize: “Have it your way” by adjusting toppings for each family member.
Burger King meal with a cheeseburger, French fries, onion rings, ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, and a drink on a checkered napkin.
A hand holds a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and a beef patty in a sesame seed bun. In the background are fries, pickles, and a soft drink.

Substitutions

  • Ground beef → ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based meat alternatives.
  • Liquid smoke → smoked paprika if you want a milder smoky flavor.
  • American cheese → cheddar, Swiss, or pepper jack.
  • Sesame seed buns → brioche or potato buns.
  • White onion → red onion or caramelized onions for sweetness.
A cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onions, and cheese on a sesame bun, served with French fries. A Burger King cup and fries container are in the background.
A hand holds a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese. In the background are French fries, a cup with a straw, and a small dish of pickles.

Variations

  • Whopper with Cheese: Add a slice of American cheese on each burger patty.
  • Double Whopper: Stack two patties and double the toppings.
  • BBQ Whopper: Replace ketchup with BBQ sauce and add crispy onion straws.
  • Spicy Whopper: Mix chipotle mayo or sriracha into the spread and add jalapeños.
  • Breakfast Whopper: Top with a fried egg and bacon for a brunch-inspired burger.
A hand holding a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese in front of a Burger King cup.
A hand holds a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheddar on a sesame bun; a cup with a straw and fries are in the background.

Copycat Burger King Whopper

Print Recipe
A cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and onion on a sesame seed bun, served with French fries and an onion ring on a white plate.
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:12 minutes
Total Time:22 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef 80/20 for juicy patties
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 4 large sesame seed hamburger buns
  • 4 slices American cheese
  • 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 4 teaspoons ketchup
  • 8 dill pickle slices
  • 4 slices tomato
  • 4 leaves iceberg lettuce
  • 4 rings white onion

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, gently combine ground beef with Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  • Divide into 4 portions and shape into thin, wide patties (about 5 inches across).
  • Heat a grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Cook patties 3–4 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through (160°F internal temperature).
  • Add cheese in the last minute if making Whoppers with cheese.
  • Lightly toast the sesame seed buns on the grill or skillet until golden brown.
  • Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise on the bottom bun. Add lettuce, tomato, and the beef patty.
  • Layer with pickles, onion slices, and ketchup.
  • Add the top bun and serve hot.

Notes

Tips & Tricks

  • Go light on liquid smoke: A little goes a long way, start with ½ teaspoon.
  • Make patties wide and thin: They should be larger than the bun since they shrink during cooking.
  • Grill if you can: For the closest taste, cook on a grill, but a skillet works great too.
  • Toast the buns: That little bit of crunch keeps them from getting soggy.
  • Customize: “Have it your way” by adjusting toppings for each family member.

Substitutions

  • Ground beef → ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based meat alternatives.
  • Liquid smoke → smoked paprika if you want a milder smoky flavor.
  • American cheese → cheddar, Swiss, or pepper jack.
  • Sesame seed buns → brioche or potato buns.
  • White onion → red onion or caramelized onions for sweetness.

Variations

  • Whopper with Cheese: Add a slice of American cheese on each patty.
  • Double Whopper: Stack two patties and double the toppings.
  • BBQ Whopper: Replace ketchup with BBQ sauce and add crispy onion straws.
  • Spicy Whopper: Mix chipotle mayo or sriracha into the spread and add jalapeños.
  • Breakfast Whopper: Top with a fried egg and bacon for a brunch-inspired burger.
Servings: 4 servings
A hand holding a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese in a sesame seed bun; fries, pickles, and a drink are in the background.
A sesame seed burger with lettuce, tomato, and cheese, served with fries, onion rings, dipping sauces, pickles, and a soda on a red checkered napkin.

We hope you love eating this burger as much as we did making the recipe! Click here more copycat recipes.

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