Viral Onion Cheese Skirt Burger | Serenity Valley Farms

Viral Onion Cheese Skirt Burger

The Flying Dutchman — no bun, just caramelized onion and a crispy cheese skirt made with SVF pasture-raised ground beef.

Viral onion cheese skirt burger on a Blackstone griddle

You've seen this all over TikTok and YouTube — the onion-wrapped Flying Dutchman burger with a cheese skirt. No bun. Instead, thick slices of caramelized onion become the "bun," while the cheese melts past the edges of the patty into a crispy, lacy skirt that snaps when you bite through it.

The secret nobody talks about is the beef. Our 80/20 ground beef comes from pasture-raised cattle here in Wayne County, Kentucky. No antibiotics, no added hormones, and 21 days of dry-aging before the trim goes into the grind. The fat content is exactly what a smash burger needs — enough to crisp, enough to stay juicy, and packed with the flavor grocery store beef just can't match.

Recipe Details

  • Serves: 4 burgers
  • Prep: 15 minutes
  • Cook: 20 minutes
  • Method: Blackstone / Flat-Top Griddle

Ingredients

  • 1 lb SVF Pasture-Raised 80/20 Ground Beef
  • 2 large white onions, cut into ¾-inch rounds (keep rings intact)
  • 8 slices American cheese (or your favorite melting cheese)
  • 2 tablespoons oil (avocado or other high smoke point oil)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: pickles, mustard, ketchup, or burger sauce

Directions

  1. Prep the onion buns. Cut each onion into thick ¾-inch rounds. You need 8 total pieces — two for each burger. Keep the rings together so they hold their shape.
  2. Caramelize the onions. Heat your Blackstone or flat-top griddle over medium heat. Add oil and cook onion rounds 5–6 minutes per side until golden, soft, and lightly charred. Season with salt and remove.
  3. Form the patties. Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 4 ounces each). Form loose balls and season generously with salt and pepper.
  4. Smash and sear. Heat the griddle to high. Place the beef balls down and immediately smash into thin patties. Cook 2–3 minutes until a deep brown crust forms.
  5. Create the cheese skirt. Place cheese slices on the patties, allowing some cheese to hang over the edges onto the hot griddle. The cheese will melt and crisp into a golden, lacy skirt. Let it cook until bubbling and crispy.
  6. Flip carefully. Slide underneath the entire burger and cheese skirt with a thin spatula. Flip once and cook another 30–45 seconds.
  7. Assemble. Place one caramelized onion round down, add the burger with the crispy cheese skirt facing up, add toppings if desired, then finish with another onion round on top.
  8. Serve immediately. The onion holds surprisingly well, and that crispy cheese skirt should crack when you take your first bite.
    9. Shop Our Ground Beef

    Raised on the pastures of Monticello, Kentucky — Bob and Colleen's names are on every box.