Burger King Whopper Copycat Recipe

When the restaurant that would grow into international chain Burger King first opened its doors back in 1953, it was under the name Insta-Burger King and it was located in Jacksonville, Florida. The Insta-Burger King menu did not feature the item that would become the chain's signature product, the Whopper. That now world-renowned classic was added in 1957, according to Britannica, and when first offered at a Miami-area BK, the Whopper sold for just 37 cents, according to Politico.

Today, the quarter-pound Whopper sells for a good deal more than that, but you don't have to spend many of your dollars or your cents when you make your own copycat Burger King Whopper burger at home. The only trick to it? Don't go rogue! Chef and recipe developer Angela Latimer of Bake it with Love says: "The best tip for a good copycat is to stick to the recipe, no extras, and you have to use a sesame seed bun."

Your call on the pairing options that make it a meal, from fries to a side salad to roasted veggies, but for the main event, use just these ingredients and follow these steps to the letter, and you may just crown yourself the new burger master.

Looking at the ingredients needed for a copycat Whopper is essentially just looking at the ingredients needed for a classic American hamburger with all the average diner's favorite toppings. And that's meant as a put-up, not a put-down. When it's not broken, why fix it, right?

To make one DIY Whopper, you'll need 1 sesame seed bun, butter, 1/4 of a pound of ground chuck (or a ready-made quarter-pound beef patty), a pinch of salt and pepper, dill pickle slices, ketchup, 2 to 3 rings of raw white onion, 2 slices of tomato, 1 or 2 hand torn leaves of iceberg lettuce, and mayonnaise. Latimer sticks to Heinz for her ketchup, and adds "Hellman's and Duke's are the best mayo options."

Butter the cut sides of sesame seed bun halves and lightly toast them on the grill or in a skillet, and remove the bread from heat when it becomes a light golden brown and set aside. (Alternately, quickly toast the buns in a toaster, then lightly butter them after removing the halves.) Next, shape your beef into a round, relatively flat patty.

Burger King is known for its "flame-broiled" burgers, so ideally you can cook your patty on a grill or in a cast iron pan with ribbing that will leave those divine sear marks. Heat your grill or skillet to medium-high heat and season the upward-facing side of the burger patty with salt and pepper just before adding it to the heated surface. Place the patty onto your heated grill (or pan) with the seasoned side down, then season the other side of the patty. 

Cook each side for 3 to 4 minutes in a skillet, or about 2 to 3 minutes on each side on a grill.

Once the patty is cooked through (ideally you can use a meat thermometer and make sure the center of the beef has reached about 160 degrees Fahrenheit as you remove it from the heat), remove it from the grill.

Assemble your Whopper by placing the grilled burger patty onto the bottom half of the bun. Place 3 or 4 pickle slices onto the patty, then squeeze ketchup over the pickles. Next, add 2 or 3 rings of white onion, 2 slices of tomato, and the hand-torn pieces lettuce. Spread mayonnaise onto the top bun and close your Whopper up. And now you can have it your way in your own home, care of your own handiwork.