CopycatSpices
Copycat Wendy's Pretzel Pub Burger
Wendy's Pretzel Pub Burger stacks a juicy beef patty with beer cheese sauce, crispy onions, pickles, and smoky honey mustard on a warm pretzel bun.
copycat · wendys · fast-food · burger
🕑Prep15 min
🍳Cook15 min
⏱Total30 min
🍽Serves4
⭐DifficultyMedium
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
- 4 pretzel hamburger buns
- 4 slices muenster cheese
- 1 cup crispy fried onions (store-bought)
- 8 dill pickle slices
- 2 tablespoons honey mustard
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup beer or beef broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- 1.Make the beer cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add the beer or broth, whisking until smooth. Add the shredded cheddar and stir until melted and creamy. Season with garlic powder and keep warm.
- 2.Form the patties. Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions. Shape into patties slightly larger than the pretzel buns — they'll shrink during cooking. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
- 3.Cook the burgers. Heat a skillet or grill over high heat. Cook the patties for 3-4 minutes per side for medium. In the last minute, top each patty with a slice of muenster cheese and cover to melt.
- 4.Toast the buns. Split the pretzel buns and toast them cut-side down in the pan or on the grill until warm and slightly crispy, about 1 minute.
- 5.Assemble the burgers. Spread honey mustard on the bottom bun. Add the cheese-topped patty, a generous spoonful of beer cheese sauce, crispy fried onions, and pickle slices. Top with the crown bun.
- 6.Serve hot. Serve immediately with extra beer cheese sauce on the side for dipping fries.
Copycat Wendy’s Pretzel Pub Burger
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 burgers
Wendy’s Pretzel Pub Burger is their premium burger offering that goes beyond the standard fast-food patty. The pretzel bun adds a chewy, salty base, the beer cheese sauce brings richness, the crispy onions add crunch, and the honey mustard ties everything together with a sweet-tangy finish. It’s a lot of flavors working in concert, and it works brilliantly.
The beer cheese sauce is the star component. You can use any lager or pale ale — the alcohol cooks off, leaving behind a malty depth that makes the cheddar taste more complex. If you want to skip the beer, beef broth works as a substitute.
Building a Better Pub Burger
- Pretzel buns are essential. Regular hamburger buns won’t give you the same experience. The chewiness and saltiness of a pretzel bun stands up to the heavy toppings without getting soggy.
- Don’t press the patties. Pressing burgers with a spatula squeezes out juices and flavor. Form them, season them, flip them once, and leave them alone.
- Layer order matters. Honey mustard on the bottom bun prevents sogginess. The cheese-topped patty goes next (hot), then the beer cheese sauce, onions, and pickles. This architecture keeps everything stable.
Wendy’s Premium Price
The Pretzel Pub Burger at Wendy’s costs about $7-8 for a single. This recipe makes four burgers for about $15 total — under $4 per burger with all the premium toppings. And homemade beer cheese sauce is significantly better than the squeeze-bottle version.
