Carl’s Jr. Breakfast Burger with seared beef patty, crispy hash browns, scrambled eggs, cheese and glorious bacon. All the flavor, no drive-thru.
The burger is pretty popular at Carl’s Jr. on the West Coast and while it isn’t as popular as my In n Out Double Double Cheeseburger, this burger is definitely worthy of your breakfast table this weekend. Since you’re making the burger at home you’ll be using just a handful of ingredients instead of a list full and you’ll actually end up with a burger that looks like the ad instead of a burger that looks like it was sat on.
For the bun I used a basic sesame seeded bun, but just as the generic buns are somewhat smaller, I went with a bigger one since our burger is so large. For the hash brown crowns I just used my favorite frozen hash brown. Carl’s Jr. also uses frozen hash browns and they use these flatter coin shaped hash browns. For the sake of the copycat burger I’ve done the same and eight hash brown crowns was the perfect addition to the burger.
For the beef in the Carl’s Jr. Breakfast Burger I stuck with a simple beef + salt and pepper recipe but let’s be honest… this is where my burger starts to pull away. The quality of your beef is going to be higher than that of a fast food restaurant and your patty is going to probably be thicker. You can, of course, make the patties as thin as you would like, but the slightly thicker patty makes a great, juicy burger.
We top the beef with American cheese and a folded sheet of scrambled eggs. Yes, I know what you are thinking, “no egg over easy? No runny yolk?!” No, no runny yolk because the original called for scrambled eggs. I personally remade this burger (and will share it soon) with all homemade, fresh ingredients and my own version of this burger definitely featured a runny egg yolk. For this burger the best information I can give you is to cook the egg in a pancake form without moving it much on low heat. Don’t brown the eggs, just cook until they set, then cut it and fold it in half to put it onto your piece of cheese.
Finally the bacon, ohhh the bacon. I went with thick cut bacon because I am a bit selfish and I LOVE thick cut bacon. It has a slight chew to it instead of just cracking when you bite into it and the flavor of the bacon is much more pronounced. Top with ketchup and your top bun and you’re set to enjoy the best breakfast burger you’ve ever had… any time of day.
Optionally, serve your Carl’s Jr. Breakfast Burger with additional hash brown crowns and a large cup of coffee.
Carl's Jr. Breakfast Burger (Copycat)
Ingredients
- 4 Hamburger Buns
- 32 frozen hash brown crowns , cooked in oven until browned and crispy
- 1 pound ground beef (I used 85/15, 80/20 works too)
- 4 slices American Cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 eggs , scrambled
- 8 slices thick cut bacon
- Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper , to taste
- 1/2 cup ketchup
Instructions
- In a large cast iron skillet, cook your bacon crisp.
- Pour out excess oil but leave about a tablespoon.
- Form the ground beef into four patties, press your thumb into the center of the patty to make an indent (this prevents the patty from becoming misshapen).
- Season patties with kosher salt and pepper, to taste.
On high heat cook the beef patties for 3 minutes on each side.
- Remove the patties and turn the heat to low.
- Press the buns into the pan lightly and let brown and toast for a few minutes while cooking the eggs
- In a large frying pan melt the butter on low in two batches.
Cook the eggs on low until they are cooked through but with no browning (this will take a few minutes).
- Stack with bottom bun, 8 hash browns crowns, ketchup, beef patty, American cheese, 1/4 of the egg folded over, two slices of bacon, ketchup and the top of the bun.
- Serve immediately with extra napkins.
I just love your recipes and I’m looking forward to making this one!!!
Thanks Carol! Enjoy!!
This has me super hungry now! This looks really good and like something that would please everyone. We don’t have a Carl’s here so this is perfect!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it!
What a genius combination… a burger and breakfast. Two of my favorites!
Thanks! But the credit for the concept goes to Carl’s!
I love making copy cat recipes. My family will love this burger. I am excited to try it.
Copycat recipes are some of my favorites too!
This recipe looks so delicious and easy to make. I will have to get the ingredients i need to try it this week.
Thanks! I hope you like it!
That looks amazing! I’ve never had any burger like this before. I need to make this soon. Yum!
Thanks! It turned out really well if I do say so myself!
I’ve never had a breakfast burger before. This looks super delicious. I will have to make these next week sometimes for breakfast.
Thanks! I love breakfast burgers, and I hope you do too!
Oh my gosh I have never seen a breakfast burger before!! This looks like an amazing breakfast to make at home!
Yes, my husband really enjoyed it (and so did I!)
Yum, the guys would love some of these. We could probably try and make some of these this weekend.
Yes, guys tend to love burgers, so why wouldn’t they love breakfast burgers? Let me know how they like it!
This looks so yummy. I know my entire family would devour it. Nom nom!!
Thanks, Danielle!
We have a Carl’s Jr within walking distance from our home, so the temptation is always there. I would love to create some of their copycat recipes while using my favorite grassfed organic ground beef. YUM!
If you can use the same flavors as fast food but with much better ingredients, that’s a win-win in my book!
Whoa – that’s a monster breakfast sandwich! That would make a great brunch item.
Thanks!
I’ve never actually tried a copy cat burger. I think the guys in my house would go crazy for that, especially my oldest son who seems to be trying every variety possible these days. I’ve also never had an in and out burger. Can you believe it?
I can only believe it if you don’t live near one… otherwise, what are you waiting for?
Oh Sabrina! This looks yummy. I want to face plant into this burger. And uh…I realize it is a copycat, but I love the idea of a burger for breakfast, I have never been one to love traditional breakfast foods. I want something heartier.
Thanks! Breakfast burgers from Carl’s Jr are pretty much my favorite fast food breakfast option!
Now that is a copycat burger I can totally get behind! YUM! It looks amazing!
Thanks!
My husband loves these breakfast burgers. He would love it if I surprised him by making one at home.
I hope he enjoys it!