Karbonader (Lean Beef Patties) with Caramelized Onions
Onion, butter and ground beef come together in this Norwegian beef — 50 minutes, 5 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 5 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and large pot. At easy difficulty across 5 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Grate half an onion and set aside. Slice the rest of the onions and fry in butter on low/medium heat until caramelized.
- In a bowl, mix together ground beef, grated onion, salt, pepper, nutmeg, potato/corn starch, and water.
- Form into a sausage and cut 6 patties. Using a knife make a light grid pattern in each patty.
- Brown both sides of the karbonader in butter on high heat, then turn down to low heat and fry for another 2 – 3 minutes.
- Serve the karbonader and onions with potatoes, stewed peas, and brown sauce for dinner, or on a slice of bread for lunch or a snack.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Large pot
Watch how it's made
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Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
- Cornstarch
- 2 tbsp flour per 1 tbsp cornstarch (as thickener)
What to serve with Karbonader (Lean Beef Patties) with Caramelized Onions
- Red onion pickle Vegan
- Cinnamon buns Dessert
- Nordic smørrebrød with asparagus and horseradish cream Vegetarian
- Rømmegrøt – Norwegian Sour Cream Porridge Breakfast
Tips & common questions
How long does Karbonader (Lean Beef Patties) with Caramelized Onions take to make?
About 50 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 5 steps and 9 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Related recipes
Recipe data for Karbonader (Lean Beef Patties) with Caramelized Onions via TheMealDB (open database). ▶ Video. Original source. Consomee adds the scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.