How to Make Authentic Mississippi Slugburger on Your Blackstone

A depression-era favorite burger with the strangest name is the Mississippi Slugburger. So popular that there is a slugburger festival.

The Interesting Story of How the Mississippi Slugburger Began

Here is a new recipe you probably have never heard of. I’ll bet if you ask your local butchers, they can tell you about it.

My first thought when I heard about them was I don’t want any slugs in my burgers.

While it sounds like a slang term for traditional burgers, it is also known as one of America’s strangest hamburgers.

A burger with the strangest name is the Mississippi Slugburger. It was invented by German immigrants, John Weeks and his youngest brother back in 1917 in Chicago during the great depression.

He later relocated to north Mississippi where Willie Weeks continues to serve original slugburgers at Weeks diner.

Northern Mississippi hosts the annual slugburger festival every year.

There, you can participate in the World Slugburger eating championship.

The original recipe included ground pork, soybean meal, potato flour or potato flakes, and soy grits, as a starchy filler.

I remember my mom making hamburgers and using bread crumbs to make hamburger patties and frying them in canola oil.

She also would combine eggs in the beef mixture to stretch it even further.

It was a depression-era favorite while my dad was serving in WWII.

As the world is today, with the prices rising for everything, stretching a beef burger is quite a necessity today.

The original price of hamburger meat ground up is crazy right now. I make sure the bread crumbs are really fine so you can’t even really tell that they are in the burger mixture.

We are making these on the flat top, however, you can make them in a small pot of oil on the stove.

Main Ingredients

• Potato bread (or traditional bread crumbs if you want to save the trouble of making them.)
• Ground beef
• Black pepper
• Salt
• Onion
• Minced Garlic
• Chili powder (optional)
• Cayenne pepper (optional)
• Hot oil (vegetable oil, peanut oil, pequin oil, or whatever you prefer)
• Dill pickles
• Yellow mustard
• Hamburger buns

Equipment Needed

• Baking sheet
• Large skillet
• Mixing bowls
• Tongs

The Trail of the Slugburger

Hamburger joints and local restaurants around the US are serving up old fashioned slugburgers. Here are a few places to find them.

Weeks Diner

Despite the murkiness of its origins, most locals agree that the credit for the first-ever slugburger goes to John Weeks, who migrated from Chicago to Corinth in 1917.

You can experience this culinary wonder today by visiting Weeks Diner, located just a short drive away in Booneville.

The descendants of John Weeks, namely his grandson, Willie Weeks, continue to serve this unique delicacy with pride and fervor.

The slugburger has truly stood the test of time, and you won’t want to miss out on experiencing a piece of history for yourself.

Latham’s Hamburger Inn, New Albany

As you enter the narrow, shotgun-style diner and pull up a stool at the lunch counter, the aroma of freshly cooked doughburgers wafts tantalizingly in the air.

The sound of sizzling meat on the 1928 griddle is music to your ears, as you eagerly anticipate your order.

Watching the Travel Channel and John T. Edge, founder of the Southern Foodways Alliance, film their visit to this iconic diner only adds to the excitement.

And when your crispy, dark brown doughburger arrives, cooked to perfection in a cast-iron skillet, you know you’re in for a true Southern treat.

Slugburger Cafe

As soon as you step inside the Slugburger cafe, you’ll be greeted with the enticing aroma of onions, and for good reason.

This classic diner spends each morning chopping and prepping an impressive 50 pounds of onions to use in their famous slugburgers.

These delicious creations are their namesake dish and it’s not hard to see why.

As you wait for your order, you can watch as customers eagerly line up at the counter, excitedly waiting to try this one-of-a-kind burger at the Slugburger Café. 

Borroum’s Drug Store

Step back in time at Borroum’s drug store, on main street Corinth and experience the nostalgia of an old-fashioned soda fountain at the oldest drug store in continuous operation in Mississippi.

Built in 1843 with handmade bricks, this historic building has stood the test of time and offers a timeless experience.

Stop in for a refreshing malted milkshake, ice cream float, cherry phosphate, or soda, and savor the flavors of the past while waiting for a handmade slugburger.

How to Make a Crispy Mississippi Slugburger

The first thing you want to do is spread out 6-8 slices of potato bread on a sheet pan.

I toasted my slices in the air fryer. I like how the air fryer makes them super crispy.

However, you can bake them in the oven at 200 degrees F for about 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.

Place them in a food processor or blender to crush.

Meanwhile, take your ground meat, and place it in a large bowl.

Add your spices and mix well.

Heat it Up

Heat your pan of oil, (you can use a deep fryer or cast iron skillet) over medium heat until hot.

We are opting to make them on the flat top grill like restaurants do.

If making them directly on the Blackstone griddle, be sure to have a clean surface.

Take a handful of the mixture and make small patties. (make them to fit on your buns, whether you are using a plain white bun, or making a slide slugburger on a small 5-inch hamburger bun.)

Continue until the remaining mixture is all used up.

Make sure the Blackstone griddle is heated up. I heat it on high and then cook on low.

Oil it up. I use avocado oil.

Start Cooking

Place the burgers on the griddle and cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip for another 3-4 minutes.

If making them in a frypan, place slugburger in the sauce pot and fry for about 3-4 minutes.

Flip and fry the other side for the same. Since everyone will have a different temperature when cooking, use your judgment on how you like your fried patty done.

Place on a grilled burger bun or steamed hamburger bun. Another great option is also inside of each potato bun half for a double burger.

Place a smear of sawse (southern style pronunciation for mustard) on the top of the bun and top with sliced pickles and onions if desired.

Serve with a side of french fries and enjoy!

Note: The burgers might look burnt but they are crispy since they are fried in oil.

Common Blackstone Griddle Supplies

• Blackstone Griddle
• Griddle Cleaning Kit
• Blackstone Grease Cup Liners
• Infrared Thermometer
• Blackstone Griddle Accessories
• Griddle Seasoning Conditioner
• Blackstone Grill Caddy
• Griddle Breakfast kit for Blackstone
• Food Fighter Mesh Screen
• Wind Guard

Final Thoughts on Famous Slug Burgers

From the hometown of Elvis Presley of Tupelo to west Tennessee, to southern gas stations in New Albany, the slugburger is the burger of choice in the American south.

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