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    The Best Burger Recipe

    Beef Recipes Main Courses Sandwiches, Burgers, and Wraps April 22, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 15 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    If you are looking for the Best Homemade Burgers, this recipe is for you! With only a few ingredients and minimal prep work, you can have the best juicy, flavorful homemade burgers thanks to a few key pro-tips.

    If you are looking for the Best Burger Recipe, look no further! These homemade hamburgers only require a few simple ingredients and minimal prep work, but the results are perfection.

    While making the perfect hamburger is quite simple, there are a few MUST follow tips that ensure your homemade burgers turn out juicy, flavorful, and are not overcooked.

    Cheeseburger assembled on a sesame seed bun with tomato, onion, and lettuce


    Grilled Burgers are a classic American dish that is a staple dish for summer cook-outs. And when prepared correctly a good, juicy burger is hard to top. 

    But we have all had our share of burgers that are less than stellar. You know the ones I am talking about--dried-out, shriveled up, flavorless, over-cooked burgers. 

    What makes the difference between a dried out burger and a juicy burger? Let me break down exactly what you need and my secrets for preparing perfect homemade burgers.

    Choose the Right Beef

    To have a juicy, flavorful burger, you need fat. 80/20, or ground chuck, is the BEST ground beef to use for burgers. It has enough fat to ensure the hamburgers have flavor, but not too much that they are greasy or grizzly.

    Ground Chuck next to worchestire sauce and onion soup mix

    Season with Care

    Burgers are more about the meat than the seasonings. Salt and pepper are really the only things you need for a good burger. However, I love adding Homemade Dried Onion Soup Mix and Worcestershire sauce--that combination creates the BEST hamburger seasoning. Just remember when adding seasonings to the ground beef, be VERY careful to not overmix the meat, or you will end up with tough burgers.

    Ground Chuck with seasonings in glass bowl

    Shape Correctly

    The first tip to shaping burgers is to lightly dampen your hands before shaping the meat. This will keep your hands from sticking to the hamburger meat, which can result in over-handling of the meat.

    Secondly, you want to be sure each burger is the same size. Score the meat mixture into 4 equal sections so that you know each patty will be the same size.

    Meat mixture divided into 4 sections

    Hamburger patties will shrink in circumference and can bulge in the center if not shaped correctly, leaving you with a burger patty too small for your bun, not to mention difficult to eat.

    To prevent these two common issues when making homemade burgers, shape 6-ounce patties slightly larger than your bun, and using your thumb, push an indentation in the center of each hamburger patty. This will help your hamburgers to cook up evenly and lie flat on the bun.

    Forming Indentation on hamburger patties

    Cook Burgers from Cold

    You want the hamburger patties to be cold when they hit the heat. This keeps the fat cold, which means it will render inside the burgers, leaving the meat juicy and flavorful. Think about how cold butter melts into biscuits. I recommend forming the patties and then placing them into the refrigerator while you preheat your grill or skillet.

    Grill or Pan-Fry

    While you can certainly cook your burgers on a flat-top or in a cast-iron skillet, if you have access to a grill, grilled burgers have the best flavor, in my opinion. The grill imparts a smokey flavor and the contact with the hot grates creates a bit of char and texture to the hamburgers.

    4 burgers on a gas grill

    Only Flip Once

    It is crucial to only to flip your burgers once. Let them cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side and then flip and until the desired temperature is reached. And whatever you do, DO NOT press down on the burgers--this releases all the juices.

    Cook to the Right Temperature

    The USDA recommends that burgers be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The only way to ensure that your burger reaches the right temperature is to use a digital thermometer. A burger that is at 140 degrees may still be brown in the center and a burger that is at 160 degrees may at times have a pink hue. It is best to use a thermometer and insert it into the center of the burger to determine the temperature.

    Remove the burgers from the grill or skillet when they are 5 degrees below the desired temperature, as they will continue to rise in temperature as they rest. This means to remove the burgers once they reach 155 degrees.

    A lot of people prefer their hamburgers cooked to medium or medium-rare. That is completely personal preference but does increase the risk of food-borne illness.

    Rest the Burgers

    The key to keeping meat juicy is to REST the meat after it has cooked. This is especially true with hamburgers. For perfect burgers, let the cooked patties rest for 10 minutes, on a rack tented with foil.

    Why a rack? This keeps the moisture from collecting underneath the burgers, which would make the buns soggy when the hamburgers are placed onto the bun.

    Hamburger on rack over baking tray.

    Cheeseburgers

    I know a lot of people recommend placing the cheese on the hamburgers the last minute of grilling, but I find the cheese melts perfectly over the burgers while resting under tented foil. So if you desire cheese on your burgers, place thinly sliced cheese on top of each patty as soon as the burgers come off the grill. You can use Swiss, Cheddar, Colby, Muenster, or Provolone cheese.

    Serving Hamburgers

    For the burger buns, use sesame seed buns, brioche buns, or potato buns. If you desire them toasted, place cut side down onto the top grate of the grill, and allow to toast for one minute.

    As for toppings, choose as desired. Lettuce, tomatoes, onion slices, mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup are all good options.

    Burger on bun with tomato, onion and lettuce with sliced tomatoes in background

    Video for Perfect Burgers

    Check out my step-by-step video on how to Perfect Burgers on YouTube. This video show you exactly what I do and clearly walk you through the steps if you are a more visual learner.

    Side by side of good vs ad burger with text that reads make this instead of.

    Sides for Burgers

    • Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
    • Homemade Baked Beans
    • Oven Fries
    • Easy Homemade Coleslaw

    These burgers are truly the best burgers! Whether made with or without cheese, grilled or pan-fried, homemade hamburgers are a meal the whole family is sure to enjoy!

    Assembled Burger on wooden cutting board

    Perfect Hamburgers

    Homemade hamburgers only require a few simple ingredients, but the process is key for perfect burgers. This recipe breaks down those steps so you can have a delicious, juicy, burger. 
    4.98 from 42 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 437kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 24 ounces ground chuck 80/20 ground beef
    • ½ tablespoon dried onion soup mix
    • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 4 slices cheese optional
    • buns, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, condiments, etc
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Place the ground beef in a large mixing bowl and add in the Worcestershire sauce and Onion Soup Mix.
    • Gently mix the seasonings into the meat using your hands until just incorporated.
    • Score the meat into 4 sections. And then shape each section into a patty that is about ¾ to 1 inch thick and slightly larger than the bottom of your burger bun.
    • Using your thumb, press down on the center of each burger about ¼ inch deep, forming an indentation in each burger.
    • Place the hamburger patties back into the refrigerator until ready to grill.
    • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
    • Add the burgers to the grill and cook for 4 minutes on the first side.
    • Flip the burgers, resisting the urge to press down on the patty. Cook until the burgers reach 155 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Remove burgers from the grill and place onto a plate or a rack on a baking sheet. Top with sliced cheese if desired, and loosely tent with aluminum foil. Let burgers rest for 10 minutes before assembling the burger.
    • Assemble the hamburgers by placing onto a bun and then topping as desired.

    Notes

    To Pan-Fry the Burgers: Preheat a cast-iron skillet to medium-high heat. Place prepared patties into the skillet and cook for 3 minutes per the first side and then flip and cook until the desired temperature is reached. 
    Temperature for Burgers: Cook burgers until they reach 5 degrees below the temperature you desire.
    • Well-done: 160 degrees.
    • Medium-Well: 150-155 degrees.
    • Medium 140-145 degrees.
    Dried Onion Soup Seasoning: 1 teaspoon onion flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, celery powder, pepper, and dried parsley.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 219mg | Potassium: 483mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 3mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

     

    « Healthy Broccoli Salad
    Grilled Vegetable Kabobs »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. Jean Schmidt

      August 01, 2023 at 7:56 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for your recipes and your tips. If I follow your recipes they always turn out very good. I enjoy your column daily.
      Jean

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        August 01, 2023 at 9:51 am

        Oh thank you so much, Jean! I love to hear you have come to trust and enjoy my recipes.

        Reply
    2. elena lewis

      August 12, 2022 at 2:28 am

      5 stars
      who doesn't like burgers?
      everyone liked the burger but this was an easy make and step vise recipe thank you, my son was happy to eat this burger.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        August 12, 2022 at 6:54 am

        Thanks for sharing Elena!

        Reply
    3. Karman Foods

      November 29, 2021 at 1:28 am

      5 stars
      This Hamburger is just perfect! I added a bit of Kikkoman Ponzu Citrus Seasoned Dressing & Sauce for an added twist of taste. Using authentic ingredients is just different. Best paired with my favorite Hot/Cold Barley Tea.

      Reply
    4. Pamela

      July 05, 2021 at 6:53 pm

      4 stars
      Yes, great tips. Even better with grass-fed beef. It is usually 80-20. Takes as I remember in my childhood...actually has great beef flavor.

      Reply
    5. Sue Hamilton

      October 19, 2020 at 3:54 pm

      5 stars
      I made these on Saturday for college game day. They turned out great!! I did add dried onion soup mix as well and they really turned out perfect. I did not have seasoning salt, i used Louisiana's cajun seasoning and that worked out well. They were well cooked and juicy! I put all different cheeses on them, cheddar, havarti, muenster, and pepper jack so people could choose which cheese they wanted. Thank you! This is my go to recipe from now on!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        October 19, 2020 at 4:49 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed Sue! What a fun recipe for game day!

        Reply
    6. Morgan Sonier

      August 31, 2020 at 10:33 am

      5 stars
      Great! Just in time for Labor Day..
      I had sworn of homemade burgers since a nearby resturant makes the best burgers I've ever tasted but these sound like they will be equal to or better. Guess I will be lighting up my charcoal grill.
      BTW, I used to live in New Mexico, in San Antonio, NM there is a ongoing competition between a couple of restaurants over the best "Green Chili Cheese Burger".. These are terrific!
      Fresh Green Chili's are the best - but - canned will do. Try topping a couple of burgers with a slice or two, diced are also available. See what you think!
      Morgan Sonier

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        September 01, 2020 at 12:56 pm

        That does sound like a delicious burger Morgan! I hope you enjoy putting these tips to work and happy Labor Day!

        Reply
    7. Erin

      June 15, 2020 at 2:38 pm

      Great tip about making sure your hands are damp when shaping the burgers! They were easy to make and tasted delicious! Mmmm!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        June 15, 2020 at 4:10 pm

        So glad these tips helped Erin!

        Reply
    8. Julie Blanner

      June 15, 2020 at 1:31 pm

      5 stars
      Always love a good burger! It's a staple in our house during the summer. Thanks for sharing all these tips!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        June 15, 2020 at 4:10 pm

        Glad these tips helped Julie!

        Reply
    9. Natalie

      June 15, 2020 at 1:04 pm

      5 stars
      Hamburgers are a summer regular around here! We love them & love making all the fixins to go with them! They are perfect for any occasion!

      Reply

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    If you are looking for the Best Homemade Burgers, this recipe is for you! With only a few ingredients and minimal prep work, you can have the best juicy, flavorful homemade burgers thanks to a few key pro-tips.

    Meet a Mind "Full" Mom

    A Picture of A Mind"Full"Mom

    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

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    If you are looking for the Best Homemade Burgers, this recipe is for you! With only a few ingredients and minimal prep work, you can have the best juicy, flavorful homemade burgers thanks to a few key pro-tips.

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