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Home » Recipes » Food

Published: Jul 6, 2022, By: Melissa, Updated: Oct 15, 2023

Perfect Hamburger Patty Recipe

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Everyone needs a delicious classic hamburger patty recipe in their repertoire. A really good hamburger patty recipe will yield moist juicy classic hamburgers that can be eaten on its own and still taste delicious. These hamburger patties are just that. You can cook these hamburgers on the grill, on the stovetop, or in the air fryer and they come out juicy and delicious every time.

shaped hamburger patties

Of all the recipes I have tried at home (and I have made many) this burger patty is my absolute favorite hamburger patty recipe! There are no binders and it is 100 percent pure ground beef. The perfect hamburger.

This homemade hamburger patty recipe makes four ½-pound hamburgers and is made with a blend of 80/20 ground beef. You can make these hamburgers on the grill, on the stovetop, or even in the air fryer. We also love cooking up these hamburgers on our Blackstone griddle!

I have tried it with all of these methods and it works perfectly!

classic hamburger on bun
The BEST hamburger recipe

What You Will Need

  • 2 pounds of ground beef (80/20 blend). You want to make sure you are using ground beef with a higher fat content, preferably one that has 20 percent fat in it. This ensures that the hamburgers are juicy and full of flavor. You could also use an 85/15 blend if you prefer. I find the 80/20 blend of ground beef makes the best hamburgers. This blend just gives so much flavor.
  • Seasoning blend: kosher salt, onion powder, and sweet paprika. This blend is my tried and true hamburger blend and it really tastes amazing and to me, makes the perfect burger! If you want to add even more flavor you can try adding garlic powder, a mesquite seasoning or blackened seasoning to the burgers before cooking.

How To Make Homemade Burger Patties

ground beef for hamburgers
Divide beef equally and roll into balls.

Divide ground beef: Add the ground beef to a large bowl then divide it into 4 sections. Here you want to make sure that you divide your ground beef evenly into 4 balls. This will ensure that there is the same amount of ground beef in each hamburger patty and they all cook at the same time. I like to add them to a large plate or baking sheet so it is easy to carry them over to the grill.

shaped hamburger patties
Press the balls of beef into ¾-inch thick patties.

Shape Hamburger patties: After you have rolled out your ground beef evenly, you form them into hamburger patties. To do this, you gently press down each patty until they are the desired thickness.

For this burger patty recipe, the thickness is about ¾ of an inch. You can smooth out any rough edges that form as well so when the hamburgers cook they will be uniform in shape.

making a well in hamburger patty
STEP 3: Make a well with your fingers in the middle of the patties.

Make Indentation into the Hamburger patties: Once your hamburger patties are formed you want to make a small well (indentation) on the top of your hamburgers. This will ensure that the hamburgers do not bloat and turn round like a hockey puck when they are cooking.

If you have had problems with your hamburgers doing this when you've cooked them, this will fix that! The well will disappear after cooking 🙂

hamburger patty with seasoning
STEP 4: Add seasoning to the patties.

Seasoning your homemade hamburgers: Here is where you add your hamburger seasoning. Make sure to add the seasoning right before cooking the hamburgers.

You do not want the salt interacting with the hamburger patty for too long. See the dry brining your meat section below for why this is and different ways to season meat.

classic hamburger top view
  • Cooking the burgers: Depending on the cooking method you are using, these burger patties are quick to cook. They will take between 4-6 minutes on medium- medium high heat to cook. I prefer cooking my burgers on the grill. (or grill pan). We have instructions for grilling, stovetop cooking, or air fryer cooking in the recipe card below. Once they are done cooking, you can add a slice of cheese to each patty and lightly cover with aluminum foil to melt the cheese. Adding the cheese is the last step.

Recipe Faqs

Do you need to add any binders to homemade hamburgers?

No. Hamburgers do not need binders like eggs or breadcrumbs to hold them together.

What is the best fat ratio for hamburgers?

For the juiciest hamburgers, having some fat will help. A good ratio to look for is a blend of 80/20 or 85/15. The fat portion is the second number and the meat portion is the first number.

Why did my burgers fall apart when cooking?

If your burgers are falling apart during cooking then it may be because you used binders or that you did not press the burger patties firmly enough when making them.

Is it safe to eat burgers cooked medium or medium-rare?

Any ground meat will carry a risk of contamination if not fully cooked since the outside of the meat that is exposed to bacteria is being mixed into the middle during the grinding process. Here are the best practice guidelines.

Top Recipe Tips

  • Do not overmix the burger patties: Overmixing the burger patties can toughen the hamburgers.
  • Make the patties all the same size: Making sure the hamburger patties are all the same size will ensure even cooking. If you are not good at eyeballing this, use a kitchen scale and weigh the patties while you are making them.
  • Remember burgers shrink when cooking! When cooking burgers, it is important to remember they will shrink when cooking. Keep this in mind when you are thinking about what size patties to go with those hamburger buns. I like to make the patties a little bigger than the bun to account for this.
  • For the juiciest homemade hamburgers- make sure to use a ground beef blend of 80/20 ground beef (which means 80 percent lean and 20 percent fat). The second thing that makes a juicy burger is not overcooking the burger. Cooking a hamburger beyond a temperature of medium (which is a solid warm pink center) will begin to dry out the burger.
  • Add cheese at the end of cooking- If you are adding cheese to your hamburgers, add them when the burgers are done cooking and tent them with aluminum foil to allow the cheese to melt while the burgers rest.

Toppings!

Classic Toppings to add would be red onion, lettuce, tomato, and even some Worcestershire sauce.

If I have time, I also like to make a quick homemade basil lemon mayonnaise, creamy sriracha, simple gochujang mayo, simple brown sugar BBQ sauce, creamy cilantro sauce, or poblano sauce for a really flavorful burger and to really elevate your burger game.

Best Buns For Hamburgers

Once you have gone through all the steps to make the perfect hamburger patty, you may be wondering what the best buns are for hamburgers. Here are some ideas:

  • Brioche Buns: This has become more popular recently and a great choice if you are looking for that classic soft hamburger bun for your burgers.
  • Potato buns: The potato rolls are strong and sturdy hamburger buns and can hold up to a big juicy burger without getting too mushy.
  • Old-fashioned hamburger buns: This is the classic American hamburger bun made from regular wheat flour and you can never go wrong with it.
  • Thick sliced bread: I know, technically this is not a bun but many people do love adding their burgers to thickly sliced toasted bread.

For the best results with whatever you choose, it is always nice to toast up the bread before adding the hamburgers to them. When I am grilling, I like to toast the hamburger buns on the grill AFTER I take the hamburgers off the grill to rest.

That rest time for the hamburgers is 5 minutes which is enough time to grill up the buns.

shaped hamburger patties
Print Recipe
5 from 40 votes

Homemade Hamburger Patty Recipe

Everyone needs a delicious and easy hamburger patty recipe and this one is just that. This recipe makes juicy and delicious hamburgers every time.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Total Time10 minutes mins
Servings: 4 burgers
Author: Melissa Oleary

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs ground hamburger meat 80/20 blend and the best quality ground beef you can find.
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon sweet paprika

Instructions

  • Divide your ground beef evenly into 4 sections.
    2 lbs ground hamburger meat
  • Roll the divided ground beef into 4 balls, smoothing out any rough edges and then place on a large plate.
  • Press the hamburger balls down until the thickness is about ¾ inches thick.
  • With your finger tips, gently press a well into the centers of the hamburger patties, pressing only about half way down the middle of the patties.
  • Mix together the spices in a small bowl.
    1 teaspoon kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon sweet paprika
  • Sprinkle seasoning on patties and cook using your preferred cooking method.

Grilling Instructions

  • Pre-heat the grill to medium heat for 5 minutes.
  • Place hamburger patties on grill and close the lid.
  • Cook the first side for 4 minutes.
  • After 4 minutes, flip the burgers and cook for another 4 minutes with the lid closed.
  • Remove from the grill and cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes. This will yield a medium- medium rare burger.

Pan Frying Instructions

  • Pre-heat a large flat bottom griddle or pan on medium heat.
  • Add the burgers to the pan and cook for 4 minutes.
  • Flip and cook for another 4 minutes on the second side.
  • Remove from the pan and cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes. This will yield a medium burger.

Air fryer Instructions

  • Pre-heat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
  • Place patties inside air fryer and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Flip the burgers and cook for another 5 minutes.
  • After a total of 10 minutes, remove from the air fryer and cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 5 minutes. This will yield a medium burger.

Notes

 
Making these hamburger patties ahead of time:
 
 
You can make these patties ahead of time, up to 24 hours beforehand. Just place the patties on to a plate and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Make sure that you only season the burgers right before cooking since seasoning them ahead of time will draw out the moisture in the burger.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.1g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 731mg | Potassium: 730mg | Fiber: 0.03g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition Values are estimates only.

See full nutrition disclaimer here

Tried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!

Course :Main Course

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Comments

    5 from 40 votes (27 ratings without comment)

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  1. dana says

    February 26, 2024 at 9:53 pm

    5 stars
    I love a good burger and this one is just awesome. We made them on the Blackstone and it was such a satisfying meal! Loved the flavor. Simple and tasty!

    Reply
  2. Charah says

    February 26, 2024 at 7:47 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing this! I no longer need to buy fast food burgers! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Patricia says

    February 26, 2024 at 7:32 pm

    5 stars
    This is a great recipe to have on hand (I like to freeze them for later), and although I've heard it before but never tried it, the "indentation trick" really does work!

    Reply
  4. Dannii says

    February 26, 2024 at 7:15 pm

    5 stars
    This was perfectly seasoned. I will definitely be making this again.

    Reply
  5. rebecca says

    February 26, 2024 at 5:12 pm

    5 stars
    I usually use a recipe that adds egg and worchestershire sauce, this is easier and so good!

    Reply
    • Melissa Oleary says

      February 26, 2024 at 6:55 pm

      So glad you enjoyed trying a pure ground beef burger! It is my favorite way to make them.

      Reply
  6. Beth says

    February 26, 2024 at 3:40 pm

    5 stars
    These are so good. I love the simplicity of the seasonings and the absence of a bunch of fillers.

    Reply
    • Melissa Oleary says

      February 26, 2024 at 6:54 pm

      So glad to hear that Beth!

      Reply
  7. Donalyn says

    February 26, 2024 at 3:20 pm

    5 stars
    I made these in a grill pan [a little nippy for grilling here right now] and they were really tasty. I can't wait to try them outdoors next summer!

    Reply
    • Melissa Oleary says

      February 26, 2024 at 6:54 pm

      So glad to hear that. The love using a grill pan too when the weather is cold 🙂

      Reply
  8. TAYLER ROSS says

    February 26, 2024 at 2:50 pm

    5 stars
    We had burgers yesterday and I used your recipe to make up the patties. They were fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Melissa Oleary says

      February 26, 2024 at 2:51 pm

      So glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
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I am so excited you are here. My name is Melissa and I started this recipe website to share easy recipes that I have been cooking for years. I have written hundreds of easy recipes that are tested and perfected. Some of the recipes I learned during my years of working in restaurants, some from owning my own food company, and others from friends and traveling.

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