The BEST hamburger recipe that’s simple and delicious! The homemade beef burger patty is flavorful, juicy and a classic for grilling or try it on the stovetop.
Best Hamburger Patty Recipe
This is the best hamburger recipe made with quality ground beef, a few seasonings and no fillers like eggs or breadcrumbs! It’s so juicy, flavorful plus a classic to grill at any summertime cookout.
Sometimes we make turkey burgers but I must admit that nothing is better than a juicy homemade beef burger, a cheeseburger being the exception. With this easy recipe with ground beef, you’ll never reach for frozen patties again!
Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Ground beef: For the best juicy ground beef burgers, I love to use meat that is 80/20 fat (not lean). Ground chuck is also a great choice, but more pricey.
- BBQ sauce: This is the secret to the flavor and moisture in this homemade hamburger patty is BBQ sauce.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Special sauce (optional): Mayo, ketchup, white vinegar, seasoned salt and dill pickle relish.
Burger Toppings
Choose as many or as little burger toppings to create your own perfect hamburger!
- Old fashioned: Lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard, pickles and onion slices.
- Saucy: Burger sauce, BBQ sauce or garlic aioli.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese, Pepper jack cheese, Swiss or Colby Jack.
- Gourmet: Caramelized onions or pickled onions, avocado and bacon.
How to Make Hamburgers
Combine ground beef, BBQ sauce, salt, garlic powder and pepper in a medium or large bowl.
Using your hands, mix the ground beef mixture until combined and shape into 4 patties about 3/4-inch thick. Make an indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent bulging.
Place burger patties on clean grilling grates on a preheated grill set to medium-high heat and cook 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and then cook an additional 4-5 minutes. You can also use a meat thermometer for accuracy. A medium burger should register an internal temp of 140°F.
Serve on hamburger buns, make a lettuce wrap burger or try a burger in a bowl with your favorite toppings.
Tips for the Best Burgers Ever
- Make sure to use 80/20 ground beef. The fat helps bind the meat together.
- Some people will use 1 egg with 1/4 cup breadcrumbs to help bind their patties, but I like to use BBQ sauce. If I’m feeling fancy sometimes I’ll use teriyaki or steak sauce. You could even use ketchup. The sauce really adds an extra boost of flavor, while helping bind the meat together so the patties don’t fall apart while cooking.
- For even more flavor, mix some hamburger seasoning in with the meat before forming into patties.
- Use a large spatula when flipping and be careful not to press down (it removes the juiciness) and don’t flip until the patties have cooked 4-5 minutes.
- If the weather is not great for grilling, try my baked hamburgers or make smaller beef patties and try cheeseburger sliders.
Serving Suggestions
A good old fashioned hamburger only gets better with some classic BBQ sides. This hamburger patty recipe pairs perfectly with homemade french fries, baked parmesan potato wedges or easy pasta salad with Italian dressing!
Make Ahead
To make ahead of time form ground beef into patties then store covered in the refrigerator up to 2 days.
You can also freeze uncooked raw burgers up to 4 months. Place a piece of wax paper between each burger so they don’t freeze to each other. Thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight before cooking or grilling.
Need more grilling recipes? Try these grilled steak kabobs, BBQ chicken foil packets or BBQ pork sandwich!
More Delicious Burger Recipes
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Best Hamburger Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds (80% lean and 20% fat) ground beef
- 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce , or steak sauce
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns , I prefer brioche buns
- slices of American cheese , optional
- butter for toasting , optional
Special sauce
- ¼ cup mayo
- 2-3 Tablespoons ketchup
- ½ teaspoon white vinegar
- pinch of seasoned salt , I use Lawry's
- dill pickle relish , optional (can add 1-2 Tablespoons)
Optional toppings: Bacon, Lettuce leaves, Tomato slices, Sliced red onion, Pickles
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium high.
- In a medium bowl, using your hands, mix 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper just until combined. Shape into 4 3/4-inch thick patties. Using your thumb, make a well in the center of the patties to prevent bulging.
- Place patties on the grill and cook 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook an additional 4 to 5 minutes, or until juices run clear. Top with cheese slices, if desired. Cover the grill and cook until cheese has melted. You can also butter your buns and put on the grill the last minute of cooking if desired.
- While the burgers are cooking combine the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Mix until combined and set aside.
- Place on buns and top with your favorite toppings to serve.
Notes
-
- Make sure to use 80/20 ground beef. The fat binds the meat together.
- I like to use BBQ sauce but you could use ketchup. If I’m feeling fancy sometimes I’ll use teriyaki sauce. The sauce adds a boost of flavor.
- Mix hamburger seasoning in with the meat before forming into patties.
- Use a large spatula and don’t flip until patties have cooked 4 to 5 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, 4th of July, 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Beef, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Grilling, Grilling, Reader Favorites, Sandwiches
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
These hamburgers are delicious and easy to make. These are a constant request from my kids for dinner time especially in the summer!
That was great, simple prep and very tasty. Thanks