This is the best hamburger patty recipe you’ll make all summer. Juicy beef, a secret ingredient for flavor, and no fillers. Just a really good homemade burger.

Grilled hamburger patty on a toasted bun with cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato and burger sauce.

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Why This is the Best Hamburger Patty Recipe

This recipe uses high-quality ground beef, simple seasonings, and no fillers like eggs or breadcrumbs. Just juicy, flavorful beef patties perfect for grilling.

Love cheese? Try it as a cheeseburger. Once you try homemade, you’ll never reach for frozen again.

XO - Jamielyn

Ingredient Notes

Hamburger patty ingredients on counter including lean ground beef, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder and special sauce.

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: 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.

How to Make the Best Hamburger Patties

Combine ground beef, BBQ sauce, salt, garlic powder and pepper in a medium or large bowl.

Ground beef mixture for homemade hamburger patties with BBQ sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder.

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.

Shaping hamburger patties from ground beef mixture by hand.

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.

Juicy hamburger patties cooking on the grill.

Serve on hamburger buns, make a lettuce wrap burger or try it in a bowl with leafy greens.

Cooked hamburger patties on toasted buns, served on a platter with toppings like lettuce, tomato, and pickles on the side.

Burger Topping Ideas

Customize your perfect burger with your favorite toppings! Mix and match from these classic and creative options:

  • 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, pickled onions, avocado and bacon.

Burger-Making Tips

For juicy flavorful patties every time:

  • Use 80/20 ground beef – the fat keeps them tender and helps bind the meat.
  • Instead of eggs and breadcrumbs, use BBQ sauce, teriyaki, or steak sauce to add flavor and hold the patty together.
  • Mix in a little burger seasoning for an extra flavor boost.
  • Use a large spatula and flip just once, after 4–5 minutes.
  • You can also use a meat thermometer for accuracy. A medium burger should register 140°F, while the USDA recommends 160°F for ground beef to be fully cooked.
  • No grill or inclement weather? Try baked hamburgers or make cheeseburger sliders.

Serving Suggestions

The best hamburger patty recipe deserves great sides. Pair with homemade french fries, baked parmesan potato wedges or easy pasta salad with Italian dressing for a full cookout meal.

Close-up of a juicy cooked hamburger patty with melted cheese inside a soft bun served with fries.

Need more grilling recipes? Try these grilled steak kabobs, BBQ chicken foil packets or BBQ pork sandwich!

More Delicious Burger Recipes

Grilled hamburger patty on a toasted bun with cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato and burger sauce.

Best Hamburger Patty Recipe

5 from 58 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Servings: 4
This is the best hamburger patty recipe you'll make all summer. Juicy beef, a secret ingredient for flavor, and no fillers. Just a really good homemade burger.
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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. 

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Oven: You can even use this recipe to make baked hamburgers in the oven if preferred. 
Storage: Leftover cooked hamburger patties can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months. 
Make ahead: Patties can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored covered in the fridge. To freeze uncooked patties, place wax paper between each one and freeze in an airtight bag for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking.

Nutrition

Calories: 502kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 115mg, Sodium: 998mg, Potassium: 576mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 20IU, Vitamin C: 0.6mg, Calcium: 103mg, Iron: 5.1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.