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Never be left unsure of burger cook time again with my guide on How Long to Cook Burgers! Whether you're grilling, baking, air frying, or even smoking your burgers, the times, temps, and guides for the perfect burger, every time are all here.
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Burger Cook Time
There's nothing quite like a perfectly cooked burger. The crunchy, crispy crust, the juicy meat, the burst of flavor combining with savory toppings and soft bread- if I talk about burgers too long, I immediately want to go fire up the grill!
Did I say grill? I meant the air fryer- or the stove, or maybe the smoker! The thing is, there's no wrong way to make a burger. Stovetop burgers are the perfect weeknight treat, grilling hamburgers is a great way to involve the family- there's no going wrong!
The secret is knowing how long to cook them! Once you know how long to grill a hamburger and how long it takes to cook burgers on the stove medium rare, they'll be perfect every time.
Burger Ingredients
No matter how you cook your burger, these are the essential ingredients! Don't skip out on the seasoning, you'll never believe the difference it makes.
- Ground beef (80/20 is best!)
- Burger Seasoning
Burger Temperatures
Doneness | Temperature | Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Rare | 120-125°F | Bright red throughout |
| Medium-rare | 130-135°F | Pink throughout |
| Medium | 140-145°F | Slightly pink center |
| Medium-well | 150-155°F | Mostly brown, mild pink center |
| Well-done | 160-165°F | Brown throughout |
The most important part to cooking burgers is making sure the internal temperature is just right. That means using a meat thermometer, and knowing what you're looking for! Follow my handy chart for exact temps.
Looking forspecifics on beef temperatures for all cuts of beef? Check out my comprehensive Beef Temperature Chart for more!
Note: all of my guides listed below will cook burgers to medium-rare.
How Long to Grill Burgers
- Set the grill to high heat.
- Add the chilled patties, and let cook for five minutes. Do not touch them as they cook!
- Add burger seasoning while they're cooking.
- Flip after five minutes, once they don't stick to the bars. Cook another five minutes.
- Remove from the grill once they're 5 degrees under the desired temperature, and rest for five minutes.
Grilling is the classic way to cook burgers for a reason, but it can be hard to judge temperature in a grill! The secret to grilling hamburgers is high heat. This will ensure you know how long to grill burgers every time.
Looking for a great grilled burger? Then you have to try my Grilled Wagyu Burgers! Trust me, the taste is worth every penny!
How Long to Cook Burgers on the Stove
- Set the stove to high heat, and warm up a grilling or cast iron skillet. Add a little oil.
- Place the chilled burgers on the skillet and add burger seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes, or less if covering the pan.
- Flip once the burgers come free from the pan easily, and cook another 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat when they're 5 degrees under the desired temperature, let rest for 5 more minutes, and serve!
Be it in a skillet or a grilling pan, the stove is another perfect way to cook up burgers for dinner! If you use a cast-iron pan, you won't even miss out on that perfect grilling char. As with grilling, you want to use high heat. Just be warned, burgers on the stove are messy, so you might want to cover them with a lid.
The great thing about cooking burgers in a pan is that with easy access to the stove, you can make all sorts of amazing burger toppings. It's perfect for my Loaded Burgers, which use the rest of the stove for sweet caramelized onions and crispy bacon!
How Long to Air Fry Hamburgers
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F, then place the chilled patties in the basket so they're evenly spread apart and not touching.
- Season with burger seasoning, then cook for 7 minutes.
- Flip the patties carefully, seasoning the other side, then cook another 7 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer, let rest 5 minutes, then serve!
Air frying burgers is the ultimate in easy, mess-free burger cooking methods! Say goodbye to spattering oil and wiping down the stove. With the air fryer, all you need to do is give the basket a quick scrub, and you're all done!
The great thing about the air fryer is how reliable it is! The heat is easily set and consistent so you'll get the same results every time. Ready to try air frying burgers? Then try my Garlic Butter Air Fryer Burger recipe and fall in love!
How Long to Smoke Hamburgers
- Preheat your smoker to 500°F, then add the chilled patties. I find half-inch thick patties are perfect for smoking.
- Add the seasonings to the outside of each burger, then close the lid, and smoke for 10 minutes.
- Flip the patties, seasoning the other side, and smoke for another 10 minutes.
- Remove the patties from the smoker and let rest 5 minutes, then serve and enjoy!
Getting a smoker changed the game when it comes to making beef. Nowadays, I want to smoke everything- and burgers are the perfect choice! They're super fast to make compared to other smoked beef recipes, are loaded with smoky, delicious flavor, and perfect for feeding a crowd.
Using a smoker can seem daunting, especially with how long it takes to cook some cuts of meat, so my 30 minute Smoked Burgers Recipe is the perfect place to start! Trust me, you'll be craving more!
Tips for Cooking Burgers
- It's worth it to get and use a meat thermometer! A meat thermometer will be accurate every time so you never have to wonder if your burgers are ready.
- Always take burgers off the heat 5°F below the target temperature. For example, a burger cooked to medium doneness should be removed at 135°F. Beef keeps cooking for 5 minutes while resting and will reach the target temperature over time.
- Make sure to always rest your burgers for at least 5 minutes. Resting beef is incredibly important, as it lets the meat soak up its own juices. Serving it too quickly can make it dry out!
- Add cheese in the last 1-2 minutes of cook time. This will melt it perfectly without it getting so runny it drips off entirely!
- Try adding the seasoning on top of burgers vs mixing it in! This method adds a delectable crunchy crust to burgers that you'll miss when the seasoning is added directly into the meat.
- You can cook from frozen, but it'll take more time. Ideally, safely defrost the meat first. Be extra careful to be safe, as ground beef grows bacteria extra fast. Check out my guide to Defrosting Ground Beef Safely for the best, fastest methods!
Burger Cook Times FAQs
Ground beef being a little pink is absolutely okay! Most of the more popular levels of doneness for burgers retain a pink interior. However, it should be noted that burgers that are cooked to less than 160°F (well done) should always be made from fresh ground beef. Ground beef has a much higher chance of growing bacteria than other cuts, and it's extremely important to thaw it correctly or use it fresh from the fridge.
You can absolutely cook burgers from frozen! The most important part about cooking frozen burgers is to check the internal temperature regularly, as they will take a little longer to cook than thawed burgers. Nobody wants a burger with frozen bits left in it!
The Best Burger Toppings
It's one thing to cook a perfect burger, but don't skip out on amazing toppings! These burger toppings are easy to whip up on the stove and take any burger from good to showstopping.
- Steakhouse Mushrooms - you've just got to try these on my Mushroom Swiss Burger!
- Caramelized Onions
- Poached eggs for an incredible Egg Burger!
- And of course, don't miss out on my best-ever Burger Sauce!
See my Ground Beef Recipes next.
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📋 Recipe
How Long to Cook Burgers
Equipment
- Griddle pan or skillet
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 serving burger sauce
- 1 serving burger seasoning
- 1 pound 80/20 ground chuck beef
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 4 slices American cheese
- 4 slices tomato
- 4 leaves lettuce
- 4 slices onion
- 4 brioche rolls or potato rolls
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- Heat a cast-iron griddle or pan over medium-high heat. Once sizzling hot, grease lightly with butter. Divide your ground beef into 4 equally sized balls - not patties!2 Tablespoons butter, 1 pound 80/20 ground chuck beef
- Place the ground beef balls on the griddle and smash them flat with a spatula. Each patty should be about 4" in diameter.
- Season liberally with burger seasoning and cook until the edges brown, about 2 minutes. Flip the patties and season the other side. When almost fully cooked, add a slice of cheese to the top of each patty.4 slices American cheese, 1 serving burger seasoning
- Cook until the cheese melts and the burgers are medium-rare, about 1 minute.
- Let rest for 5 minutes, then place on brioche buns or potato rolls with lettuce, onion, tomato, and burger sauce. Serve, and enjoy!1 serving burger sauce, 4 slices tomato, 4 leaves lettuce, 4 slices onion, 4 brioche rolls
Notes
- It's worth it to get and use a meat thermometer! It takes a lot of practice to gauge burger doneness by sight and touch, but a meat thermometer will be accurate every time.
- Always take burgers off the heat 5°F below the target temperature. For example, a burger cooked to medium doneness should be removed at 135°F. Beef keeps cooking for 5 minutes while resting and will reach the target temperature over time.
- Make sure to always rest your burgers for at least 5 minutes. Resting beef is incredibly important, as it lets the meat soak up its own juices. Serving it too quickly off the burner can make it dry out!
- Add cheese in the last 1-2 minutes of cook time. This will melt it perfectly without it getting so runny it drips off entirely!
- Try adding the seasoning on top of burgers vs mixing it in! This method adds a delectable crunchy crust to burgers that you'll miss when the seasoning is added directly into the meat.
- You can cook from frozen, but it'll take more time. Ideally, safely defrost the meat first. Be extra careful to be safe, as ground beef grows bacteria extra fast. Check out my guide to Defrosting Ground Beef Safely for the best, fastest methods!
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