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Looking to make burgers tonight? This guide for How to Cook Burgers is the perfect place to start! Be it on the grill, in the air fryer or in a pan, my time-tested guide for cooking burgers is perfect for all skill levels.
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Cooking Hamburgers
Hamburgers: the American classic! Just about everyone I know who grew up in the USA has warm childhood memories of cooking up burgers on the grill. But just how do you cook a burger to the perfect rarity and crisp?
The good news is, cooking burgers is easy no matter how you do it! And there are so many great ways. Be it classic burgers on the grill, pan fried burgers, smoked burgers or hamburgers in the air fryer, there's no going wrong!
This guide is going to assume medium-rare burgers, but for extra specifics on how long to cook burgers to get just the right burger temperature, check out out my guide for How Long to Cook Burgers!
Burger Essentials
No matter what method you use to cook your burgers, go prepared with my burger essentials: homemade burger seasoning, burger sauce, and a guide on How Long to Cook Burgers! And no matter what, don't forget the meat thermometer!
How to Grill Burgers
Grilling burgers is a classic for a reason! Grilling infuses the meat with tons of smokey flavor and leaves the outside charred and crispy, while locking in all that juicy goodness of the fat. It's a little more work and requires a grill, but the flavor is unbeatable.
Cooking Burgers on a Gas Grill
- Set the grill to high and let it preheat.
- Prepare your burgers by making them into patties, then pressing down on the center to form a shallow bowl shape. This is important! The center should be thinner than the edges.
- Season each side of the burgers with burger seasoning to your taste.
- Set the burgers directly on the grill bars, and let them cook for 3-4 minutes with the lid down.
- Flip the burgers, and cook another 3-4 minutes or until they measure your desired temperature.
Gas Grill Tips
- Remember to shape the patties correctly! This is very important for grilled burgers especially. If the center isn't thinner than the edges, it will puff up and become too thick, resulting in uneven cooking and overly dry edges.
- Don't fear high heat! Gas grills give you great control over the heat, so make use of it. The high heat will ensure a crispy surface and delectable grilling lines!
- Don't flip, press, or poke the burger any more than necessary. Each unnecessary movement will drain the fats and liquids, resulting in a dry, unsatisfying burger.
- It's not necessary to cover the grill with a lid, but doing so will give you great temperature control!
Gas grills give amazing temperature control and are much easier to use, but can sacrifice smoky flavor. Take this into account when deciding how to cook burgers!
Cooking Burgers on a Charcoal Grill
- Pile up charcoal in a pyramid on the bottom of the grill. High heat is the goal, so add charcoal liberally!
- Add charcoal starter fluid, then light and let the charcoal burn for about 10 minutes, until the coals are starting to turn grey and ashy.
- Form the patties shortly before cooking so they stay cold. Create a shallow impression in the middle of each patty so that the center is thinner than the edges- this is critical!
- Season each side of the patties, then plate them on the grill and let rest without touching them for 3-4 minutes.
- Flip the burgers, and let cook another 3-4 minutes. Check with a meat thermometer for the ideal temperature, then remove, and serve!
Charcoal Grill Tips
- Make sure to use plenty of charcoal! You want it nice and hot for burgers.
- If you have a grill with a lid, closing the lid while the burgers cook can cook them more quickly.
- Moving all the charcoal to one side of the grill while leaving the other side bare can create hot and cool zones. That way, you can move finished burgers to the cool zone while the rest cook, keeping them warm until it's time to eat!
- Make sure the meat stays cool while the grill is heating, and only form the patties when the coals are hot! This will make sure the beef doesn't fall apart on the grill.
Charcoal grills are a little harder to use and less precise than gas grills, but cooking over charcoal infuses the beef with tons of smokey flavor and will make for the most true to the classics grilled burgers!
How to Cook Burgers in the Oven
If you're craving burgers but aren't craving cleaning up all that spattered grease, then let me introduce you to oven baked burgers. Shape the patties, pop them in the oven, and voila- perfectly tender, juicy burgers with absolutely zero mess.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire tray over the baking sheet.
- Form the patties into flat disks, then sprinkle them liberally with burger seasoning. Place the patties on the wire tray.
- Set the baking sheet in the oven and let them bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove, test the temperature with a meat thermometer, and serve!
How to Bake Burgers Tips
- Baked burgers are ultra hands-off, which leaves plenty of time to make toppings and sides.
- If you want a bit of a crunchy crust, turn on the broiler and move the burgers directly under it. Remove them as soon as they start getting a nice char, a minute or less.
- For an extra delicious finished product, wrap the burger buns in foil and set them in the oven for the last five minutes. They'll emerge soft, toasty, and totally perfect!
- If you're adding cheese, add it to the patties 2 minutes before taking them out of the oven.
Baked burgers won't have quite as much crispy crunch and smoky flavor as grilled, but they're totally mess free! If you want to focus on toppings, baking burgers is the way to go.
How to Cook Burgers on the Stove
Cooking burgers in a pan is the perfect combination of grilling and baking! Using a griddle or cast iron pan ensures crispy, crunchy crust just like they're burgers fresh off the grill, without needing to cook outside.
- Add a small amount of oil to a cast iron skillet, and heat it up on medium high heat until the oil is shimmering.
- Form your patties while the skillet heats. You want them to have a shallow impression in the center to prevent uneven cooking. If you're making smash burgers, don't worry about this!
- Place the patties on the hot skillet and stand back! Skillet burgers spatter! If you'd like, you can place a lid over the pan. Just be aware that this will cook the burgers faster!
- After 3-4 minutes, flip the burgers, and cook another 3-4 minutes.
- Check the temperature with a meat thermometer, then remove and serve!
Skillet Burger Tips
- Looking for a special treat? Try smash burgers! These ultra thin, ultra crispy burgers are made by smashing the patty flat on the pan with a spatula, resulting in a super crisp char. Just be careful- they cook much faster!
- Skillet burgers are messy, so make sure the rest of the stovetop is clear of resting food. You can even set down a layer of paper towels on countertops nearby.
- Make the buns extra delicious by briefly frying them in the leftover burger fat once the patties are done cooking!
- Add cheese a minute before the burgers are done, and melt it quickly by covering the pan with a lid.
Cooking burgers on the stove is the best way to get that crispy, crunchy crust without needing to bust out the grill! The only downside is the mess; you will get oil spattered everywhere.
How to Cook Burgers in the Air Fryer
For ultimate cooking ease, there's nothing like the Air Fryer! Like an ultra-fast oven but easier to clean, the air fryer is the easiest way ever to cook up burgers for dinner. Plus it's super fast! With the air fryer, you'll have juicy burgers in less than 20 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. While it's heating, form the patties, and season them liberally on both sides.
- Set the patties in the air fryer basket with enough space between them that they're not touching.
- Cook for 7 minutes, then flip, and cook another 7 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer, and serve!
Air Fryer Burger Tips
- A great way to make air fried burgers even easier to clean up after is to set a piece of bread on the bottom of the pan, under the basket. The bread will help soak up oil, meaning less oil to wipe up yourself!
- Make sure to clean the basket right after you cook these burgers! No matter how you cook them, burgers will always be a bit of a mess.
- Make sure to flip the burgers! If you don't, fat will collect on the top and make for sad, soggy burgers.
- Don't over-crowd the basket. It's better to cook in batches than to over-crowd it and risk the edges not cooking through.
- Add cheese slices 1-2 minutes before the burgers are done for bubbly, perfectly melted slices.
Air frying is the most convenient and mess-free way to cook burgers indoors! If you have an air fryer, you've got to try these burgers. Once I tried them, I was hooked!
Scroll to the bottom of the page for my favorite Air Fryer Burger Recipe and you'll be delighted at how tender they are.
How to Smoke Burgers
If you're aiming for a unique showstopper, there's nothing like smoked burgers! Not only are smoked burgers loaded with incredible flavor like no other burger, but they're the fastest smoked meat you can make. Done in only 35 minutes!
- Preheat the smoker to 500°F. As it's heating, prepare the patties. They don't need to be pressed down in the center; smoking the meat will cook the patties without deforming them.
- Set the burgers in the smoker, and cook for 10 minutes. Then flip and cook another 10 minutes.
- Remove, dress, and serve!
Smoked Burgers Tips
- Don't season the burgers early! Only get them ready to go once the smoker is preheated. This will prevent the salt in the seasonings from sucking out all the moisture.
- Once the burgers are in the smoker, don't touch them! Let them cook the full 10 minutes, then flip them once, and leave them alone. This will ensure they stay juicy!
- Pretty much every pellet will taste delicious with these burgers, but my personal favorite is cherry pellets.
- You cannot and should not cook smoked burgers from frozen; it just won't work. Always used thawed, chilled meat.
- Add cheese after the meat has cooked- you don't want to open the hood of the smoker, and the cheese can become overpowered with smoke if it's added early.
Not everyone has access to a smoker, but if you do, this recipe is a must-try. If you don't, take a look at my favorite smoker! You'll never want burgers any other way again! And with such a short cook time, you'll be making them again and again.
Cooking Burgers FAQ
There is no one true "best" way to cook burgers- it's all about what you have access to, and what's most important to you in a burger! For the most true classic flavor, grilling burgers over charcoal is the best. But if you're looking for fast burgers with little to no cleanup, the air fryer is the best method!
Pan-fried burgers are all about using the right pan! Make sure to use a heavy cast iron skillet when cooking burgers on the stove. This will ensure the metal can get nice and hot, creating the perfect sear!
Cooking burgers in the oven or on the stove depends on multiple factors. The oven is an ultra mess-free, hands-off method of cooking burgers and can cook many at once very easily. The stove, however, will give you the best flavor and texture, at the cost of it being a much messier method.
A good burger is defined by its seasonings! Keeping it simple with salt and pepper works great, but don't miss out on trying my famous burger seasoning. It's super easy, takes simple ingredients, and forms a flavorful and delectable crust you'll be craving every time!
Burger Toppings
For ideas for burger toppings, take a look at my Mushroom Swiss Burger and Egg Burger! You can make these burgers using any method you prefer.
Cooking Beef
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📋 Recipe
How to Cook Burgers
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef 80/20 mix
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 4 burger buns
- 4 Tablespoons garlic butter optional
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- Place 1 pound ground beef (80/20) in a large bowl, then add ½ teaspoon each of salt, garlic powder, and onion powder, with ¼ teaspoon black pepper and 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce.1 pound ground beef, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- Using your hands, mix together the hamburger mixture until it fully combines. Then, separate the mixture into 4 equally-sized balls. Form each ball into a patty.
- Heat air fryer to 360°F. Place the burger patties in the air fryer. Leave plenty of space between each patty. You can do this in batches depending on the size of your air fryer oven.
- Cook for 7 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Serve on a bun and garnish with your favorite burger toppings. If using, top each burger with 1 tablespoon garlic butter spread.4 burger buns, 4 Tablespoons garlic butter
Notes
- A great way to make air fried burgers even easier to clean up after is to set a piece of bread on the bottom of the pan, under the basket. The bread will help soak up oil, meaning less oil to wipe up yourself!
- Make sure to clean the basket right after you cook these burgers! No matter how you cook them, burgers will always be a bit of a mess.
- Make sure to flip the burgers! If you don't, fat will collect on the top and make for sad, soggy burgers.
- Don't over-crowd the basket. It's better to cook in batches than to over-crowd it and risk the edges not cooking through.
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