Best Ever Juicy Burgers - The Cookin Chicks (2024)

If you’re looking for the BEST BURGERS recipe, look no further! These juicy hamburgers are made using only a few simple ingredients and are easy to prep ahead of time! A perfect crust on the outside, while juicy and tender on the inside! Load them up with your favorite toppings and serve these at your next BBQ, gathering, or summer grill out!

Grilled Burgers are such an American classic and especially popular at summer cookouts. When you go to a BBQ or host people over, the last thing you want to eat or serve is a dried out, flavorless burger that no one finishes, right?! With just a few simple tips, you’ll be serving the BEST EVER juicy burgers each and every time! Pair these yummy burgers with some French fries, potato salad, or baked beans and you have a meal everyone will enjoy!

Why these are the BEST Burgers

• Simple– yes, the key to success with the best burger patties is simplicity. Beef on its own is tender, juicy, and full of flavor. By adding in some additional ingredients, it only enhances the flavor making these even more tasty.
• Quick to prepare– from start to finish, you can have these burgers both prepped AND cooked in under 25 minutes. The only variation is if you prefer thick burger patties, thin patties, or smash burgers. So many options to choose from!
• Easily adaptable– the ingredients I list are only suggestions. We like a loaded, meatloaf type burger, however, if you prefer yours a bit more simple, that works great too and will still be delicious!
• Can be cooked using whichever method you desire– yep! If its cold outside and you’re craving that burger, cook it on the stove-top. If its a beautiful day and you want to grill out, these will be yummy! Charcoal grill, pan fried in a cast iron skillet, etc. The choices are endless!

Choosing the right Beef

The secret to success with burger recipes is the beef used. It needs to be nice and fatty, ideally, a good quality beef from your local butcher. However, nowadays, you can find great quality at your local grocery store as well. My go-to is 80/20, also known as 20% fat,or using ground chuck. Back when I first got married, I would buy extremely lean beef not knowing this was NOT ideal for burgers. My poor husband would go to form patties and as he was grilling, the burgers would literally fall through the grates as he flipped them over. Don’t make the mistake I did! You want enough fat in the beef to ensure it has flavor, but not grease or grizzlies throughout.

Best BurgerIngredients Notes

See printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact ingredient amounts and step by step directions.

• Beef– I use 80/20 ground beef in this recipe, however, ground chuck works too. Ensure your beef has enough fat to add flavor, but not enough to make these patties greasy.
• Egg– one large egg at room temperature is what you will need to bind everything together. Since there are lots of yummy add in’s to this recipe, you want something to hold it all together.
• Worcestershire Sauce– this adds a great amount of flavor. Feel free to increase or decrease amounts based on taste desired.
• Mustard– we use brown mustard, however, yellow mustard or Dijon works too.
• Butter– unsalted and chopped into small pieces. This really enhances the meat and adds a savory addition.
• Bread Crumbs– we use Italian seasoned as this is what I keep on hand, any type works.
• Cheese– grated Parmesan is my favorite addition as it really combines into the meat easily.
• Garlic– fresh minced garlic because why not? Can you ever have too much garlic? I think not! Garlic powder works too!
• Onions– feel free to use fried onions, dried minced onions, or freshly chopped onions.
• Seasoning– we love an all-purpose seasoning called Chupacabra, however, good ol’ salt and pepper are always good!

How to make the best homemade hamburger recipe

Some may know these burgers as meatloaf burgers and as I mentioned above, some people desire to keep their beef hamburger simple and without add in’s. That works too! In that case, omit the ingredients I listed and keep it to just a good quality ground beef, salt, and pepper!

1. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, butter, bread crumbs, Parmesan, garlic, and onions. *use your hands to combine as it maintains the texture better.
2. If using a burger press (highly recommend), place meat into the press and form 4 burgers. If you aren’t using a press, eye the amount and form into patties using your hands.
3. Sprinkle desired seasoning on top of burgers evenly.
4. Place on grill/smoker and cook to desired doneness.When grilling burgers, you want the grill temperature to be around medium-high to high heat, which is around375 to 400 degrees F.
5. Add cheese and toppings and enjoy the best juicy burger recipe ever!!

Juicy Hamburger Toppings

Personally, I don’t like to add a lot of toppings to my hamburger patties because I want the flavor of the meat to come through, however, my hubby would have to disagree with me and loves to load his up. Here are some of our favorites:

• Sliced Cheese (we love a thick cut, fresh sliced Cheddar cheese slice on our burgers, or Pepper Jack for an added kick)
• Onions– sliced red onions or caramelized onions are our favorite, white or yellow onions work great too.
• Tomatoes
• Avocado
• Mushrooms
• Jalapenos
• Pickles
• Thick Cut Bacon
  
• Iceberg Lettuce
• Favorite Condiments– mayonnaise, ketchup, steak sauce, barbecue sauce, mustard, relish, or even our Southern Comeback Sauce or Boom Boom Sauce

What Hamburger Buns to use

Don’t skimp on this part. Another funny story from early in my marriage is where I cut cost anywhere I could. From store brand Oreo’s, to discounted hamburger buns, etc. I bought it all. Over the years, I have learned that not everything on sale or store brand will taste the same as the original and therefore, can’t be skimped on. Burger buns fall into that category. Here are some of our favorites:

• Potato Buns– these are my favorite as they are soft, but still hold up well once toppings are added.
• Brioche Buns– my kids prefer these because they have an added sweetness.
• Sesame Seed– this is the classic hamburger bun served at BBQ’s. Funny fact, my kids call these bird seed buns because of the sesame seeds.
• Pretzel Buns– although these are more dense, if I plan on adding a lot of sauce or making our burgers juicier, this is the bun I choose because these don’t get mushy.

Tips for the BEST Burgers

• Once you form your meat patty, dent the surface of the patty using your fingers. This helps prevent the burgers from shrinking. You’ll still get some shrinkage, but substantially less.
• Shape your patties about one inch larger than the buns as once cooked, they shrink slightly.
• Don’t over work the meat mixture as this can lead to dense and tough meat. Once combined, form into patties and you’re set.
• Season the beef patties just before putting onto the grill or in the pan to cook. Leaving the salt on your meat too early can cause the meat to toughen a bit.
• Allow each side to sear for about 3-4 minutes before flipping it over. You want a nice brown color when flipping over.

How to assemble the best burgers

Did you know there is actually a method to success for assembling burgers? I watched a cooking show a few years back and the chefs were full of great tips. From there, our method of assembling burgers came about and we haven’t looked back since!

• Apply sauce to BOTH buns. This is where you would add mayo, mustard, ketchup, Southern Comeback Sauce, etc.
• Layer your toppings onto the BOTTOM bun. Yes, trust me on this one. It keeps things cleaner and easier to eat.
• Place the burger patty onto your toppings.
• Cover with top bun and enjoy. If making cheeseburgers, you’ll want it to melt over the patties before removing from the stove or grill.

What to serve your burgers with

Here are some of our favorite summer BBQ dishes we love to serve! Most of these can be prepared ahead of time!

• Ultimate Potato Salad
• Easy BBQ Baked Beans
• Asian Ramen Coleslaw
• Strawberry Pretzel Salad
• Chips and Guacamole
• Smoked Corn on the Cob
• Fries or Tots

FAQ’s

What type of cheese should I use on my homemade burger?

We use good quality American or Cheddar Cheesebecause it melts easily and I love melted cheese on burgers, butswiss, provolone, gouda, pepper jack and so much more work great as well.

How do I make these burgers gluten free?

The recipe written is not gluten free, however, you can easily omit the breadcrumbs and use gluten free hamburger buns to fit your dietary needs. Adapt any other ingredient needed as this recipe is just a guideline and can be made to fit your tastes and needs.

Can you bake this beef burger recipe in the oven?

Yes! The key for this method is to use high heat so an exterior crust forms when cooking.Set your oven to 450 degrees F and place a baking sheet in the oven so it gets hot. Once hot, transfer the patties to the hot pan. If making thin patties, bake for 2-3 minutes per side. If making thick patties, bake for 5-6 minutes per side.

Can I make these into sliders?

Absolutely! Simply form the burger patties smaller and use slider buns in place of full size hamburger buns. You’ll want to decrease the cook time as well since sliders cook faster.

MoreRecipes to try

Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders–the ultimate comfort food that packs a punch of flavor in every bite! These mini sandwiches combine tender shredded chicken, zesty ranch dressing, smoky bacon, and melted cheddar cheese, all nestled between soft Hawaiian rolls.

Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken– simple to prepare and packed with flavor! Low carb, Keto friendly, and perfect for summer!!

Fiesta Chicken Foil Packets– seasoned chicken, veggies, beans, and more! It’s theperfect dinner recipe!

Sloppy Joe Sliders–perfect for a family friendly weeknight dinner or to serve as a party snack! Tangy, sweet, and flavor packed sauce combined with ground beef, cheese, and served on slider buns!

Garlic Herb Chicken Kabobs– easy, flavor packed, and perfect for grilling season!