Easy Stovetop Burgers

Stovetop burgers ready in just 25 minutes! The key to super tender burgers is selecting the right type of ground beef and not overworking the patties. A quick sear in a hot skillet ensures a golden-brown crust with juicy centers.

Perfect burgers every time!

I’m going to show you how to make delicious juicy burgers on the stovetop. It’s a quick and satisfying homemade meal that lets you skip the drive-thru window. Ground beef is an affordable and versatile source of protein that can be easily enhanced with simple seasonings that kids and adults will love.

The trick to a foolproof burger recipe is how you prepare the patties. The way the meat is formed before it hits the hot sizzling pan is just as important as how long it cooks. It’s best to minimally work the ground beef enough to just create a circular shape. Perfection is not key, and being rough around the edges is actually a good thing.

Choosing the right beef

Your local market typically offers various types of ground beef. I prefer ground chuck which comes from the shoulder portion of the cow and is packed with beefy flavor. It has just the right ratio of 80% lean meat to 20% fat for juicy burger patties. If you’re looking for a leaner option, try ground sirloin, which is 90% lean meat and less fat content.

Forming the patties

In order to prevent the dreaded dry and tough hockey pucks, you need to gently form the patties. When you over mix the beef, roll it into a ball, and then smash it down into a flat disc actually causes the meat to contract too much when it cooks. No one likes those excessively shrunken, hard, and chewy patties.

Instead, divide the meat into 4 equal portions and leave them on the cutting board or plate. Use your hands to flatten and form them into ½-inch thick patties. It’s okay to have some cracked, jagged edges. This process reduces the amount of handling and yields more tender burger bites.

Seasoning the meat

I like to keep it simple and generously season both sides of the meat with kosher salt and pepper. There’s plenty of surface area for the salt to get stuck in the grooves of the ground beef to season the center as it cooks. Feel free to add more of your favorite spices like garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika. You can even add Worcestershire sauce to increase the umami flavor, just don’t overmix the beef!

Cooking burgers on the stovetop

I find that a cast iron skillet or nonstick pan makes the best pan-fried burgers. But if you have a grill pan, that works too. Heat the pan over medium-high heat, add the oil and once nice and hot carefully add the patties in the pan.

Cook the burgers until a deep golden crust forms, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook for about 3 minutes more or until the desired doneness is reached. Now is the time to melt the cheese on top, until it hugs the patty.

Nailing the right internal temperature

Use an instant-read thermometer and place the probe into the center of the patty to check the internal temperature. Make sure to let the patties rest for about 5 minutes to allow for carryover cooking. Use the guide in the recipe notes section below for the recommended temperatures after resting.

Burger size

You’ll notice that the size of the patties shrinks down. This is because the fat melts and the muscle fibers contract when heated, creating a tighter, more compact meat structure. About a 20 to 25% loss in volume is normal. Note that the more you mix the beef, the closer the fibers come to each other which causes more shrinkage and makes the texture tougher.

This recipe makes ¼ pound burgers, about 3-inches in diameter after cooking. If you have larger burger buns that you would like to fill, increase the patty weight to between ⅓ to ½ a pound. Alternatively, you can flatten them more to about ¼-inch thick, however, the burgers will be closer to medium to well done instead of medium-rare.

Don’t forget the toppings!

• Add Cheese: Cheddar (mild or sharp), swiss, American, gouda, provolone
• Vegetables/Fruit: Lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, avocado, sprouts
• Meat: Bacon
• Condiments: Mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, barbecue sauce