Are you looking to take your burger game to the next level? I’ve got you covered with my secret hamburger seasoning recipe. It’s quick, easy, and packed with flavor. Your taste buds won’t know what hit them!
Recipe Science
- Certain types of salt in hamburger seasoning enhance the meat’s natural flavors and help retain moisture by breaking down muscle proteins through osmosis.
- Black pepper and other spices add complexity and depth to the flavor profile, creating a more savory and aromatic burger.
- Using herbs like oregano or thyme introduces aromatic compounds that complement the beef, adding a fresh and earthy taste to the burger.
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Featured Comment 6
“This is a wonderful seasoning! Thank you so much for that little sentence – “2 teaspoons per pound”. It’s so nice to have a baseline to start seasoning from.”—Carole
Why It Works
I have the perfect seasoning blend if you want to elevate the taste of your stovetop burgers or grilled burgers. It’s just five simple pantry staples that you probably have stocked in your pantry. This versatile burger seasoning mix pairs well with other ground meats like chicken, turkey, and salmon.
I use this homemade burger seasoning to add dimension and aroma. Using a blend of concentrated dried spices and alliums instantly boosts the flavor of each patty. The recipe is easy to customize, and I usually make a big batch to quickly incorporate it when cooking.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Salt: Use coarse kosher salt to adhere to the meat without making it overly salty. Salt enhances the beef’s natural savory taste.
- Paprika: Made with a blend of peppers to add a red hue and earthy flavor. I recommend using smoked paprika for a lightly charred flavor, especially if cooking on the stovetop. Sweet paprika has a more neutral taste. Spicy paprika can be used, but use a small amount of it because it can be very hot.
- Alliums: Dried and ground onion and garlic powder add a roasted aroma and flavor without the sulfurous taste or risk of burning on the hot pan.
- Black Pepper: Adds a characteristic lingering peppery taste and hint of heat. It also gives a piney and citrusy flavor, especially when freshly cracked.
See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).
Ingredient Substitutions
Now that you have the best hamburger seasoning recipe, you can customize the patty with exciting flavors. Here are some tasty ways to switch up the next batch:
- Sweetness: Add a hint of sweetness with brown sugar or granulated sugar. The sugar accelerates the browning of the meat, and the granules create a crispier surface. Just be careful not to burn the meat! Add 1 to 2 teaspoons to the mix. I prefer less so it doesn’t taste sugary.
- Spices: Add earthy spices like cumin, coriander, or mustard powder. Add ½ to 1 teaspoon.
- Herbs: Add dried herbs, such as oregano, thyme, parsley, rosemary, sage, or basil, to the mix. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of the herbs. Chopped fresh herbs can be mixed inside the patties.
- Spicy: Add cayenne pepper, chipotle, or chili powder to the seasoning mix. Start with ¼ teaspoon, increasing to taste. Try my Cajun seasoning blend for Louisiana-inspired flavor. Mince fresh peppers like jalapenos to add to the patties.
- Umami: Add soy sauce, coconut aminos, or Worcestershire sauce to elevate the beef’s natural savory and meaty taste. Use 1 to 3 tablespoons per pound.
How to Make Hamburger Seasoning
Step 1: Make the Seasoning Mix
Combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
This burger seasoning recipe yields a large batch to make multiple patties to feed a crowd or save for another meal. It yields about three tablespoons of spice blend.
Step 2: Season the Burgers
Make sure not to cross-contaminate the seasoning with raw beef.
A typical burger patty is 1/4, 1/3, or ½ pound in size. Depending on the size of the patty or the intensity of the seasoning, sprinkle about ¼ to ½ teaspoon on each side’s surface.
Pro Tip: If you prefer seasoned meat throughout, evenly apply the spice mix to the ground beef, gently mix, and form into patties. Add two teaspoons per pound of ground meat. Add more to the surface of the formed patties if desired.
Step 3: Storing the Seasoning
The burger seasoning blend stores well since it’s made with all dried ingredients. Place in an airtight container like a glass jar, or add to a spice jar for easy application. Store in a dark, cool, dry pantry area for up to 6 months.
It’s easy to double or triple the recipe if you make burgers weekly or have a party or barbecue coming up. My family requests burgers at least once a week!
Frequently Asked Questions
If mixed into the ground meat, add two teaspoons of the seasoning mix. Add more to the surface if desired. If adding to the surface, use ¼ to ½ teaspoon per side.
The recipe was formulated to balance the salt with the other spices. However, if you prefer to control the amount of salt added, you can omit and add the desired amount later. Add ¼ teaspoon or less of the spice mix per side without the salt.
Yes! It can be used on whole pieces of chicken, turkey, pork, or seafood. It makes a tasty addition to ground salmon, chicken, and turkey burgers.
Different types of ground beef can be purchased at the market. I recommend using 80% lean ground chuck or 85% lean ground round. This gives the proper ratio of meat to fat. This gives a meaty chew and enough lipids to keep the proteins moist and flavorful. The fat helps to brown and crisp the surface and edges for better flavor. Using 70% lean ground beef has too much fat and will make the patty too soft and too greasy. I find that 90% lean ground beef or higher can taste too dry and tough.
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If you tried this Hamburger Seasoning recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Hamburger Seasoning
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, or sweet
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Make the Seasoning – In a small bowl, mix together the salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Season the Patties – Evenly sprinkle ¼ to ½ teaspoon of the hamburger seasoning mix on each side of the patty before cooking. Alternatively, mix 2 teaspoons into 1 pound of ground beef. If desired, sprinkle more seasoning on top of the formed patties.
- Storing – Save the remaining seasoning mix in an airtight container or mason jar.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Recipe Yield: About 3 tablespoons
- Serving Size: About ½ to 1 teaspoon per hamburger patty. Typically ¼ teaspoon per side for a ¼ pound patty and ½ teaspoon per side for a ½ pound.
- Ground Beef Selection: Use 80 to 85% percent lean ground beef.
- Storing: Store in an airtight container or glass jar for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Greg says
Excellent hamburger seasoning. Thank you Jess
Jessica Gavin says
You’re welcome, Greg!
JJ says
Yummy, and a very easy-to-make blend of seasonings.
I made a ‘version’ (as it turned out) with half & half sweet/smoked paprika. I found out we don’t like smoked paprika in anything AND something was not as garlicky as we like it. So I threw that batch away.
In a second mix, I used all sweet paprika AND I used my powdered garlic from Costco, not the Grocery Warehouse brand I’d just used. The new batch was GREAT.
Through this I learned how a cheaper powdered garlic (probably onion, too) doesn’t deliver the garlic flavor at all (and might have a lot of filler, too). The whole Grocery Warehouse powdered garlic went into the trash.
Jessica Gavin says
Thanks for your feedback, JJ!
Carole says
This is a wonderful seasoning! Thank you so much for that little sentence – “2 teaspoons per pound”. It’s so nice to have a baseline to start seasoning from. Thanks Jessica!
Jessica Gavin says
You’re welcome, Carole!