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This hamburger recipe is simple perfection with only 4 ingredients-no fillers needed. Homemade hamburger patties don’t need much, just seasoning and a hot grill or skillet.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: They’re juicy and tasty, with no fillers.
- Skill level: These hamburger patties are so easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time.
- Toppings: These are tasty basic burgers and can be topped with your favorites like tomato, lettuce, pickles, onion, bacon, or sauteed mushrooms.
- Budget tip: Turn leftovers into a whole new meal! Add them to hamburger soup, chili, or spaghetti sauce.
- Freezing: These hamburger patties are easy to freeze, check the recipe notes.
Choosing Beef For Homemade Hamburger Patties
- Ground Beef: A really great hamburger starts with the right meat. I prefer an 80/20 blend of ground beef (aka lean ground beef). It has enough fat to keep the hamburger patties moist without being greasy or causing flare-ups. Regular ground beef has too much fat that will drip out into the grill, and extra-lean beef can dry out.
- Seasonings: Worcestershire sauce helps the beef brown and adds a nice savory flavor. The seasonings are simple. Salt in this burger recipe can be replaced with a DIY burger seasoning.
- Cheese (optional): Cheddar cheese is one of the best cheeses to top a burger, but feel free to experiment with other cheeses like pepper jack.
How to Cook Hamburgers
I save breadcrumbs for meatloaf and let the flavor in this recipe come from the beef instead!
- Mix beef, grated onion, & Worcestershire sauce. Add salt & pepper to taste.
- Form patties & indent the center of each one with your thumb to prevents the patties from swelling up in the center as they cook . Chill according to the recipe below.
- GRILL: Cook burgers on medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side.
- STOVETOP: Use a heavy-duty skillet or cast-iron skillet. Cook the burgers over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side.
- AIR FRYER: Place prepared patties in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook for 6 minutes, flip, & cook another 3-5 minutes.
Holly’s ProTips for Great Burgers
- Use 80/20 lean ground beef, so you have a little fat for great flavor.
- Combine the meat mixture just until mixed; overmixing will make the burger tough.
- Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to add a dent to the center of each patty. This will keep it from bulging in the center.
- Hamburger patties will shrink and become a bit thicker as they cook, so make them a bit wider than your bun.
- Once your burger is done, place a cheese slice on top of each patty and let it rest until melted for the perfect cheeseburger.
Sides to Savor
Did you enjoy this Classic Hamburger Recipe? Leave a rating and comment below.
Classic Hamburger Recipe
Savor the simplicity of this classic hamburger recipe made with only 4 ingredients, whether grilled or cooked on the stovetop.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef 80/20 or lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon grated onion
- 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- salt and black pepper or burger seasoning
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine beef, onion, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix just until combined.
- Gently shape into 4 patties, about ¾-inch thick. Using your thumb, create an indent, about ½-inch wide, in the center of each burger.
- Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before cooking.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat.
- Season the outside of the burgers with salt & pepper or burger seasoning.
- Cook burgers about 4-6 minutes per side or until they reach 160°F.
- Rest for 5 minutes. Serve on toasted rolls or buns.
Notes
- Use the large side of a box grater, to grate the onion.
To Cook on the Stove Top
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Heat a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat.
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Season the outside of the burgers with salt & pepper to taste.
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Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. Add the beef patties and cook for 5-6 minutes per side or until they reach 160°F.
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Rest for 5 minutes. Serve on toasted rolls or buns.
Arrange the prepared patties in a single layer within the air fryer. Cook them for 6 minutes on one side, flip them, and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. Store raw burgers in the fridge for up to 2 days. Store cooked burgers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 277 | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beef, Dinner, Entree, Main Course
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
More Ground Beef Favorites
From thick patties for great burgers and meatballs, ground beef is the perfect protein for so many meals.
How much is a dash of Worcestershire Sauce? 1/8 teaspoon?
It would be approximately ⅛ teaspoon.
tasty and easy
This recipe looked too easy to be very flavorful but I was so wrong! It turned out great, and we all enjoyed the flavor the Worcestershire added to the burgers. SWP Employee
So glad you enjoyed it!
Great and simple recipe! Love that there is no egg or crumbs. But can you tell me why you chill the patties for twenty minutes before cooking? Thanks!
Hi Daeralda, This helps the patties stay together while cooking.
This has to be the best hamburgers ever, many people think its a hamburger, how hard can that be. Well take it from me my burgers were dry and always added bread crumbs. This receipt was A+++ juicy and for the first time my husband had seconds!
So happy you enjoyed it.
Really amezing recipe, You are really a good chef.
Thanks, Shaheen! That’s so sweet of you to say.
You are often my go to when looking up recipes! Thanks for make them easily followed! And delish!
This just made my day Nesee! Thank you for the kind words. I am so glad you are enjoying the recipes!
What temperature do you cook the burgers in the air fryer?
I cook them at 370°F in the air fryer. You can find the full recipe with times and temperatures here.
Great recipes thanks so much for making it easy with my new air frying experience
Thanks for mentioning that burgers always need to rest for a few minutes before serving. My husband loves burgers, so I want to surprise him with some for his birthday this weekend. I don’t typically cook beef, so I’ll definitely need to follow this recipe!
Good luck this your surprise this weekend Eve and happy birthday to your husband!
80/20 of what?
80% of what to 20% of what else? I get it it’s 80% of some kind of ground beef — what’s the other 20%? Is it 80% beef, 20% onions? That seems like a lot of onions.
I’ve been cooking burgers for years but I thought I’d try something new in this recipe. Unfortunately, I just don’t know what you mean… Too much assumed.
Hi Peter, that’s a great question! 80/20 refers to the lean beef to fat ratio when buying ground chuck from the store. You can buy ground beef with different fat ratios from extra lean (a 93/7 ratio of lean beef to fat), lean (85/15), to regular (70/30). A ground beef with a higher fat content will make have more flavor and keep the burgers moist and juicy. I hope this helps!
I made this with a bunch of Worcestershire sauce and the onions and added some bell pepper and mixed it all together. Then made the hamburgers and they are in the fridge for later to grill! I bet they will be yummy. I am not a big HAMBURGER fan as they are usually boring. Not tonite~! Some corn on the cob and baked beans it will be the best!
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe Kris!
Who would’ve thought there’s a recipe for a really good hamburger. Well… me actually… and I knew Spend With Pennies would have it. Thanks for being my go to recipe place!
You’re too kind, Joyce! But we are so happy you enjoyed this recipe.
A trick I learned a long time ago. If you poke a hole in the center of the burger before grilling it will cook through more quickly without drying out
Thanks for the tip Mary, we will have to try that out!
The fact that as a bachelor I say this for everything does not mean it’s not true: wonderful delicious thank you very much.
You’re very welcome Mike!!
We’ve been making hamburgers for years; these were the best we’ve ever made. Thank you. : )
Jesus is Good.
Hi! Holly im glad i found your recipes im new in cooking and im willing to learn from you but i want to start with easy recipes that will help me to be confident and thank you about information i wish you all the best
Thanks so much, Naledi! So happy we are able to help :)
This is basic as promised, but I was hoping to see your recipe for the hamburger dressing that looks like the Big Mac sauce.
The dressing is Thousand Island dressing.
Holly, I just love your recipes, nice and easy to follow ,even for a mere male .
Thanks so much John, glad you’re enjoying them!! :) Happy Cooking!