Homemade Hamburgers

We have now entered grilling season and whether you’re firing up the outdoor grill or using an indoor grill like we did, there is one food that’s always a crowd pleaser and that’s grilled homemade hamburgers! Juicy burgers made with a simple seasoning mix, topped with cheese and crisp veggies are always my go-to at BBQs and cookouts! We recently got a new indoor grill at the Budget Bytes test kitchen and this simple and easy hamburger recipe was the first thing on our menu. So gather your friends and break out the ice cold drinks and let’s grill some burgers!

What You Need for Homemade Burgers

A great hamburger recipe only needs a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

Ground Beef – You’ll want to choose beef that has a decent amount of fat in it to keep the burgers juicy. I like to use an 80/20 ground beef chuck which is 80% meat and 20% fat. Avoid using super lean ground beef.
Seasoning – We used our Homemade Burger Seasoning to season these burgers. Our simple burger seasoning mix includes paprika (smoked and sweet), onion powder, garlic powder, freshly cracked pepper, salt, and just a tiny pinch of cayenne. You can also try our Homemade Cajun Seasoning or a seasoning salt blend, like Lawry’s.
Buns – Of course you’ll need a good burger bun to go with these juicy burgers. Potato buns, brioche buns, sesame buns, or classic white buns are all great choices.
Comeback Sauce – Adding a sauce is totally optional, but I couldn’t resist adding a thin layer of our popular comeback sauce!

Topping Suggestions

You can always choose your favorite toppings and customize your hamburgers however you like. I love cheeseburgers so I added a slice of cheddar cheese, but of course American cheese is a classic! I also added lettuce, tomato, thinly sliced red onion and pickles. Here are some more great options:

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
Caramelized onions
Mayo Ketchup
Crispy fried onions
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Thinly sliced jalapeño
Pickled Red Onions
Sautéed mushrooms & Swiss cheese

Tips For Making The Best Hamburgers!

When making hamburgers you want to avoid overworking the meat, which can make your burger dense and tough. So gently shape your burgers then season them with your favorite burger seasoning.
Make sure to season your burgers right before you’re ready to cook them. Salt changes the proteins in ground beef very quickly and can make the hamburgers tough, dry, and rubbery. So wait until right before you’re ready to put the burgers on the grill before adding your seasoning mix.
To ensure your burgers are cooked evenly, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. The internal temperature of a cooked burger should be 160°F.

What To Serve With Homemade Hamburgers

Enjoy these burgers with your favorite potato chips or our Air Fryer French Fries. They also taste great with Oven Baked Steak Fries or a simple Pasta Salad on the side!

Juicy homemade hamburgers are always a crowd pleaser. A simple recipe with a flavorful seasoning mix makes the best burgers every time! Author: Marsha – Budget Bytes

Servings 4 burgers Cook 18 minutes minsTotal 28 minutes mins

Ingredients

2 Tbsp butter, softened ($0.26)
4 burger buns ($2.24)
1 batch Homemade Burger Seasoning ($0.33)
1 lb. ground beef chuck ($6.29)

Optional Toppings

4 slices cheddar cheese ($1.24)
4 leaves iceberg lettuce ($0.37)
1 tomato, sliced into thin rounds ($1.15)
1/4 red onion, sliced into thin rounds ($0.39)
12 dill pickle slices ($0.93)
1/4 cup Comeback Sauce (1 Tbsp per burger or more) ($1.12)

Instructions

Preheat the indoor grill to 325°F*. Spread the softened butter on the cut side of your burger buns. Place the cut sides down on the grill to toast the buns for a few minutes until lightly golden brown. Set the buns to the side.
Mix together the spices for the homemade burger seasoning and set aside.
Next divide the ground beef into four equal portions. Gently shape the beef into round burger patties about ½ – 1-inch thick, being careful not to overwork the meat.
Generously season the burgers with ¼ to ½ tsp of burger seasoning on each side of the burger patty.
Add the burgers to the grill (This is the new indoor grill we found that is both easy and budget friendly), lower the lid, and cook for 7-8 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Add the cheddar cheese slices to the burgers during the last 1-2 minutes of the cook time. Remove the burgers from the grill, assemble with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

Equipment

Indoor Grill

Notes

*Heat your indoor grill to 325°F or according to the manufacturer instructions. If using an outdoor grill, heat the grill to medium heat. **Nutrition calculation does not include burger seasoning or comeback sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1

burgerCalories: 539

kcalCarbohydrates: 24

gProtein: 28

gFat: 36

gSodium: 617

mgFiber: 2

g Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.

How to Make HOMEMADE HAMBURGERS – Step by Step Photos

Preheat the indoor grill to 325°F*. Divide and spread 2 Tbsp of softened butter on the cut side of 4 burger buns. Place the cut sides down on the grill to toast the buns for a few minutes until lightly golden brown. Set the buns to the side.

Mix together the spices for the homemade burger seasoning (1 tsp sweet paprika, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 onion powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp salt) and set aside.

Next divide 1 lb. ground beef into four equal portions. Gently shape the beef into round burger patties about ½ – 1-inch thick, being careful not to overwork the meat. Generously season the burgers with ¼ to ½ tsp of burger seasoning on each side of the burger patty.