Better than the steakhouse, these Classic Juicy Hamburgers are perfectly seasoned, tender and juicy, and so flavorful and delicious — literally the best burgers ever! With just 10 minutes of prep, you can enjoy restaurant style burgers at home today. Plus, you can make homemade burgers over the grill, on the stove in a cast-iron skillet, or in the oven.
Why You'll Love These Classic Juicy Hamburgers
- Super flavorful burger patties. The key to this classic burger recipe is to load the beef patties up with flavor. We're not skimping here. The meat mixture has panko breadcrumbs, cheddar cheese, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. That seems like a lot but when the meat tastes this good, the rest of the toppings are just a garnish!
- Classic burger flavor. There are plenty of great burger recipes out there, like my Mediterranean Turkey Burgers or these flavor-packed Salmon Burgers, but there's nothing like a juicy burger straight from the grill! This simple burger recipe has an iconic flavor we all know and love. Just serve it in some Homemade Hamburger Buns and your favorite toppings!
- Great for entertaining. Hosting a BBQ or party? Double or triple this recipe for the best homemade hamburgers! It only takes 10 minutes to make the burger patties, and each pound of beef will give you 4 quarter-pound burgers. Make as many as you need!
Ingredient Notes
To make these delicious and juicy Classic Hamburgers, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- ground beef - I used lean ground beef but you can use any kind. You can also substitute with other types of ground meat.
- Panko breadcrumbs
- cheddar cheese - you can replace this with another kind of cheese including Parmesan, asiago cheese, Monteray Jack, etc.
- parsley - feel free to use other herbs such as dill or thyme.
- pickle juice - You can use cold water instead. I often use pickle juice in my burger patties because they make the burger juicier and adds so much flavour. Pickle juice contains water, vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds, dill and a variety of spices.
- garlic powder
- Worcestershire sauce - this is optional but adds great flavor.
- salt and pepper
- vegetable oil or cooking spray oil - for grilling.
- hamburger buns - make your own easy homemade hamburger buns in under 3 hours with only 15 minutes of actual prep work. They are soft, fluffy, and airy.
- toppings - We opted for classics like mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, red onions, pickles, and ketchup. These are my favourite toppings, but they are all completely optional. Feel free to top these burgers with whatever toppings that you like.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, an indoor grill pan (if you are not using an outdoor grill), a turner spatula to flip the hamburgers over, and a meat thermometer.
How to Make Classic Juicy Hamburgers
- Make the patties: In a large mixing bowl, add ground beef, breadcrumbs, cheddar cheese, parsley, pickle juice, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce (optional), and salt and pepper. Stir well to combine. Shape the ground beef mixture into a firm ball. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Shape the patties: Transfer the ground beef mixture onto a large piece of parchment paper. Flatten the ground beef with your hands into a square that is ½-inch thick (approximately an 8x8-inch square). Use a 4-inch wide circular mold (or the rim of a round bowl) to cut out 4 hamburger patties.
- Cook the hamburger patties: You can cook these patties on the grill, on the stove top, or in the oven.
- To grill: Brush oil over the grill pan and heat over medium-high heat for 3 minutes until the oil starts to sizzle and shimmer. Place patties spaced apart on the grill and cook for 5 minutes on each side until the internal temperature for the patties reaches 160 F.
- To cook on the stove: Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat for 3 minutes until sizzling hot. Place patties on the skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes until nicely seared and starting to brown up the sides. Flip the patties over and cook for another 3-5 minutes, until the internal temperature for the patties reaches 160 F.
- To cook in the oven: To bake or air fry, cook for 15-17 minutes at 425 F or until they reach 160 F internally.
- Assemble the hamburgers: Toast the buns on the grill, if desired. On each hamburger bun, spread mayonnaise onto the bottom half. Top with a piece of lettuce and a grilled hamburger patty. Top the patty with sliced tomato, onions and pickles. Add ketchup on top and place the top half of the bun on top.
Recipe Variations
- Change the protein. I used lean beef, which is lower in fat. For an even juicier burger, use a cut with a higher fat content, like 80/20, or add some ground chuck. For a leaner burger, replace the ground beef with ground turkey.
- Try a different cooking method. Although I prefer grilling my burgers, you can also make them in a cast iron skillet on the stove, bake them in the oven, or prepare them in the air fryer. To bake or air fry, cook for 15-17 minutes at 425 F or until they reach 160 F internally.
- Change up the toppings. There are lots of different ways to top these burger patties, so the sky's the limit. Pair them with blue cheese and roasted mushrooms and onions for a hearty, earthy flavor, or add a country twist with fried onions, BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, and bacon.
- Make it dairy-free. If you can't tolerate dairy, feel free to skip the cheddar cheese in the burger patty or try a non-dairy cheese.
How to Serve
These Juicy Hamburgers are delicious served on its own, or paired with some classic burger sides including:
- Baked Potato Wedges
- Arugula Salad
- Sweet Potato Tater Tots
- Spicy Mac and Cheese
- Baked Potato
- Crispy Air Fryer French Fries
- Italian Pasta Salad
For more recipes, see our 25+ Best BBQ Side Dishes.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- How to tell if the burger is cooked. A digital meat thermometer is very useful when grilling meat for checking doneness. Simply insert halfway inside the meat to get a quick measurement.
- Make your own artisan hamburger buns. You can make your own easy homemade hamburger buns in under 3 hours with only 15 minutes of actual prep work. These buns are soft, fluffy, and so airy. Totally worth the extra effort.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Store leftover cooked patties in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can store the uncooked patties for up to 2 days from the date you purchased the ground beef.
How to Reheat
Reheat leftover hamburger patties on the grill, stove over medium heat, or in a 350F preheated oven or air fryer. Heat until the internal temperature hits 165ºF as read on a meat thermometer.
How to Freeze
You can freeze both cooked and uncooked hamburger patties for up to 3 months. Place them on a parchment lined baking tray and place in the freezer for an hour. Then, stack them up and layer small squares of parchment paper in between them. Store in an airtight ziploc bag and place back in the freezer.
To use them, defrost overnight in the refrigerator. For the cooked patties, simply reheat once thawed. For the uncooked patties, cook according to recipe instructions once thawed.
FAQ
There's nothing quite like a classic beef burger! Keep this diner staple simple with a well-seasoned hamburger patty, toasted bun, then a little mayo, iceberg lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and ketchup. Many people like to add a slice of cheese (usually cheddar or American cheese), but this is optional. Feel free to add a little burger sauce to make them extra special!
Not long! The cooking time depends on your cooking method, but burgers are generally done in 10 minutes or less. On a gas or charcoal grill, it will take about 5 minutes per side. In a cast iron skillet, it will take 3-5 minutes per side. When done, an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the patty should read 160 degrees F.
There are lots of different opinions on this, but after making more than my fair share of homemade burgers, I have some thoughts to share. First, you should add some sort of bread crumbs to absorb the moisture from the meat as it cooks. I like to use panko breadcrumbs, which have a very light flavor that lets the meat shine. For flavor, I like to add shredded cheddar cheese, pickle juice (yes, really!), Worcestershire sauce, parsley, garlic powder, and simple salt and black pepper. The pickle brine will tenderize the meat and add a tanginess that balances the flavor of the beef. It's a simple combination that results in the most deliciously juicy grilled burgers every time!
More Burger Recipes
- 15 Best Burger Recipes
- Quarter Pound Burgers
- Thai Turkey Burgers
- Black Bean Burgers
- Salmon Burgers
- Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers
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Recipe
Classic Juicy Hamburgers
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 quarter-pounder hamburgers
Description
Better than the steakhouse, these Classic Juicy Hamburgers are perfectly seasoned, tender and juicy, and so flavorful and delicious — literally the best burgers ever! With just 10 minutes of prep, you can enjoy restaurant style burgers at home today. Plus, you can make homemade burgers over the grill, on the stove in a cast-iron skillet, or in the oven.
Ingredients
For the hamburger patties:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons pickle juice (or cold water)
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil or cooking spray oil
For the burgers:
- 4 hamburger buns, sliced
- ¼ cup mayonnaise, divided
- 4 pieces of lettuce
- 4 slices tomato, ¼-inch thick
- ½ cup red onions, sliced
- ½ cup pickles, sliced
- ¼ cup ketchup
Instructions
Prepare the hamburger patties:
- In a large mixing bowl, add ground beef, breadcrumbs, cheddar cheese, parsley, pickle juice, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce (optional), and salt and pepper. Stir well with a spatula to combine everything together (or use your hands to press the ingredients together to evenly combine).
- Shape the ground beef mixture into a firm ball. This helps the beef mixture bind together to yield firm patties. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Transfer the ground beef mixture onto a large piece of parchment paper. Flatten the ground beef with your hands into a square that is ½-inch thick (approximately an 8x8-inch square). You can also roll it out with a rolling pin.
- Use a 4-inch wide circular mold (or the rim of a round bowl) to cut out 4 hamburger patties (¼ pound each). Add the scraps evenly amongst the 4 patties.
Cook the hamburger patties:
- To grill: Brush oil over the grill pan and heat pan over medium-high heat for 3 minutes until the oil starts to sizzle and shimmer. Place patties spaced apart on the grill and cook for 5 minutes on each side until the internal temperature for the patties reaches 160 F. It takes about 10 minutes total.
- To cook on the stove: Heat oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat for 3 minutes until sizzling hot. Place patties on the skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes until nicely seared and starting to brown up the sides. Flip the patties over and cook for another 3-5 minutes, until the internal temperature for the patties reaches 160 F.
- To cook in the oven: To bake or air fry, cook for 15-17 minutes at 425 F or until they reach 160 F internally.
Assemble the hamburgers:
- Slice the hamburgers and toast the slices on the grill, if desired.
- On each hamburger bun, spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise onto the bottom half of the bun. Top with a piece of lettuce and a grilled hamburger patty. Top the patty with 1 slice of tomato, 2 or 3 slices onions and sliced pickles. Add a tablespoon ketchup on the top half of the bun. Place the top half of the bun on top to assemble the hamburger.
- Serve with a side of crispy french fries.
Notes
How to check if the burger is cooked: A digital meat thermometer is very useful when grilling meat for checking doneness. Simply insert halfway inside the meat to get a quick measurement.
How to store: Store leftover cooked patties in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can store the uncooked patties for up to 2 days from the date you purchased the ground beef.
How to reheat: Reheat leftover hamburger patties on the grill, stove over medium heat, or in a 350F preheated oven or air fryer. Heat until the internal temperature hits 165ºF as read on a meat thermometer.
How to freeze hamburger patties: You can freeze both cooked and uncooked hamburger patties for up to 3 months. Place them on a parchment lined baking tray and place in the freezer for an hour. Then, stack them up and layer small squares of parchment paper in between them. Store in an airtight ziploc bag and place back in the freezer. To use them, defrost overnight in the refrigerator. For the cooked patties, simply reheat once thawed. For the uncooked patties, cook according to recipe instructions once thawed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Marinate Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Burgers
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: American
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Nan says
Excellent! Although, I did not see the bottom part where you give the actual measurements so I proportioned mine differently but they were fantastic. I probably used 2 tabelspoons worscestershire and almost 1/4 cup of pickle juice. So, you can't really screw it up because they were great. Left out the panko because I didn't have any. Next time, I'll go by your measurements.
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you Nan! Yes, all measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, sorry for the confusion! So happy the recipe worked out anyways.
Mark says
These burgers were so juicy and tasty. Making them again this weekend.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
So happy you liked them! They are one of our favourites.