Classic Hamburger Patties

Looking for a more flavorful yet still classic hamburger patties recipe? Look no further. This basic hamburger patty has added flavor to make sure each bite of your burger lives up to the toppings and bun you surround it with. But it makes no sacrifices to the classic flavor profile of your favorite homemade hamburger or cheeseburger.

We love making burgers at home, but making a restaurant style burger patty takes more than just shaping the beef. You want to make sure the patty itself has the proper flavors to support and complement the overall burger. That is why we use different hamburger patty recipes depending on the burger we want to make. 

For instance, a classic burger patty is great for a blueberry lemon goat cheese burger or a bacon cheeseburger with garlic aioli. But some burgers such as a big pig burger, call for a different patty like our BBQ burger patties.

Classic Hamburger Patty Ingredients

This classic hamburger patty recipe keeps it simple. By sticking to the basic ingredients, we can add flavors that compliment any burger while enhancing the flavor of the ground beef. Here is what we use to make our classic burger patties:

• Ground beef
• Ketchup
• Worcestershire sauce
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Liquid smoke
• Salt

We love adding a little bit of liquid smoke to our burger patties to get an added depth of flavor. This is especially useful when we cook burgers inside on our cast iron grill pan, since it doesn’t get the same smoky flavor that a grill can provide.

How To Make The Best Homemade Hamburger Patties

It takes just 3 easy steps to make your burger patties and then you are ready to cook them for burger night or freeze them for later!

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
2. Form meat into three equal-sized balls, about ⅓ of a pound each.
3. Flatten and shape the burger patties until they are about ½ inch to ¾ inch thick.

Different Methods For Cooking Burgers

Cooking on a cast iron grill pan:

1. Preheat the pan over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes.
2. Transfer patties to the pan and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. When you are ready to flip, the patty shouldn’t be stuck to the pan, if it is, give it another minute or so until it comes away freely. 
3. Flip the patties and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, this is the time to add cheese if desired. Again, when you are ready to remove the burger from the pan, the patty should not stick. If it does, wait another minute or so.
4. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer, and serve.

Cooking on a stainless steel frying pan:

1. Preheat the pan over medium-high heat, about 3 minutes.
2. Add a tablespoon or so of vegetable oil to the pan, just enough to coat the bottom. Heat until shimmering.
3. Transfer patties to the pan and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes. When you are ready to flip, the patty shouldn’t be stuck to the pan. If it is, give it another minute or so until it comes away freely. 
4. Flip the patties and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, this is the time to add cheese if desired. Again, when you are ready to remove the burger from the pan, the patty should not stick, if it does, wait another minute or so.
5. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer, and serve.

Cooking on a grill:

1. Preheat the grill on medium-high heat, about 5 minutes.
2. Transfer patties to the grill and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes. When you are ready to flip, the patty shouldn’t be stuck to the grill, if it is, give it another minute or so until it comes away freely. 
3. Flip the patties and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, if you want to add cheese, do so about 2 to 3 minutes after flipping. Again, when you are ready to remove the burger from the grill, the patty should not stick. If it does, wait another minute or so.
4. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer, and serve.

It is also easy to freeze the burger patties and store them away for a later date. Just wrap each patty in cling wrap tightly so it is fully sealed. Then you can wrap each patty together or store them in a freezer safe container or bag. 

By making burgers ahead of time and freezing them, it can be easier to prepare for a large cookout. This way you don’t have to make all the burgers at once and don’t have to worry about doing it while you have company or while you’re preparing other cookout dishes. If you do freeze the patties, plan to let them defrost in the fridge, or if cooking from frozen, let them cook for closer to 8 to 10 minutes per side. 

What To Use Classic Hamburger Patties For

You can never go wrong with using a classic burger patty, that’s what makes it a classic! The added flavor from the garlic, onion, ketchup and worcestershire adds a depth of flavor that compliments the beef well. And while you can use it for any burger, here are some of our favorite uses:

• Blueberry lemon goat cheese burger
• Bacon cheeseburger with garlic aioli
• Brunch burger
• Grilled cheese patty melt

But those are just some of our favorites. Use this classic hamburger patty recipe in any of your favorite burgers! Let us know what you think by commenting, rating, and sharing below!