Description
This classic hamburger recipe features juicy ground chuck patties seasoned with a flavorful blend of spices, grilled to perfection, and served with your favorite toppings and cheeses. Perfect for backyard barbecues or a delicious homemade meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Burger Patties
- 1 ½ pounds ground chuck (80/20)
- 1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ½ teaspoon light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Toppings
- 6 hamburger buns, toasted if desired
- 6 slices American cheese or your favorite cheese
- 6 lettuce leaves
- 1 beefsteak tomato, thinly sliced
- ½ of a red or white onion, thinly sliced
- 6 pickle slices
Optional Toppings and Condiments
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Grilled onions
- Jalapeños
- Bacon
- Onion rings
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- BBQ sauce
- Thousand island dressing
- Ranch dressing
- Homemade Chick-fil-A Sauce
Instructions
- Make Burger Seasoning: In a small bowl, combine black pepper, salt, paprika, light brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and set aside.
- Form Patties: Divide the ground chuck into 6 equal portions. Gently shape each portion into a ½ inch thick patty that’s wider than your hamburger buns, as the meat will shrink while cooking. Avoid over-handling the meat to prevent toughness.
- Indent Center: Press a shallow indentation into the center of each patty with your thumb. This helps them cook evenly and prevents puffing up. Cover the patties and set aside while preheating your grill. Optionally, place an ice cube in the indentations to keep patties moist before grilling.
- Preheat Grill: Heat your grill to medium-high heat, ensuring it’s hot before cooking the patties.
- Season and Grill: Just before grilling, sprinkle the prepared burger seasoning evenly over both sides of the patties. Place them on the hot grill, indentation side up. Close the grill lid and cook for 3-4 minutes until the bottoms are seared and juices appear on top. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Add Cheese: During the last minute of grilling, place a slice of American cheese on each patty to melt.
- Rest and Serve: Remove patties from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes to retain their juices. Serve on toasted buns topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and your favorite condiments or additional toppings.
Notes
- Use ground chuck for the best balance of flavor and fat content; alternatively combine 60% ground chuck with 40% brisket. If using lean ground beef, add chopped bacon or olive oil for moisture.
- American cheese melts best and is traditional, preferably sliced fresh from the deli counter.
- To cook on stovetop, heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat with a thin layer of oil. Cook patties for 3-5 minutes per side until they reach 160°F.
- Cooking time varies depending on desired doneness: 3-4 minutes per side for medium, less for medium-rare, or longer for well done.
- Make patties ahead by shaping and layering with parchment paper; refrigerate covered for 1-2 days.
- Freeze raw patties with parchment paper between for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger with bun and cheese
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
