Keep your hands free and your stovetop clean by baking your burgers in the oven instead of in a pan on the stove. This quick, easy, and convenient recipe results in sizzling, juicy, and perfectly cooked burgers, every single time.
If you ask my oldest child what he wants for dinner, 10/10 times he’ll say “burgers“. (ICYWW, my youngest will say “pasta” and my middle will say “I don’t know“. Guess which child is the most easy going when it comes to dinner? Ha!)
That said, we have burgers for dinner a lot and, while I’ve mastered pan frying burgers, I dread cooking them. It’s SUCH a mess! Between the five of us we go through at least eight patties and by the time they’re all cooked, the stovetop and counters are slick with splattered grease. Plus I’ve got a giant cast iron skillet to let cool down before hand scrubbing.
Friends, there’s an easier way — Baked Burgers!
Baked Cheeseburgers have completely changed burger night at our house! Not only is there ZERO mess but I have my hands free for the 20 minutes they take to bake to whip up a side dish and gather burger toppings. Plus my entire family likes these baked burgers better than pan fried, which is saying a lot because we really love our pan fried burgers!
Watch How to Make Them
Oven Baked Burgers
The first time I made baked burgers I fully anticipated them coming out of the oven soggy and grey, but that’s not the case at all. These burgers are super tender, juicy, and again, HANDS OFF. No need to flip the patties, no cooking spray — just place them onto an aluminum foil and parchment paper lined baking sheet then send them off into the oven.
Goodbye. Don’t call me I’ll call you.
I like to season the ground beef burgers with an easy homemade seasoning blend using ingredients I bet you’ve already got on hand. I’ll share the recipe below, but know that you can use whatever seasonings or blend you like best.
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Pin ItHow Long Do Burgers Take to Cook in the Oven?
I use 2lbs ground beef to create eight burger patties, so each burger is 1/4lb. That said, eight 1/4lb burgers only take 20 minutes to reach 160 degrees in a 375 degree oven.
This a true 30 minute meal: 10 minutes to season then shape the burgers and 20 minutes to cook.
What Kind of Ground Beef to Use
It’s true that fat = flavor, but I prefer to use lean ground beef for oven baked burgers. The patties don’t shrink and there’s less mess. Actually there’s zero mess, like I mentioned!
I tested these burgers with 90/10 and 97/3 ground beef, and preferred 90/10. Both fat blends came out extremely tender and juicy, but the 90/10 had a bit more flavor.
If you decide to go with a fattier ground beef, I’d place the burger patties on a wire rack on the baking sheet so they don’t sit in grease.
Our Favorite Toppings
Like I said, I like to spend the 20 minutes the burgers take to bake to prep the burger toppings and make a side dish — usually a fresh and healthy veggie salad or big fruit salad — although frozen french fries hit the spot too!
Here are our favorite burger toppings:
- Sauteed garlic butter mushrooms
- Oven Bacon
- Sliced white onion or red onion
- Fresh tomato
- Fresh lettuce
- Pickles
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayonnaise
How to Soften Gluten Free Buns
Let’s be real, gluten free buns are usually lacking in the soft and squishy department, but I have two tricks to make them more appetizing:
- Toast them: Toast the buns cut side up under the broiler until they’re golden brown and softened. Top with a cheeseburger patty and toppings then eat immediately.
- Wrap them. Place a baked burger patty onto the bun then wrap in foil and place inside the hot oven for a few minutes. Softens them right up! We do this with both with my gluten free bun and the regular hamburgers buns my kids and husband eat. Such a game changer!
Or you can always wrap the oven burgers in iceberg lettuce for a low carb / bunless burger. It’s actually really good.
How to Cook Burgers in the Oven
Step 1: Season the Beef
Start by adding ground beef to a large bowl with my easy burger seasoning blend, or whatever your favorite seasoning blend is. Here’s what’s in my mix:
- Dried minced onion
- Dried minced garlic
- Fennel seeds that have been crushed (I place them inside a small baggie then crush with a meat mallet).
- Salt
- Black pepper
Mix the beef and seasonings with your hands until just combined.
Step 2: Shape the Mixture into Patties
Divide the seasoned beef mixture into quarters then each quarter in half. Use your hands to shape 8 burger patties then place them on a sheet pan that’s been lined with foil and a piece of parchment paper which helps prevent splatters.
Step 3: Bake the Burgers then Top with Cheese
Bake the hamburgers for 20-25 minutes, or until they register 160 degrees as read by a digital meat thermometer. Place American cheese slices (or whatever you like best — cheddar cheese is great too!) on top of each patty and slide the pan back into the oven until melted —just a minute or so.
Step 4: Toast Hamburger Buns then Add Toppings
Transfer the cheeseburger patties to toasted hamburger buns, or try that foil-wrapped warming trick I mentioned, then top with all the fixins and dig in.
I hope you love these EASY, tender, and totally delicious baked cheeseburgers! Enjoy!
More Easy Family-Friendly Recipes
- Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Rice
- One Pot Chicken and Rice
- Baked Chicken Thighs
- Creamy Ham Peas and Pasta
- Oven Baked Burgers
- American Goulash
- Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef, 90/10 or 93/7 fat recommended
- 8 buns
- 8 slices American cheese
For the burger seasoning:
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, finely crushed
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees then line a half sheet pan with foil and place a piece of parchment paper on top. Set aside.
- Add ground beef to a large mixing bowl then sprinkle the homemade burger seasoning ingredients on top and mix to combine (alternatively you could use your own burger seasoning). Divide the mixture into quarters then divide each quarter in half to create a total of eight burger patties. Place patties onto prepared baking sheet then bake for 20-25 minutes or until burgers reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
- Place a slice of cheese onto each burger patty then return to the oven for 1 minute to let the cheese melt. Transfer cheeseburgers to buns then serve.
Notes
- I like to toast gluten free buns under the broiler for a few minutes to soften before placing a burger patty on top, OR place the baked cheeseburger patty onto a bun then wrap in foil and place inside the oven to soften for 3-4 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
This is amazing and surprisingly easy! I was very skeptical, but I’m hooked! Thank you!
I used 1 tsp. Onion Soup Mix for 1lb. Ground Beef. Cook per instructions. They came out perfectly moist and flavorful. I will never pan fry a burger again !
Love it, Heidi!! So glad you enjoyed – thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
I was wondering if this will work for ground chicken as we can’t have beef anymore. if anyone has tried, did you use the same time and temp?
That should be fine, Dawn, just make sure you’re using ground chicken (vs ground chicken breast) and cook to an internal temperature of at least 165 degres!
These were so good! They didn’t dry out like they can in a pan. And no mess. Thank you!
You are so welcome!! I’m so glad you loved these burgers, Nw!
Super simple! Made these for lunch while keeping my 4-month-old in the carrier — so convenient.
I’m so happy to hear this! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
It’s so hot and humid in Florida in the summer, and I just wasn’t up for standing over the grill. These burgers in the oven turned out perfectly! I will always make them this way now. Thanks.
I’m so happy to hear this, Michelle!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating – and stay cool!
So simple! I knocked these out for lunch while wearing my 4month old in his carrier. I’ll never cook burgers on the stove top again, thank you!
YES!! Exactly the type of dish I was looking for when I had babies strapped to me, too. So glad this was a hit, Dee, and congrats on baby!
That sounds delicious
Going to make these later tonight I mixed up my meat a seasoning before hand and am just letting all that flavor come together while it hangs out in the fridge for my seasoning I did; salt, pepper, garlic powder, ground coriander and dehydrated red onion
Great idea letting the flavors all meld together, J.W.! I hope you love them!
Perfect! I use a meat thermometer and cook mine a little more pink…150. Sometimes, ya’ just don’t want to bother with the grill. Thanks for the recipe!
Exactly! So glad you enjoyed, JP. Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
They were delicious. As stated, I loved the clean-up! I love doing these for visitors after the beach all day. Corn on the cob, air fryer fries & plenty of prepped toppings. By the time everyone showers, food is on the table! Watermelon for dessert. It’s everyone’s favorite. Kids are fed & ready to quietly watch a movie until bedtime.
Sounds like an absolutely perfect and delicious evening, Gerry! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
My husband and I loved them! I have baked hamburgers in the past but despised cleaning the broiler pan !! These taste so good and clean up was quick and easy!!
Thank you so much for an amazing recipe!!
It’s a definite keeper :)
I can so related, Jill! So glad this recipe was a hit, and easier to clean up from. :) Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!