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 seven 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.
How 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 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.
The parchment paper helps prevent splatters, in my experience.
Step 3: Bake the Burgers then Top with Cheese
Bake the hamburgers for 20-25 minutes, or until they register 160 degrees with a meat thermometer, then 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 Tasty Burger Recipes
- Mushroom Swiss Burgers
- Chicken Fajita Cheeseburgers
- Italian Sausage and Peppers Cheeseburgers
- Chicago Style Italian Burgers
- Homemade Brat Burgers
- Chicken Caesar Burgers
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How to Cook Burgers in the Oven
Description
Skip the mess of pan frying burgers and bake them instead! I'll show you how to cook burgers in the oven for the perfect burger, every time.
Ingredients
- 2lbs 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, crushed finely
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 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 into two 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.
- Leave a comment and star rating if you loved the recipe! Thank you for considering!
Notes
- I like to toast gluten free buns under the broiler for a few minutes to soften before placing a burger patty inside, OR place the baked cheeseburger patty onto a bun then wrap in foil and place inside the oven to soften for 3-4 minutes.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Kim 04.15.2024
This is a fantastic recipe!!! Thank you so much for sharing! We don’t have a stove right now (renovations) so we thought we would try making hamburgers this way, in our toaster oven. Since I need to make 6, and I can only fit 4, I just spread the meat evenly in the pan and lay the cheese over that. Ends up making about 8! This may be the only way we make them from now on!
Kristin 04.16.2024
Oh perfect – love that, Kim! So glad this recipe was a hit for you. :) Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Cynthia 03.11.2024
Perfect way to cook delicious burgers! I used pre-made patties and seasoned them like I usually do. I baked them @375 for 20 min and since I dislike any pink I flipped them and did 5-10 more to ensure doneness. They were super juicy and disappeared fast, this one is going in my recipe binder.
Kristin 03.15.2024
Thrilled this one is a keeper for you, Cynthia!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Patti Svarny 02.28.2024
Great burgers! So easy to make and better than fried. My grandson loved them.
Kristin 02.29.2024
I’m so glad to hear that, Patti! Thank you so much for your feedback!
Krystal 02.28.2024
After the 25 minutes will the hamburgers be well done? I need to make mine well done. Please advise. Thank you!
Kristin 02.28.2024
Hi Krytal! “Well done” is considered anything over 160 degrees so I would use a meat thermometer to ensure they’ve hit at least that internal temperature.
erin 02.09.2024
Love the quality of the photos.. I have some “pre-made” patties [still round] and will try it nowMy query was as to temp & time .. good to have a good estimate
Kristin 02.10.2024
Definitely! Thanks Erin – enjoy!
Connie 02.07.2024
I made these hamburgers with cheese tonight & I must say they were delicious! Just the right amount of seasoning & the time to cook them was right on time! Thanks for posting this recipe. I’m going to try & save it to Pinterest.
Kristin 02.08.2024
Oh I’m so happy to hear that, Connie!! Thrilled they were spot on for you!
Jessie 02.06.2024
Great trick! Usually, my oven-baked burgers don’t brown and look grey and soggy. Cooking these longer than I usually do did the trick! Thanks for helping me out! Delicious!
Kristin 02.08.2024
Perfect! So glad they were a hit Jessie – thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Carrie 01.14.2024
Trying this asap! I am trying carnivore diet ( lion diet, so just beef) and since can’t afford steak everyday I just spent hour or 2 cooking enough beef patties to last me a couple days. Excited to try baking next time.
Kristin 01.16.2024
Awesome!! I hope it’s a method you’ll come back to again and again!
Connie 02.07.2024
I definitely will be coming back to this recipe!
SUE Casey 01.08.2024
FINALLY made these burgers in our toaster oven. Perfect and so easy
Kristin 01.09.2024
Wohoo! So glad you got a chance to try this recipe – thrilled you enjoyed them. :)
Nancy 02.21.2024
Not great in the oven. They
Don’t have the nice sear you get from the frying pan.
Kristin 02.22.2024
I’m sorry that was your experience, Nancy! I’ve only ever had them come out as they do in the photos.
RFine 01.03.2024
Awesome, simple recipe. Very tasty burgers. I added sautéed red onions and gouda cheese and toasted bread as my bun.
Kristin 01.04.2024
That sounds amazing!! So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Autumn 11.28.2023
My family loves these burgers better than the burgers made on the grill! Thank you!
Kristin 12.01.2023
Now that’s really saying something!! So glad these were a hit with your family, Autumn!!
Regina 11.05.2023
Thank you! The burgers turned out juicy and tender. I was looking for a way to cook burgers without all the splattering on my ceramic stovetop and this is how I will cook burgers indoors.
Kristin 11.06.2023
I’m so glad this method was a hit for you, Regina!!
Roberta Elhaddad 11.02.2023
I can’t thank you enough! I was very skeptical at first but my wanted an easy way to make burgers. It only did they come out exceeding my expectation but I thought they emerge juicier and more flavorful as well. This will be my new way to make burgers! Who would have thought?
Kristin 11.06.2023
I’m so, so glad to hear that, Roberta!! Thrilled you gave this recipe a chance!
Hettie 10.26.2023
Yum! The burgers turned out beautifully.
Kristin 10.31.2023
Fantastic! I’m so glad to hear it, Hettie. Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Patricia 06.15.2023
Haven’t eaten many burgers but now I’ll try your. Wish me look
Kristin 06.16.2023
I hope you love them, Patricia!
Molly 06.10.2023
Hi! We aren’t fennel fans- is that something we could leave out or replace with something else?
Kristin 06.18.2023
Totally get it – you can leave it out! :)
Lori Doxie 04.29.2023
How do I cut the recipe for 2 people?
Betsy Robinson 01.29.2023
I baked my burger 350 degrees for close to half-hour. Still pink! Burgers are thin.
Kristin 01.30.2023
Hi Betsy! Is it possible your oven runs cool? I haven’t had this feedback before, and haven’t experienced it myself. Did you roll your meat mixture into 8 patties?