Best Baked Hamburgers

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/22/24
Tested by
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Tested by Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 18 mins
Total: 28 mins
Servings: 6 servings

When grilling is out of the question, and you don't want to stand over the cooktop, this recipe for oven-baked burgers is an ideal choice. And don't worry about dried out patties—a little Worcestershire sauce, steak sauce, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper helps keep the burgers juicy while kicking up the flavor quotient.

A quick turn in a heavy skillet on the stovetop creates a nice outer crust and seals in the juices, but you can skip this step if you prefer. Serve the burgers on toasted hamburger buns (homemade or purchased), with or without cheese, topped with your favorite sauce or flavored mayonnaise. Add your favorite side, such as sweet potato fries or french fries, and you have a quick weeknight meal that's ready in just 30 minutes.

Four juicy baked burgers on white marble cutting board

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
What You'll Need to Make This Baked Hamburgers Recipe
A Great Grill Pan
An Accurate Meat Thermometer
A Nice Metal Spatula

"This is a good oven-baked burger recipe. The flavor is delicious—not overpowering, but a nicely seasoned burger. It’s easy, quick, and mostly hands-off so you can do other things while they cook. The six patties fit perfectly in a 12-inch cast-iron pan. The searing and baking times were perfect, and the patties were juicy." —Colleen Graham

Juicy Oven-Baked Burgers Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef

  • 2 teaspoons steak sauce

  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 6 hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted

  • 6 slices American cheese

  • 2 tomatoes, sliced, optional

  • 6 lettuce leaves, optional

  • 18 dill pickle slices, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients and heat the oven to 400 F.

    Ingredients for juicy baked burgers recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga 

  2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Blend thoroughly.

    Ground beef, steak sauce, and seasonings combined in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga 

  3. Shape the meat mixture into 6 equal patties.

    Meat shaped into six patties

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga 

  4. Heat a heavy, oven-safe skillet or grill pan over high heat on the stovetop. Sear the patties for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, just enough to brown them.

    Two patties being cooked in heated grill pan; uncooked patties on bamboo cutting board

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga 

  5. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake for about 10 to 15 minutes longer or until the burgers reach a food-safe internal temperature of at least 160 F.

    Patties flipped over in grill pan with the browned side on top

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga 

  6. Serve the burgers on split toasted buns with your favorite toppings, such as cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and pickle slices, and the condiments of your choice.

    Baked patties being covered with cheese slices; other toppings in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga 

Tips

  • Overworking the meat may cause your burgers to fall apart. Mix just enough to incorporate the seasoning and sauce, and they'll hold together just fine.
  • Each burger patty should be about 4 ounces. If you have one, use a kitchen scale to ensure they're uniform.
  • Use 1 pound of meat for four patties or 2 pounds for eight patties. Slightly increase or decrease the seasoning accordingly.
  • Shape patties from any extra meat you won't eat and freeze them uncooked for a quick meal in the future.
  • These burgers shrink quite a bit. When shaping the patties, go a little thinner than you might when pan-frying or grilling. Press your thumb into the center of each one; the indentations will prevent the burgers from swelling up so they'll be flat once cooked.
  • Use an instant-read food thermometer to check the burger temperature to ensure it reaches the food safety temperature of 160 F. 
  • To toast the buns, lay them out on a baking sheet and place them in the oven about 2 to 3 minutes before the burgers are done.

Lower-Fat Oven-Baked Hamburgers

You can skip the step of searing the burgers on the stovetop and having them bake in their own fat. Just follow these steps:

  1. Heat the oven to 400 F and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  2. Place a wire rack over the foil-lined sheet pan so it is 3/4-inch above the surface of the pan. Lightly coat the wire rack with cooking spray.
  3. Arrange the patties 1 inch apart on the rack. 
  4. Bake until they reach an internal temperature of 160 F for beef and 165 F for poultry, 20 to 25 minutes.

Recipe Variations

  • You also can make these burgers with ground turkey or chicken thighs, but keep in mind the safe minimum internal temperature for ground poultry is 165 F.
  • Instead of hamburger buns, try English muffins, focaccia, rye bread, sourdough bread, ciabatta, pita, or your favorite base to build a spectacular burger.
  • Add Mexican flair by spicing the burgers with 1 teaspoon of taco seasoning or a Cajun or Creole blend and reducing the salt to 1/2 teaspoon.
  • Replace the American cheese with pepper jack, mozzarella cheese, or blue cheese.
  • Instead of adding cheese after the burgers have finished cooking, place the cheese on top when they are a couple of degrees shy of 160 F, and return them to the oven until the cheese is melted (about 1 minute).

Helpful Links

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
523 Calories
26g Fat
29g Carbs
39g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 523
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g 34%
Saturated Fat 11g 53%
Cholesterol 117mg 39%
Sodium 1022mg 44%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 11%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 39g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 398mg 31%
Iron 5mg 29%
Potassium 570mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)