Best Hamburger Patty Recipe (Grilled or Stovetop)

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground chuck
• 0.5 cup crushed saltine crackers (May substitute Panko breadcrumbs; use 1/4 cup for regular breadcrumbs.)
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 0.5 tsp black pepper

Steps

1. 1

   Set out a large mixing bowl. Add the ground chuck, crushed crackers, egg, Worcestershire sauce, milk, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix gently by hand until the mixture is smooth and evenly combined; stop as soon as it looks uniform, since overmixing can make the patties dense and heavy.

2. 2

   Press the meat mixture down in the bowl into an even disk. Use a knife to divide it into 6 portions of about 1/3 pound each for thick grill or skillet patties, or 12 portions for thin griddle patties.

3. 3

   Line a baking sheet with wax paper or foil. Working one portion at a time, gather the meat and press it firmly into a patty slightly larger than the buns, allowing for shrinkage during cooking. Place each patty on the lined baking sheet.

4. 4

   Use the back of a spoon to press a shallow indentation into the center of each patty. This helps prevent the patties from puffing up as they cook. If stacking the patties, separate each layer with wax paper.

5. 5

   Preheat a grill, cast-iron skillet, or other heavy skillet over medium heat to approximately 350–400°F (175–205°C).

6. 6

   For thick patties, place them on the hot grill or skillet and cook for 3–4 minutes on the first side, until browned and developing a seared crust.

7. 7

   Flip the thick patties once and cook for another 3–4 minutes, or until cooked to the desired doneness. For food safety, ground beef should reach 160°F (71°C) internally.

8. 8

   For thin patties, cook them on a hot griddle for about 2 minutes per side, flipping once or twice during cooking as needed.

9. 9

   Stack the hot patties on hamburger buns and add your favorite toppings. Serve warm.

Notes

Cooked patties can be tightly wrapped or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. For an oven method, heat the oven to 450°F (230°C) with a baking sheet inside; transfer patties to the hot sheet and bake thin patties for 2–3 minutes per side or thick patties for 5–6 minutes per side. Gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs and gluten-free buns can be used for a gluten-free variation.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• American
• grilled
• stovetop
• cast-iron
• ground beef
• make-ahead
• freezer-friendly