Oven-Baked Burgers

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.

Click Play to See This Juicy Oven-Baked Burger Recipe Come Together

“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

freshly ground black pepper
1/8 to 1/4
, split and lightly toasted
, sliced, optional
, optional

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(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Gather the ingredients and heat the oven to 400 F.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, steak sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Blend thoroughly.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
Shape the meat mixture into 6 equal patties.
The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
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.
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.
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.

Lower-Fat Oven-Baked Hamburgers

Heat the oven to 400 F and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
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.
Arrange the patties 1 inch apart on the rack.
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.

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Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

A crispy coating mix is the secret ingredient that dresses up these baked hamburgers. You bake them in the oven instead of grilling or frying. I like to use a sweet and spicy steak sauce for the best flavor. —Mike Goldman, Arden Hills, Minnesota

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Ingredients

1/4 cup steak sauce
2 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup seasoned coating mix, divided
1 pound ground beef
4 hamburger buns, split
4 lettuce leaves

Directions

When making burgers, choose beef that has a slightly higher percentage of fat. This will ensure the burgers stay tasty and juicy. Your best lean-to-fat ratio for beef is 80% to 85% lean and 20% to 15% fat. If you have any leftover beef to spare, try one of our other favorite burger recipes.

How long do I cook beef burgers in the oven?

While this baked hamburgers recipe calls for 20 minutes total cooking time, there are other signs your burger is ready. When the cooking juices loose their red color and the patties feel firm when pressed with the back of a spatula, they’re likely ready. But the most important sign they are done is the temperature test. Use an instant read meat thermometer to make sure the internal temp is at least 160°.

Are baked hamburgers healthy?

Using lean ground beef creates a healthier burger. Top your burger with some crisp lettuce and ripe tomatoes and the healthy gets cranked up another notch.

Do you have to flip burgers in the oven?

Yes, it’s a good idea to flip your burgers in the oven. Flipping the burgers once will ensure even cooking. Here are more tips for how to make hamburgers.

What are the best toppings for burgers?

From cheese, lettuce, and tomato to mayo, ketchup, spicy mustard, bacon and even eggs, there is no limit to what toppings you can put on a burger! For inspiration, check out these burger toppings. If you’re thinking about when you should add cheese slices to your baked burgers, here’s a tip: Add cheese slices 1 to 2 minutes before the end of baking time. The cheese should be melted, but should not entirely lose its shape and slide off.

What goes well with burgers?

Serve your burgers with delicious fries, like Seasoned French Fries or Spiced Sweet Potato Fries. Try adding picnic favorites such as a Quick Macaroni Salad. And don’t forget the pickles!

Research contributed by Catherine Ward, Taste of Home Prep Kitchen Manager, and Julie Schnittka, Taste of Home Senior Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 403 calories, 17g fat (6g saturated fat), 70mg cholesterol, 889mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 1g fiber), 26g protein.

Burgers in the oven are a simple no fuss easy meal idea. Prep your hamburger patties by and toss into a preheated oven. Juicy flavorful burgers waiting for you to pile on the toppings. Oven cook burgers are a breeze to make.

No flipping or hovering over a skillet needed. A truly simple way to make burgers. Best of all.. this recipe is awesome for when you have a crowd to feed. Also, check out my White Castle burger sliders.

Table Of Contents

Also try my Blackstone Smash Burgers, they are so delicious if you own a flattop griddle. Or you can try my Instant Pot Crumble Burgers.

Easy prep
Hands off cooking
Baked burgers
Juicy burgers not dry
Versatile in seasoning

Ground Beef – I used 90/10 but even an 85/15 if you would like. You will form into patties. Don’t over press the patties, just loosely form them.

Seasonings – I use just salt and pepper to flavor the oven baked burgers.

Buns and Toppings – These are optional. But we love to toast our buns, add lettuce, ketchup, mustard, pickles, etc.

Tips On How To Make Hamburger Patties

Here are some tips for making hamburger patties. Learn how to make hamburger patties perfectly each and every time. This is the best burger recipe, hands down when it comes to simplicity and allowing the meat to be the star.

Crumble burger in a bowl.
Add a little salt and pepper to meat and gently mix with hands.
Grab a bit of the meat, and then form a patty in your hand.
Do not press the burgers too tightly, or it will make your burgers dense and heavy.
Once shaped, place in pan, and place an indent of your thumb in center of the burgers. This helps to make sure they don’t shrink up.
Cook hamburgers in oven as directed.

Full directions on how to make this burger in the oven recipe are in the printable recipe card. This is a visual walk through.

Start by seasoning your meat, and then shaping into patties. I did four patties with one pound of ground beef.

Place burgers in a preheated oven and cook for 20-25 minutes or until your burgers are fully cooked. Depending on size of burgers and thickness varies in cook time.

If you want to add cheese to make oven baked cheeseburgers add on in the last 2 minutes. Remove from oven.

Add to a toasted bun, and pile high with all your fixings.

How to Toast Hamburger Buns

In a skillet on the stove heat on medium heat, and add a drizzle of oil.
Place buns in the skillet, and rub it around on oil and press it down lightly.
Let the center of the buns cook for a couple of minutes, and when toasted, remove.
Than serve!

Storing Leftovers

To be honest burgers are always best served fresh and warm. If you happen to prefer to save some back just store in a container in the fridge. It will last 2-3 days.

Reheat in the microwave or warm up in a skillet on medium-low heat. Both methods work great.

FAQS

Common questions on how to cook burgers in the oven, with answers to help you have success with this burger in oven recipe.

How long to cook burgers?

I found that right at 20 minutes the burgers in the oven where ready. Now, depending on the thickness of your burgers the cook time could vary. You want to ensure there is no pink and the juices run clear.

Can this be a cheeseburger recipe?

Right before pulling your burgers out of the oven, add some sliced cheese on top of each burger. It will then become a cheeseburger and the oven melts it nicely. Then pile on a bun and dive in.

Can I double this recipe?

Feel free to make a larger batch of burgers if you want. You can place on a rimmed baking sheet and make a large batch. This is a great way to cook tons of burgers in a fraction of time and you get the hands off approach.

How to season burgers?

A simple salt and pepper works great when you use quality beef. Or reach for your favorite store bought burger rub, or slather on some BBQ sauce. The choice is yours how to season your beef.

More Ground Beef Recipes

Ground Beef Dorito Casserole
Baked Beans with Ground Beef
Hamburger Soup

Peeps Smore’s

Save your S’mores from the Easter basket and make up this Peeps S’mores dessert. This is a tasty and satisfying dessert the whole family can enjoy. Oven s’mores or microwave friendly.

Take a baking sheet and line with foil or a baking mat.
Break graham crackers in half. Place them on the baking sheet.
On one side add chocolate and the other Peeps.
Bake in a preheated oven for 2-3 minutes. Just enough to heat up the chocolate and marshmallow.
Remove from the oven and then smash the graham crackers and marshmallows together. Then eat and enjoy.

Microwave – Add the s’mores on a plate, microwave for 20-30 seconds. Then if needed to be warmer reheat till warm.

Chocolate – You can use whatever your chocolate you want. White chocolate, semi-sweet, etc. Now, you can use more or less chocolate just make sure to not add too much or it will ooze over.

Cookies – You could use a shortbread cookie instead of graham crackers or other cookies.

Take your ground beef and crumble up in a bowl. Then you will lightly season with salt and pepper. Mix it up with your hands.
Shape the ground beef into 4 hamburger patties and place in a baking pan.
Press a hollow center in the center of your burgers. This will help prevent them from shrinking as they bake.
Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until your hamburger is fully cooked.
Add cheese to your burgers the last 1-2 minutes of cooking. It will melt the cheese perfectly.
Then serve the burgers on buns, with your favorite toppings.

Toasting Buns – I add a little oil to a pan on the stove and heat on medium. Once hot place the bun open faced down, and let it toast the inside for a few minutes. Remove and place with burger patty.

Making Large Batch – You can make as many hamburgers as you would like. I just prefer to make for a crowd. Just use a rimmed pan, to catch the grease that bakes off.

Seasoning – You can use any seasonings you want to flavor your burgers. I just enjoy salt and pepper for this burgers in oven recipe.

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Forward Influence for Avocados from Mexico, RITAS, and TABASCO® Brand. The opinions and text are all mine.

The big game is right around the corner, and I’m dying to know what everyone is planning to eat. That’s right. I could care less who’s playing. It’s all about the food for me. I love a good chili con queso dip and I have to have my favorite caramelized onion dip.

But, we can’t forget the main event either, and to me, that means wings and burgers. I mean, who doesn’t love a good burger with a fruity, fizzy Lime-A-Rita while they’re watching the big game?

More great burger recipes: meatball burgers / diner style cheeseburgers

Summer Recipe Countdown

Get ready to soak up the sun with some fresh new recipes that are perfect for summer!

Can you cook burgers in the oven?

Normally, when I make hamburgers, I opt for the grill, but sadly, our grill is buried under snow until spring decides to thaw our backyard. So I decided to try a new method of cooking hamburgers – in the oven.

That’s right. You can actually bake hamburgers in the oven and end up with an delicious burger. It’s super simple and a great alternative when cooking for a crowd on game day – one you will make again and again.

How to bake hamburgers

I created this recipe to serve a crowd. It uses 3 pounds of meat and should make 12 quarter pound burgers. If you want to make less, feel free to cut the recipe in half. But, if you change the size of your burgers, please keep in mind that you’ll most likely need to adjust your cooking time.

Preheat the oven to 425˚F and place a cooling rack into a cookie sheet. This allows the air to circulate under the patties, and lets them cook more evenly.

Make your burger patties. Mix the ground beef with a little yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, granulated garlic and a bit of salt & pepper. I also like to add 1- 2 teaspoons of TABASCO® Sauce to my burger patties because I love the simple ingredients and it adds a kick of flavor my burgers. Adding the seasoning before cooking ensures that no matter what toppings my guests choose, they’ll still have an awesome burger experience.

Mix until your flavors are evenly distributed throughout the meat. Then divide and shape your meat into quarter pound patties. I recommend using a kitchen scale for this, but dividing it into 12 equal parts should work just fine.

Bake your burgers. Place the patties onto the cooling rack and bake for about 15 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. I like to cook my burgers to about 155˚F – 160˚F for medium. They burgers will continue to cook a little when you take them out of the oven. If you want your burgers to be well done, you may need to cook them for a bit more than 15 minutes.

If you want to add dairy free cheese slices, do it when there is about 2 minutes left in cooking time.

Our favorite dairy free burger toppings

Avocados From Mexico are one of my absolute favorite burger dairy free burger toppings. They’re healthy, versatile and always in season. And, they pair will with so many other burger toppings. You cannot go wrong.

When cooking for a crowd, I like to serve my avocado mashed with a bit of lime juice and a nice pinch of coarse salt. The acid in the lime juice helps prevent the avocado from turning brown and the salt brings out the beautiful flavor of the avocados.

Other toppings to stock up on:

Condiments like ketchup, mustard and Tabasco® sauce
Vegan cheese slices

How to serve baked burgers

To serve my burgers, I like to create an assemble your own bar so my guests can choose their own toppings. Normally, I create an “assembly line” starting with burgers and buns on one side, leading through the different toppings and, on the other end, condiments, napkins and ice cold RITAS.

More beef recipes

avocados
lime juice
coarse salt

For the burgers

pounds ground chuck (80/20)
granulated garlic
Worcestershire sauce
yellow mustard
– teaspoons Tabasco®
coarse salt
black pepper

burger buns
Sliced tomatoes
Sliced or chopped red onion
Vegan cheese slices

In a large bowl, mash the avocado with lime juice and salt. Cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Preheat the oven to 425˚F and place a cooling rack into a cookie sheet.
Mix the ground beef with the yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, granulated garlic, Tabasco and salt & pepper until evenly combined. Shape into quarter pound burger patties and place on the cookie sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 155˚F (for medium). Remove from oven and allow burgers to rest for 5 minutes to continue cooking.

Notes

Nutritional information is for the burgers only.

Serving Size:
Calories:
Sugar:
Sodium:
Fat:
Saturated Fat:
Carbohydrates:
Fiber:
Protein:
Cholesterol:

More awesome recipes featuring these ingredients:

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Controversial opinion: Burgers are better at home than in a restaurant. Hear us out: Burgers should be topped exactly how you like, with the perfectly toasted bun and as many napkins as you need. Plus, at home, you can eat the burger the second it’s ready. They’re screaming for a side of oven-baked fries or classic deep-fried french fries and diner-worthy milkshakes for dessert.

You don’t actually need a grill to make burgers at home. Instead of using a pan on the stovetop—which covers the grates with hard-to-clean grease—the oven is the perfect way to make burgers at home because it contains the mess.

Though you might see some recipes out there for pressing meat into a square pan for oven-made burgers, the key to getting a good crust on the burger in the oven is in preheating a cast iron skillet in the oven. When the meat hits the hot pan it mimics the griddle at a fast-food joint.

Though you can go with plain, seasoned ground beef for the patties, the addition of Worcestershire sauce and a dash of onion and garlic powder ensures extra-flavorful burgers. Once cooked, top with your favorite fixings: Cheddar, tomato, and lettuce are standard, but caramelized onions or oven-cooked bacon would be welcome, too.

Before baking, you’ll press an indent into the center of each patty, which helps keep them from puffing up while cooking.

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1lb.80% lean ground beef
1 1/2 tsp.
1/4 tsp.
1/8 tsp.
Freshly ground black pepper
4slices sharp Cheddar cheese

For serving

4burger buns, toasted
Bibb lettuce leaves

Preheat the oven to 400º. Place a 10” cast iron skillet or a baking sheet on a rack in the middle of the oven.
In a medium bowl, gently mix the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper until just combined.
Shape beef mixture into 4 equal-sized patties that are slightly wider than the buns. Press a wide, shallow indent into the center of each patty.
Carefully remove the preheated pan from the oven and place patties in the pan. Return to the oven and cook for 4 minutes.

PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Contributing Recipe Developer

Stevie Stewart is a recipe developer, food stylist, freelance writer and professional product tester. She began her career in the art world, but eventually her passion for all things food lead her to pursue a culinary career full-time. An avid traveler, Stevie’s first stop on any trip is to the local supermarket for new snacks and treats.

These baked hamburgers only take 3 simple ingredients with easy clean up. They’re so easy to make, hearty, and flavorful. Perfect for those days that you don’t feel like firing up the grill.

Hamburgers in the Oven

There’s nothing I love more than a summer BBQ with friends and grilling hamburgers. However sometimes on a quick weeknight, it’s nice to bake hamburgers in the oven. While you won’t get those perfect charred grilled marks, you’re still going to get a nice juicy burger.

We also love to use my hamburger seasoning and add my favorite burger sauce. You could even go gourmet and make homemade hamburger buns. I only do that on special occasions, but they are so yummy!

We make these hamburgers in the oven pretty often. And since the oven is already on, you can make delicious sides at the same time like homemade french fries or baked sweet potato fries.

Best Baked Hamburger Ingredients

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

Ground beef: Lean ground beef is best! I like to use 80% lean and 20% fat. This is tender and juicy meat that will bake perfectly together.
BBQ sauce: Make a homemade barbeque sauce or purchase your favorite flavor at the grocery store.
Hamburger seasoning: I love to use this homemade hamburger seasoning or make your own seasoning with your favorite seasons. If you prefer a simple seasoning black pepper and salt are always great options too.

Cooking burgers in the oven is a great way to stay out of the cold or if you don’t have a grilling area. These baked hamburgers are tender, juicy, and so delicious! These are simple to make and come together easily.

5 star review

“This is one mouthwatering hamburger! It’s easy for us to grill hamburgers where we are (plus my husband does the grilling 🙂 ) but, as you said, when the propane unexpectedly runs out, which it did, this recipe came in handy. And they got gobbled up super fast, so I’d say that was an unqualified YUM for these burgers.”

Cooking Tips

Cooking hamburgers is just as easy in the oven and still has an easy cleanup similar to grilling. With these helpful tips, your burger patties will come together perfectly.

Cleanup: Line your pan with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
Cookie sheet: Place a cooling rack on your baking sheet. This will help the excess fat or grease drain from the hamburger and give some mini grill marks.
Meat thermometer: Check the hamburgers with a meat thermometer, to make sure you don’t overcook them. They are ready when the temperature reaches 155°F.
Add cheese! If you want to add cheese to your burgers, add the cheese slices during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.
Healthy: Keep it low carb and make a lettuce wrap burger or burger in a bowl by serving over mixed greens with your favorite toppings.

Favorite Toppings

Add all the toppings you love to create the best hamburger experience! Take your burger to the next level with extra toppings like this caramelized onions. Give it a savory good home taste!

Classic toppings: Lettuce, tomato, sliced onions, red onions, or pickles for a classic hamburger.
Cheese: Make cheeseburgers with these cheeses. Cheddar cheese, Monterey cheese, or a little spice with jalapeno jack cheese. Melt your cheese while the baked burgers are cooking.
Sauces: ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, or burger sauce to boost flavor in every bite.
Bacon: Everyone loves a few pieces of bacon separate and on your burger.

Recipe FAQs

How long to bake burgers in the oven?

Baking hamburgers in the oven requires a higher temperature of 425 degrees F. It takes 15 minutes to bake without flipping. Add cheese to your burger during the last few minutes of the baking process.

Do you need to flip burgers in the oven?

No! That is another great tip for baking burgers. There is no need to flip the baked burgers. Cooking them on the wire rack with the cookie sheet allows the juices to help the air circulate all around the burgers.

What temperature should hamburgers reach?

Hamburgers should reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit internally. This will help destroy any harmful bacteria that may be present. Use a meat thermometer to help find this internal temperature.

Can you bake hamburgers on parchment paper?

Yes! Parchment paper or aluminum foil works great and make them less messy to clean up. Cooking spray will only add more grease and that is not necessary.

Every burger needs fries! These fries are some of the best and taste amazing. Try these baked sweet potato fries, homemade french fries, or these healthy zucchini fries.

More Hamburger Recipes

Baked Hamburger Recipe

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These baked hamburgers only take 3 simple ingredients with easy clean up. They’re so easy to make, hearty and flavorful. Perfect for those days that you don’t feel like firing up the grill.

lean ground beef (80% lean and 20% fat)
(or steak sauce)

Hamburger buns, lettuce leaves, sliced cheese, ketchup, mayo, mustard, thousand island, bacon, tomato slices, sliced onion, pickles

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Then place a cooling rack on top of the foil wrapped pan.
Place burgers on the rack and cook for 15 minutes, or until juices run clear and the internal temperature reaches 155°F. Top with cheese slices, if desired.
Serve hamburgers on buns with your favorite toppings.

Note: Buns and toppings are not included in nutritional value.

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Oven-baking is the easiest way to cook hamburgers. Simply press the seasoned ground beef into the pan, then bake it for about 15 minutes in a 400°F oven.

Once the meat is cooked, you can add some cheese, cut it into squares, and serve! It’s so much easier than pan-frying.

Ground beef is so convenient, versatile, and affordable. I almost always have a package or two of vacuum-sealed ground beef in the fridge (or in the freezer), so I use it quite often when cooking for my family.

My go-to recipes used to be juicy bunless burgers and cheese-stuffed meatballs. But lately, I’ve been gravitating towards cooking burgers in the oven instead. It’s just so easy – way easier than frying them in a pan or even grilling them.

Baking burgers in the oven requires a fairly short list of ingredients that you probably have on hand. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here’s a general overview of what you’ll need:

Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef (85/15). Leaner than that doesn’t work in this recipe. I’ve tried using a 90/10 mix, and it turned out extremely dry.
Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you might want to reduce the amount you use, or the burgers could end up too salty.
Spices: I use onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder.
Sliced cheddar: I like to use sharp cheddar or even extra sharp for the best flavor. Other cheeses that work well are provolone and Swiss cheese.

Instructions

It’s so easy to cook burgers in the oven! There’s no need to form the meat into patties or to keep an eye on the burgers as they fry or grill. And just as important – no grease splatters to clean up!

See the recipe card below for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

Your first step is to combine the ground beef with the spices.
Now, gently press the mixture into a glass square 8-inch pan. There’s no need to grease the pan.
Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then cut into four squares and serve.

Expert tip

When mixing the spices into the beef, you want to spread the spices evenly into the beef mixture, but you don’t want to overwork the mixture.

It’s a fine balance, for sure. But a gentle touch will help ensure that the burgers come out light rather than dense.

Frequently asked questions

Are baked hamburgers good?

They are. The only issue is that the meat does tend to come out a bit drier compared to frying or grilling since some juices are lost while baking. So they are not as good as, say, broiled burgers.

Still, these burgers are delicious, and my family requests them often. I would say their main advantage is that they are very easy to make.

How long does it take to cook hamburgers at 400 degrees?

It should take about 15 minutes. The best way to ensure they’re done is to use an instant-read thermometer.

I aim for an internal temperature of 155°F since I then return them to the oven to melt the cheese, at which point they should reach 160°F.

No, there’s no need to flip. I simply season the meat, press it into the pan, and bake until the meat is done.

I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. But in case you’d like to vary the basic recipe, here are a few ideas for you:

You can experiment with different spices. A pinch of thyme is good, and I also like to add a pinch of cumin.
You can use different cheeses too – whatever you like as long as it’s a relatively melty cheese. I like to use Swiss cheese, gruyere, and sometimes brie.

Serving suggestions

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in a sealed container, for 3-4 days. You can reheat them gently in the microwave at 50% power.

I actually love them best cold, straight out of the fridge! I make myself a lunch plate of these burgers, Dijon mustard, fresh-cut veggies, and quick pickles. It’s one of my favorite lunches.

👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.

Recipe card

It’s so easy to bake hamburgers in the oven! There’s no need to form the patties or keep an eye on them. Let the oven do all the work for you!

lean ground beef
Diamond Crystal kosher salt

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, kosher salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and chili.
Gently press the beef mixture into an ungreased glass square 8-inch pan.
Bake until cooked through, 12-15 minutes. A meat thermometer should read 160 degrees F.
If there’s a lot of cooking liquid in the pan, you can drain some. I like to keep it and allow some of it to get absorbed back into the burgers as they rest.
Top the cooked meat with the cheese slices, as shown in the video below. Return the pan to the oven and bake just until cheese is melted, 1-2 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow the burgers to rest and set for 5 minutes. Cut into four squares and serve.

You can experiment with different spices. A pinch of thyme is good, and I also like to add a pinch of cumin.

Please don’t go below a lean-to-fat ratio of 85/15. Any leaner than that and the meat will turn out extremely dry.

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