Don’t stuff your buns in the bin just because it’s overcast or, like, winter. Learn how to make a burger indoors on the stove instead.
Use 90/10 Ground Beef for Stovetop Burgers
The best beef mix for burgers on the grill is 80/20, but it’s better to go for a leaner 90/10 mix when you’re cooking burgers on the stove so you don’t get too much fat melting into the skillet.
Grab That Griddle or Cast Iron Skillet
I prefer to use a large griddle when I’m making indoor burgers, but I’ve also had great success with a plain ol’ cast iron skillet. Make sure to preheat it to get a nice even heat so you can make multiple burgers at once.
Imperfect Patties Are Perfect
I like to make stovetop burgers thinner and flatter than grilled burgers. If you are making single burgers, 4 ounces per burger is a nice size. If you are making double patties, opt for 3 ounces. When you are portioning the burgers, don’t worry about shaping them into perfect patties, like you would if you were grilling the burgers. In fact, for burgers on the stove it’s best to flatten the burgers while they are cooking in the skillet!
Wipe Down the Skillet Between Burgers
If you are cooking multiple burgers, clean your skillet or griddle between cooking batches to help prevent excess burning and smoking. No need to completely clean the surface in the sink; just scrape away any burger bits, then wipe the surface down quickly before going onto round two.
A Genius Tip for Melting Cheese
As soon as your burger is cooked and you remove it from the skillet, add cheese on top, then cover it with a metal bowl. This will catch the steam coming off the burger and quickly melt the cheese without it melting all over your skillet.
Killer Sides for Killer Burgers
Dad’s Potato Salad Homemade French Fries Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries Pickle Slaw Air Fryer Green Beans
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
For the easy burger sauce
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon ketchup
For the burgers
1 pound ground chuck (90:10)
For serving
3 potato or brioche buns
6 slices American cheese
Nonstick spray
Green lettuce leaves
Thinly sliced red onion
Thinly sliced fresh tomato
Loosely divide the ground beef into three 1/3-pound patties. Shape into discs about 1/2 inch thick and put a divot in the center of each patty to prevent swelling in the center. Season the patties with 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning mix per side of the patty, if using. Spray your skillet with a little non-stick spray and place burgers in the skillet. Press down on each patty with a spatula for 10 seconds. This is to encourage browning. Cook the burgers over medium heat for 4 minutes. Don’t touch them too much so you get a nice crust on the first side. Use a sturdy metal spatula to flip the burgers, being sure to scrape up any caramelization with the burger. If you are only cooking one burger, you can toast your buns in the same skillet as your patty, or you can toast them separately if you are cooking multiple burgers at once. If you want the cheese to be very melted, cover the burgers with a lid for the last minute of cooking. Did you love this recipe? Give us some stars below!
