Forget about the grill and make these easy Baked Hamburgers. The oven does all the heavy lifting, giving you a big batch of burgers that are incredibly juicy on the inside and golden-seared on the outside. My family and I make these when we want to bring the summer vibes indoors.
We love a burger night. And I’m not talking about going through the drive-thru—I’d rather go all out with a big, messy Bacon Cheddar Burger or get gourmet with a Mushroom Swiss Burger.
Oven-Baked Burgers
Baked hamburgers are what I need in my life when that early spring blizzard undoubtedly shows up in Indiana every year. I technically can grill outside in the snow, but I wouldn’t call it my idea of a good time. No problem—I’ll push the grilling season a little later and bake a big batch of hamburgers in the oven instead.
It’s as simple as it sounds: I place homemade burger patties on a wire rack set over a sheet tray, then pop them in the oven. To finish, I lean on the Maillard reaction. A quick blast under the broiler creates the deeply browned, savory crust, AKA the hallmark of a great steakhouse burger. It’s one of my favorite kitchen hacks for a grill-quality sear without charcoal or propane.
The best part? There’s no hovering over a hot flame while wrapped up in my winter coat. Once they’re in the oven, I’m free to prep the burger toppings or finish the rest of the game day spread.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Beef – I start these homemade burgers with 80/20 ground beef (usually a chuck blend).
- Seasonings – I season the ground beef with garlic granules, onion granules, salt, and black pepper. If you want to use fresh garlic and onion instead, make sure you finely mince them first.
- Sauces – I use a small splash of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce for some umami and a slight kick of heat.
- Cheese – There’s nothing like a slice of melted American cheese on top of baked burgers. Cheddar, Swiss, provolone, pepperjack, Gouda, or any sliced cheese that melts well would also be great.
- Buns – Usually, I serve my burgers on my Homemade Hamburger Buns or these Potato Buns. I like to toast them with a little butter first.
How to Bake Burgers in the Oven
Season: I start by combining the ground beef, garlic granules, onion granules, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco in a large bowl until the seasonings are evenly distributed.
Form the patties: I shape the beef mixture into 6 even patties, then place them on a wire rack set over a sheet tray lined with foil.
Bake: I bake the burgers on the middle rack of the oven, then remove the tray.
Broil: Next, I turn on the broiler and leave the burgers in for 2 more minutes. The high heat lets the Maillard reaction work its magic, perfectly browning the top.
Assemble: Finally, I add a slice of cheese on top of each patty and let it melt from the residual heat. I serve the burgers on toasted buns with my favorite toppings.
Chef Tip + Notes
I can’t stress enough the importance of baking these burgers on a wire rack set on a sheet tray. If you bake them directly on the tray, the meat will braise in its own rendered fat, resulting in soggy burgers. Elevating the meat gives the hot air a chance to circulate, giving each burger that gorgeous seared crust and a super juicy middle.
- Don’t overmix: To keep the burgers juicy, avoid overmixing the ground beef. I mix the beef with the seasonings just until everything is perfectly combined. Continuously working the meat will toughen the proteins and give you dense, rubbery patties.
- Thumbprint trick: I recommend pressing your thumb gently into the center of each patty before baking. This keeps them from puffing up in the oven.
- Wrapped vs. unwrapped: I’m against wrapping the burgers in foil before baking. We actually want to expose the meat to the direct heat! Wrapping the burgers will only make them soggy.
- Check for doneness: I always know these burgers are ready for the broiler when they’re no longer pink but still look plump and juicy. Once they’re finished broiling, a meat thermometer should read 155°F.
- Air fryer method: Place the patties in the air fryer basket—making sure they aren’t touching—and air fry at 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping around the 5-minute mark.
Serving Suggestions
I make baked burgers when I’m too chicken to grill outside. A burger is nothing without its topping, so I usually top these with the classic lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and burger sauce combo. You can’t go wrong with sautéed mushrooms and onions, strips of crispy bacon, or a jammy fried egg, either.
When we’re bringing the summer cookout vibes indoors, we’ll serve these burgers for dinner with all the classic fixings on the side. I’ll whip up this Easy Creamy Coleslaw in 15 minutes and pile my classic Potato Salad on my plate.
This recipe makes 6 burgers. That’s a lot for my family of 3, so when I’m not cooking a big dinner, I’ll make these for an easy game day meal instead. I like to set out bowls of toppings and let everyone make their own, just the way they like it.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: Shape the burger patties and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking. These are meant to be eaten as soon as they are done cooking. When I need to keep them warm, I’ll loosely cover the burgers (still on the wire rack on the sheet tray) with a sheet of foil for up to 30 minutes before serving.
How to Store: Cover any leftover cooked burgers and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat.
How to Reheat: For the best results, reheat the burgers on a parchment-lined sheet tray in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes or until warmed through.
More Burger Recipes
Baked Hamburgers Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds 80/20 ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- 1 teaspoon onion granules
- 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon tabasco sauce
- 6 slices American cheese
- 6 toasted burger buns
- burger toppings
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°.
- In a large bowl, combine the beef, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco sauce.
- Form 6 burger patties and place them on a rack over a sheet tray lined with foil.
- Bake the burgers on a middle rack for 14 to 15 minutes. They should look juicy.
- Remove the burgers from the oven and turn the broiler to high.
- Place the burgers back on the rack under the broiler for just 2 minutes, or until browned.
- Add optional cheese to the top and serve on toasted buns with your favorite burger toppings.
Baked Hamburgers Recipe