How to keep hamburgers from falling apart on the grill

The Best Classic Hamburger Recipe – Made on the grill or stovetop, perfectly seasoned and juicy burgers every time. Our burger recipe is easy and additional spices can be added based on your tastebuds…perfect for summer BBQ’s and picnics.

What does summertime mean to you?? For me, it means grilling season, which ultimately means it’s Hamburger season!! Well I guess, technically I will make my husband go out in the middle of winter and grill up some burgers, but he does it reluctantly for me cause he’s a good husband…hahaha.

Anyways now that it’s getting so nice outside I’m sure all of you are pulling your grills out getting ready to grill for the next 6 months.

Our hamburger recipe is super easy and can be cooked on the stove or my favorite way, grilled. Grab all your favorite sides, and sit out on your patio and enjoy some delicious juicy burgers.

Oh speaking of sides, you can’t have a classic burger without trying our Cauliflower Potato Salad, or some Crispy Jicama Fries.

Ready…Set…Grill!

What Makes the Best Hamburger?

I have found that everyone has different schools of thought on what makes the best hamburger. Some prefer fewer ingredients making the quality of meat stand out on its own, others love added tons of spices and even zesty herbs.

Here’s the main factor I found makes the best hamburger…good quality ground beef that is 80% lean and 20% fat. Honestly, you need the fat in the ground beef to give you a nice juicy burger. It’s really the most important thing in my opinion.

Now as far as other ingredients, I prefer adding a few spices to give a little more flavor. However, I have a friend that when he comes over, I know he doesn’t like any spices on his burger besides just a little sprinkle of salt and pepper, so I appease him and make them that way.

I do love adding some salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to mine but you can make yours however you would like.

Is It Better to Cook Hamburgers on the Grill or Stove?

Cooking hamburger patties on the grill is my absolute favorite way, there’s nothing better than a nice char-grilled juicy burger.

However, I’ve cooked Hamburger Patties many times inside on the stove, mainly because my husband refused to go outside and cook in the arctic temperatures. Both ways are very good. However, when given a choice, it’s the grill every time.

What Ingredients are in the Juiciest Burgers?

• Ground Beef – 80% lean 20% fat, this is the only one I will use for my homemade hamburger patty recipe.
• Spices – Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
• Worcestershire Sauce – Adds a little smokey flavor. This is an optional ingredient.
• Cheese – Can’t have a juicy burger without some cheddar cheese on top.

What Meat Makes the Best Burgers?

When choosing the best kind of meat for hamburgers there are different ideas out there, but our favorite kind is Ground Beef but make sure that it is 80% lean and 20% fat. You don’t want to go any leaner than that because you will end up with a dry burger, and who wants that?

Another great meat option when making homemade hamburger patties is:

Ground Chuck – Comes from the shoulder area of the cow where it contains more fat. The extra fat adds in some extra flavor and really stands out in a hamburger.

Different Variations

Making homemade hamburger patties can be changed up and you can add or change different things. Here are a few ideas:

• Additional Spices – You can add more spices to your burgers like Montreal steak seasoning.
• Breadcrumbs – Some people like to add breadcrumbs to their burgers to help hold the meat together.
• Turkey Burger – Use ground turkey, but keep in mind it’s a very lean type of meat and will be a lot dryer than beef.
• Mexican Burger – Add 1 tsp of taco seasoning.
• Replace the cheddar cheese with American, pepper jack, provolone, blue cheese, or your favorite.
• Instead of using hamburger buns replace them with low carb hamburger buns, English muffins, ciabatta, or your favorite bread.

The Secret to Juicy Hamburgers

The secret to the best juicy burger recipe is to use nice fatty beef! You want a good quality ground beef or ground chuck. If you can get it from a butcher that’s always the best quality ground beef. Remember I said a fatty ground beef, that means it needs to be at least 80% lean 20% fat.

You may even hear some restaurants use 70% lean and 30% fat, but you may find it too greasy, so go with my recommendation.

Shaping & Seasoning Hamburgers

STEP 1: Place the ground beef in a large mixing bowl.

STEP 2: Add the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.

STEP 3: Gently mix the spices into the ground beef. Be careful not to overmix the meat, because that can lead to your burgers falling apart while cooking.

STEP 4: Form the meat into a large patty and place it on a cutting board.

STEP 5: Cut the patty into 4 equal triangles, and then shape each triangle into a hamburger patty. Each patty should be about 6 ounces. Use a food scale to weigh each one to ensure they are all about the same size.

STEP 6: Use either your thumb or the back of a spoon, and press it into the center of each hamburger patty. This ensures it from bulging while cooking.

STEP 7: Place the patties into the fridge until ready to cook.

How to Make Hamburgers on the Grill

Grilling Instructions:

STEP 1: Preheat the grill to medium-high.

STEP 2: Place the burgers on the hot grill, indent side up. Close the lid and cook for about 3 minutes, making sure the bottom of the burger is seared.

Flip the burger and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the beef reaches 160 degrees.

STEP 3: If adding cheese, place the cheese slices on the burgers during the last minute of cooking. Should only take a minute for the cheese to melt.

STEP 4: Serve hamburgers on your favorite bun with your toppings of choice.

Cooking Time

The cooking temperature that is recommended for MEDIUM burgers is 160 degrees. If you don’t have a meat thermometer here is a quick rough estimate for how long to cook each side of the burger.

These are just the times that worked on our grill, so you may have to adjust.

How to Make Hamburgers on the Stovetop

Stovetop Instructions:

STEP 1: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.

STEP 2: Once the skillet is hot add the burger patties and cook for about 3 minutes, then flip them over and cook for another 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

STEP 3: If adding cheese, place the cheese slices on the burgers during the last minute of cooking. Put a lid over the pan to melt the cheese faster.

Cooking Time

The cooking temperature that is recommended for MEDIUM burgers is 160 degrees. If you don’t have a meat thermometer here is a quick rough estimate for how long to cook each side of the burger.

These are the times that worked on our grill, but you may have to adjust.

FAQs and Best Tips

• Use either 80% lean ground beef or 80% lean ground chuck.
• Handle the meat as little as possible. The more you handle the meat the tougher it gets so just gently shape them into hamburger patties.
• Press a spoon or your thumb into the center of each patty to prevent them from puffing up while they are cooking. This also helps them to cook evenly.
• Try to make the burgers about 5-6 ounces each.
• Use a cooking scale if needed to make sure they are all the same weight.
• DON’T OVERCOOK the burgers!
• Do not over-flip the patties. They are more likely to fall apart.
• Ice cube trick – place a small ice cube on each hamburger patty while on the grill to help give from drying out.
• Allow the hamburgers to rest after cooking.
• Shape the hamburger patties and freeze them uncooked for a quick meal another time.

How to Keep Hamburgers from Falling Apart

I have 3 main tips for keeping your burgers from falling apart.

1. Keep the ground beef cold – The colder the meat is the more likely the hamburger patties will stay together. If you shape the patties but don’t plan on cooking them right away, then place them in the fridge until ready to cook.
2. Handle the meat as little as possible – If you over-handle the burger patties they have a higher chance of falling apart.
3. Do not over-flip the patties on the grill or stove – When you flip the patties too much they become flimsy and can fall apart.

Do You Put Egg in Hamburgers?

I personally do NOT put an egg in my homemade burger recipe, I just don’t find it necessary at all.

The reason some people choose to use an egg is that eggs act as a binder, and can help hold the meat together. However, if you are using ground beef with a high-fat content then you should not need to add any eggs.

Why You Should Put Ice Cubes in Your Burgers

Adding a small ice cube to each hamburger patty while it’s being grilled will keep the beef moist and help prevent it from drying out.

Don’t worry one small ice cube won’t make the burger patties wet.

Should You Cook Burgers in Oil or Butter?

You do NOT need to cook your hamburger patties in oil or butter. Why? Because the fat that comes from the ground beef is enough for cooking, leaving you with juicy burgers.

Why Put a Thumbprint in Burgers?

Press an indentation into the center of each burger patty using your thumb or a spoon. Why should you put a thumbprint into the burgers though? Doing this will help the patties from puffing up during cooking, help them to cook evenly, and will help them hold their shape.

What to Serve with Hamburgers?

When making the best burger recipe, it means that you should have the best topping selection at well. Here are a few suggestions:

Toppings

• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Red Onion
• Fried Onions
• Pickles
• Sautéed Mushrooms
• Bacon
• Chili
• Fried Egg
• Guacamole
• Jalapenos
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Banana Peppers

Bun Options

• English Muffins
• Regular Hamburger Buns
• Focaccia Bread
• Rye Bread
• Keto Hamburger Buns
• Keto Dinner Rolls

Condiments and Sauces

• Ketchup
• Mayo
• Mustard
• Relish
• Homemade BBQ Sauce
• Sriracha Sauce
• Blue Cheese Dressing

Cheese Options

• Cheddar
• American
• Pepperjack
• Monterrey Jack
• Brie
• Goat Cheese
• Provolone
• Smoked Gouda

Sides

• Jicama Fries
• Keto Onion Rings
• Cauliflower Potato Salad
• Creamy Broccoli Salad
• Watermelon and Feta Salad
• Strawberry and Avocado Salad
• Low Carb Zoodle Salad
• Spinach Salad
• Regular or Sweet Potato Fries

Diets This Recipe is Good For

• Gluten-Free: Our juicy burger recipe is 100% gluten-free. In case you are wondering about the Worcestershire sauce, which is also gluten-free.
• Nut-Free: We don’t use any almond flour in the hamburger patty mix.
• Egg-Free: Unlike meatballs, we don’t use any eggs to hold the mixture together, making it a great egg-free recipe.
• Dairy-Free: There is absolutely no dairy in this juicy burger recipe.
• Whole30 and Paleo: Take out the Worchestire sauce if you want these homemade burgers to be paleo and whole30 compliant.

How to Store Leftover Burgers

If you have any leftover burgers place them in an airtight container or in a Ziploc bag and store them in the fridge. Leftover hamburger patties will last about 3-4 days in the fridge.

How to Reheat

There are a few ways to reheat leftover homemade burgers.

1. Oven – Easy and effective way without removing the flavors in the burger. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, place the hamburger patties directly on the metal oven rack and place a baking sheet right under them so the grease doesn’t drip. Heat for about 5 minutes, flipping halfway through.
2. Microwave – This isn’t the best choice because the meat can get rubbery, but it’s probably the quickest way to reheat. Place the hamburger patty on a plate and microwave for about 1 ½ – 2 minutes. A helpful trick to keep the burger from drying out is to place a glass with water inside the microwave to help provide moisture.
3. Stovetop – Easy and quick method. Place the burger patty in a skillet and about 1 tbsp of water into the pan. Set a lid on top of the pan in order for the water to steam the burger. Let steam for about 5 minutes.
4. Grill – Set the grill to medium heat and place the patties on the preheated grill. After about 2 minutes flip them over and heat for another 2 minutes or so.
5. Toaster Oven – Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, place the hamburger patties directly on the metal toaster oven rack and place a baking sheet right under them so the grease doesn’t drip. Heat for about 5 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Can You Freeze Hamburgers?

You can absolutely freeze hamburger patties, but it’s best if you freeze the burgers while they are raw and not cooked.

To Freeze: Place pieces of parchment in between the hamburger patties and wrap them completely. Then place them in a Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

To Thaw: Leave on the counter to thaw, or thaw in the fridge overnight.

Tools to Use

• Mixing Bowl
• Grill
• Cast Iron Pan (for stovetop option)

Other Similar Recipes

Here are a few of our other easy and delicious recipes that you may also like to make.

• Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
• Low Carb Hamburger Buns
• The Juiciest Meatloaf
• Keto Meatballs Recipe

All of them are easy to make and will have your friends and family raving!

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