Stovetop Burgers are easier than you might think! Once we learned How to Cook Burgers on the Stove it’s our go-to easy dinner for anytime of year. Cooking Burgers on the Stove is a great way to make sure you cook a JUICY and PERFECT Stovetop Burger each and every time. Hamburgers on the Stove is the only way to cook cheeseburgers!
These perfect Stovetop Burgers are our favorite recipe for How to Cook Burgers on the Stove!
Once we learned how to make burgers on the stove that were juicy, perfect, and easy every time, this has become our go-to stovetop burgers recipe. I love that you can cook burgers on the stove year round; so a great cheeseburger is able to be served year round, regardless of a grill! These ridiculously delicious stovetop burgers are delicious and cooked to order every time!
If you’re a true hamburger or cheeseburger lover, then you NEED this Stovetop Burgers Recipe. Get ready to sink your teeth the BEST PAN FRIED BURGER you have ever tasted! See all the tips and tricks below for making it absolutely perfect every time.
Tips for Cooking Burgers on the Stove:
The key to a perfect Stovetop Burger is knowing your cook times, testing your internal temperatures, and keeping things simple. There are lots of great loaded burger recipes out there, and we have some we love ourselves like our Mediterranean Chicken Burgers and these Cowboy Burgers. When it comes down to it, we love a simple and classic cheeseburger better than anything.
These Stovetop Burgers are the type of meal I could eat every day for the rest of my life. It’s seasoned with just salt and peppers, letting the juicy beef really shine. Of course there are lots of variations you can make, but we stand by the fact that a perfectly cooked pan fried burger covered in melted cheese is the ONLY way to make a Stovetop Burger. See below for How to Make Burgers on the Stove!
Can you cook frozen hamburgers on the stove?
You can, and sources say if done correctly you can get them to taste almost as juicy as a fresh beef burger, but I don’t recommend it. Fresh is best for cooking a truly juicy and amazing burger on the stove.
Can you cook a burger in the oven?
Yes! If you prefer the oven over the stovetop, that’s totally fine! We are still making delicious burgers year round, which is the goal. :) You’d season as listed below. Line a baking sheet with foil and then place a baking rack above the sheet. Place all four patties on the baking rack. Cook at 350F for about 20 minutes or until the internal temp is to your liking. Drawbacks are you don’t have the sear from cooking stovetop but the good news is you don’t really need it since you’re not turning the burgers (aka not losing the juices). Win win!
What are the internal temperatures when cooking burgers on the stove?
Internal temperatures for a ground beef burger are as follows:
- MEDIUM RARE: 130-135F
- MEDIUM: 145F
- MEDIUM WELL: 150-155F
- WELL DONE: 160-165F
*NOTE: The FDA officially recommends that hamburgers be cooked to an internal temperature of 160F to ensure all bacteria is killed. If you choose to do more of a Medium cook, be sure you’re using the freshest beef or even making your own ground beef!
We have created an internal temperature guide as well as FREE PRINTABLE for easy tips on cooking meats! Click HERE to print your free version.
What do you serve with Stovetop Burgers?
When we finally learned how to make burgers on the stove, I knew we also needed the perfect side dishes. We love to serve these juicy stovetop cheeseburgers with Sweet Potato Chips, Shoestring Fries, Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts, Lemon Butter Asparagus, or even Mexican Corn on the Cob (<—FAVORITE).
What are the best cook times for medium rare – well done stovetop burgers?
GOOD QUESTION! This is the easiest and safest way to make sure your burgers are cooked to perfection every time. Cook times for cooking burgers on the stove (that are about 1 inch thick and cooked on medium high heat) are as follows:
- MEDIUM RARE (Red in the Middle): 6 minutes total (3 minutes on each side)
- MEDIUM (Pink in the Middle): 7-8 minutes total
- MEDIUM-WELL (Smidge of Pink in the Middle): 9 minutes total
- WELL DONE (No Pink): 10 minutes total
Again, the FDA recommends at least close to a well done burger at 160F. So about 9-10 minutes total cooking time is what we are shooting for.
You too can cook the PERFECT Stovetop Burgers! I believe in you. Be sure to fully read the instructions as well as all the tips for how to cook burgers on the stove above. Decide which temp you’re going for and then kick some butt! Your family is going to love these. Who needs Summer? We can excel at cooking burgers on the stove ALL YEAR LONG!
Watch the video of see the recipe card below for details on How to Cook Burgers on the Stove. Stovetop Burgers for the WIN!
Looking for more delicious sandwiches? We have you covered!
- Classic Egg Salad
- Juicy Turkey Burger
- Ham and Cheese Sliders
- BLT Sandwich
- Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches
- Mediterranean Chicken Burgers
- Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
- 1 pound ground chuck 80%-85% lean
- kosher or sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 slices American or Cheddar Cheese
- 4 Burger Buns
- condiments of choice such as ketchup, mustard, and mayo. Toppings such as lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles.
- Place ground chuck in a medium-size mixing bowl and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Mix gently to combine, but don’t overwork the meat.
- Divide the meat into four equal portions.
- Place one portion on a plate and gently press it into a 1-inch, round patty. (The patty should NOT be smooth – leave some craggy edges and don’t press it too flat.)
- With your thumb or fingers, press a “moat”, approximately ¼-½ inch from the edge, around the circumference of the burger - be sure the edge of the burger is a little higher than the indentation. This will ensure the burger will flatten out while cooking. Repeat this process with each portion.
Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium/high heat. When the pan is hot, carefully place the patties in the skillet (no need to grease skillet) leaving some space between each patty.
- Cook the burgers until nicely seared and they have browned halfway up the sides.
- Flip the burgers and cook to your liking. (*NOTE - To ensure all bacteria has been killed, the FDA recommends cooking burgers to an internal temperature of 160°F.)
- If adding cheese: remove the pan from the heat and place the cheese atop the burgers. Cover the skillet and allow the residual heat/steam to melt the cheese.
- Serve on toasted buns topped with your favorite toppings.
- Enjoy!
Recipe Video
S. Gall
Awesome- they look deliciousDisturbed
There are so many ads and pop-ups on this page I can’t even read the recipe. Shame on you!!!Becky Hardin
Hi Izzy. It costs several thousand dollars a month to keep the site up and running, so ads are a necessity or I couldn't keep the site free to visitors. This is my personal site, and there's absolutely no reason to be rude. There's a "jump to recipe" link at the top of every post that will take you straight to the recipe and bypass the ads/content. Hope that helps. Have a great weekend.Alana
Good video but it’s hard to hear you because the music is louder than your actual voiceKim
Thank you for the recipe and video but, I couldn't hear you because of the music.