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Stovetop Burgers - How to Cook Burgers on the Stove

Cooking burgers on the stove is a quick and easy method that yields juicy hamburgers or cheeseburgers. Forget the grill and use this recipe any time of year!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 4
Author: Becky Hardin

Equipment

  • Equipment used for Stovetop Burgers

Ingredients

  • 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

Optional Toppings

  • Condiments of choice such as ketchup, mustard, and mayo.
  • Toppings such as lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles.

Instructions

  • Place ground chuck in a medium-size mixing bowl and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Mix gently to combine, but don’t overwork the meat.
    1 pound ground chuck, kosher or sea salt to taste, freshly ground black pepper to taste
    ground chuck in a mixing bowl
  • Divide the meat into four equal portions.
  • Place one portion on a plate and gently press it into a 1-inch thick, round patty. (The patty should not be smooth – leave some craggy edges and don’t press it too flat.)
    four burger patties on a plate
  • 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.
    raw burger patty with a "moat" pressed into it
  • Heat a large 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 USDA 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.
    4 slices American or Cheddar Cheese
    close up in a cheeseburger in a skillet
  • Serve on toasted buns topped with your favorite toppings.
    4 Burger Buns, Condiments of choice such as ketchup, mustard, and mayo.
  • Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • Resist the urge to press down on the meat. Pressing down releases all those wonderful juices, causing the burgers to turn out dry and flavorless.
  • Cook in batches and keep warm in a 250°F oven if making for a crowd.
Burger Internal Temperature Chart:
  • Medium Rare: 130-135°F
  • Medium: 145°F
  • Medium Well: 150-155°F
  • Well Done: 160-165°F
Stovetop Burger Cooking Times:
  • 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
Storage: Store leftover burger patties in the fridge up to 4 days, or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 485kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 641mg | Potassium: 388mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 0.6mg | Calcium: 314mg | Iron: 3.8mg