How to Make Hamburger Patties

Learn how to make homemade hamburger patties for easy family meals. Start with a basic ground beef burger, then try different seasonings, fillings and toppings to create burgers your family will enjoy.

Making burger patties is also a useful cooking skill for kids to practice. Young cooks can measure seasonings, prepare toppings and help portion ingredients before an adult handles raw meat and hot cooking surfaces.

How to make homemade hamburger patties

Start Here: Making Homemade Burgers

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Basic Homemade Hamburger Patties

Homemade hamburger patties being shaped

Start with this simple method for homemade hamburger patties, then change the flavor with onions, Worcestershire sauce, herbs or other favorite seasonings. Keeping the basic mixture simple also makes it easy to customize individual burgers with different toppings.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Finely chopped onion, to taste, optional
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, optional
  • Additional herbs or seasonings, as desired

Directions

  1. Place the ground beef in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add salt, pepper and any optional onion, Worcestershire sauce or seasonings you would like to use.
  3. Gently mix just until the seasonings are evenly distributed. Avoid overmixing or tightly packing the meat.
  4. Divide the mixture into evenly sized portions and gently form each portion into a ball.
  5. Flatten each portion into a round patty of even thickness.
  6. Cook using your preferred method until the center of each ground beef patty reaches 160F on a food thermometer.

Using Ground Turkey or Chicken

You can also use ground turkey or chicken to make patties. Because ground poultry has a different safe cooking temperature, cook turkey or chicken patties until the center reaches 165F on a food thermometer.

Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can measure seasonings and prepare burger toppings before the raw meat is handled. Older kids may be ready to help portion or shape patties with close supervision. Wash hands, utensils and work surfaces thoroughly after they come in contact with raw ground meat.

How to Shape Hamburger Patties

Evenly shaped patties cook more consistently and fit better on hamburger buns. You can shape burgers with your hands or use a hamburger patty press.

using a hamburger patty maker

4 Steps for Shaping Burgers

  1. Divide evenly. Divide the meat mixture into similar-size portions so the burgers cook at about the same rate.
  2. Shape gently. Loosely form each portion into a ball, then flatten it without tightly packing the meat.
  3. Keep the thickness even. Shape the edges and center so one part of the burger doesn't cook much faster than another.
  4. Use your hands or a patty maker. Either method works. A hamburger patty press is helpful when you want burgers that are a similar size and thickness.

Optional Burger Patty Maker

You don't need a special tool to make hamburger patties, but a patty maker can make evenly sized burgers easier. We have used a Tupperware hamburger patty maker, or you can find hamburger patty makers on Amazon.

As an Amazon Associate, Kids Cooking Activities may earn from qualifying purchases.

Mini Hamburger Sliders

Mini homemade hamburger sliders

Turn the Basic Homemade Hamburger Patties into kid-size sliders by making smaller patties and serving them on slider buns or small dinner rolls.

How to Make Hamburger Sliders

  1. Divide the hamburger mixture into small, evenly sized portions.
  2. Gently shape each portion into a patty slightly wider than the slider bun.
  3. Cook until the center of each ground beef patty reaches 160°F on a food thermometer.
  4. Place each patty on a slider bun and add favorite toppings.

Try a Slider Bar

Set out cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles and condiments and let everyone build their own. Or make pizza sliders with pizza sauce and mozzarella, cheeseburger sliders or several different varieties for a kids cooking party.

How to Cook Hamburger Patties

Hamburger patties can be cooked on the stovetop, outdoor grill or under the broiler. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the patties and the cooking method, so use a food thermometer to check the center rather than relying only on cooking time or color.

Stovetop Burgers

Heat a skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook on both sides until browned and the centers reach 160F.

Grilled Burgers

Place patties on a preheated grill and cook on both sides until the centers reach 160F. Avoid repeatedly pressing down on the burgers with a spatula while they cook.

Broiled Burgers

Arrange the patties on a broiler-safe pan and broil, turning during cooking, until browned on both sides and the centers reach 160F.

Add Cheese

For cheeseburgers, place a slice of cheese on each patty near the end of cooking and allow it to melt before serving.

Check the Temperature

Ground beef hamburgers should reach 160F in the center. Ground turkey and chicken patties should reach 165F. Insert a food thermometer into the thickest part of the patty to check before serving.

Make-Ahead & Freezer Hamburger Patties

Homemade hamburger patties are easy to prepare ahead for busy family dinners. When you're already shaping burgers, make an extra batch for another meal.

Homemade hamburger patties being shaped
  1. Shape the patties. Make evenly sized hamburger patties as usual.
  2. Separate them. Place parchment or wax paper between the patties so they don't freeze together.
  3. Package for dinner. Store the number your family needs for one meal in a freezer-safe container or bag and label it with the date.
  4. Thaw safely. Move frozen raw patties to the refrigerator to thaw before cooking.

Make a Burger Freezer Pack

Freeze hamburger patties in one package and hamburger buns in another. Add cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and other fresh toppings when you're ready to serve them.

Add Flavor & Vegetables to Hamburger Patties

The basic hamburger mixture is easy to change. Add a small amount of seasoning, herbs or finely prepared vegetables before shaping the patties to create different burger flavors.

Onion

Mix finely chopped or grated onion into the ground beef for extra flavor. Keep the pieces small so the patties are easy to shape.

Worcestershire Sauce

A small amount of Worcestershire sauce adds savory flavor to a basic hamburger mixture. Start with about 1 teaspoon per pound of ground beef.

Herbs & Spices

Try garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning or another favorite seasoning blend. Visit our Herbs & Spices Cooking Lesson for more flavor ideas.

Add Vegetables

Try a small amount of finely shredded, chopped or pureed carrots, zucchini, mushrooms or other vegetables. Adding too much can make patties harder to shape. Find more ideas in our Hidden Vegetable Recipes.

Kids Cooking Tip: Let kids choose one seasoning or vegetable to add to a batch of burgers. If everyone wants something different, divide the meat mixture and make several flavors. This is an easy way for kids to experiment with seasonings while learning how small ingredient changes affect a recipe.

Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids

Homemade burgers are a great starting point for letting kids experiment with food, flavors and toppings. For even more creative ideas, our Fun with Food collection includes playful recipes and activities that help turn everyday foods into something kids are excited to make and eat.

More Homemade Burger Recipes

Once you know how to make a basic hamburger patty, try changing the fillings, seasonings and toppings. These homemade burger recipes include stuffed burgers, pizza flavors, fruit sauces and other fun ways to turn ground beef into a family meal.

Easy Hamburger Pineapple Ring

Recipe contributed by Linda, Houston, Texas

Hamburger patty stuffed with a pineapple ring

Give a homemade hamburger a sweet and savory twist by placing a pineapple ring inside the burger. Barbecue sauce on top adds even more flavor and makes this an easy variation on a basic beef burger.

Ingredients

  • Ground beef, enough to make 2 thin hamburger patties
  • 1 pineapple ring
  • Barbecue sauce, for serving

Directions

  1. Divide the ground beef into two equal portions and shape each portion into a thin hamburger patty.
  2. Place the pineapple ring in the center of one patty.
  3. Place the second patty on top and press the edges of the two patties together to completely enclose the pineapple.
  4. Grill or broil the stuffed burger, turning as needed, until the ground beef reaches 160°F in the center.
  5. Place the cooked burger on a plate and spoon barbecue sauce over the top before serving.

Seal the Edges Well

Because the pineapple is tucked inside the burger, make the two beef patties thin and slightly larger than the pineapple ring. Pinch the edges together well so the burger stays closed while it cooks.

Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can drain the pineapple, measure the barbecue sauce and help prepare toppings. Older kids can help shape the two thin patties with close supervision and careful hand washing after handling raw ground beef.

Grilled Hamburger Patty Recipe

Homemade grilled hamburger patty

This easy grilled hamburger recipe adds extra flavor right into the ground beef before the patties are shaped. Serve the finished burgers on buns with lettuce, tomato, pickles, cheese or your family's favorite toppings.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Hamburger buns and favorite toppings, for serving

Directions

  1. Add the ground beef, chopped onion, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper to a mixing bowl.
  2. Gently mix just until the ingredients are evenly combined.
  3. Divide the mixture into evenly sized portions and shape each portion into a hamburger patty.
  4. Place the patties on a preheated grill and cook on both sides until the centers reach 160°F on a food thermometer.
  5. Serve on hamburger buns with your favorite cheese, vegetables and condiments.

Don't Press the Burgers While They Cook

Once the patties are on the grill, avoid repeatedly pressing them down with a spatula. Turn them as needed and use a food thermometer to determine when they're ready rather than relying only on cooking time.

Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can measure the Worcestershire sauce and seasonings and prepare the buns and toppings. Keep children safely away from the hot grill and have an adult handle placing, turning and removing the burgers.

Bleu Cheese Burger

Homemade hamburger stuffed with bleu cheese

This homemade burger has crumbled bleu cheese tucked inside the ground beef, so the cheese melts as the hamburger cooks. Grated onion adds extra flavor without adding large pieces to the patty.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • Grated onion, as desired
  • 1/2 cup bleu cheese, crumbled
  • Pinch of salt and black pepper

Directions

  1. Add the ground beef and grated onion to a mixing bowl.
  2. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and gently mix until combined.
  3. Divide the meat mixture into portions and begin shaping each portion into a patty.
  4. Place some of the crumbled bleu cheese in the center of each burger, then carefully shape the meat around the cheese so it is completely enclosed.
  5. Place the burgers on a preheated grill and cook on both sides until the ground beef reaches 160°F in the center.
  6. Allow the burgers to rest briefly before serving. The cheese inside will be hot and melted.

Keep the Cheese Inside

Make sure the ground beef completely surrounds the bleu cheese and pinch any openings closed before cooking. This helps keep more of the melted cheese inside the burger.

Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can crumble the bleu cheese, grate the onion with appropriate supervision and prepare the burger toppings. Older kids can help portion and shape the patties with close supervision and careful hand washing after handling raw ground beef.

Pizza Beef Burgers

Pizza beef burger with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella

Combine burger night and pizza night with these easy Pizza Beef Burgers. Ground beef patties are served open-faced on toasted sourdough bread, then topped with warm pasta sauce and melted mozzarella cheese.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 4 (1/4-inch) slices sourdough bread
  • 1 cup mushroom pasta sauce
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions

  1. Preheat the broiler and lightly coat a broiler pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions and shape each portion into a hamburger patty.
  3. Place the patties on the prepared broiler pan and broil about 4 inches from the heat, turning once during cooking. Cook until the centers of the patties reach 160°F on a food thermometer.
  4. During the last few minutes of cooking, add the sourdough bread to the broiler and toast it for about 2 minutes, turning once so both sides are toasted.
  5. Meanwhile, add the pasta sauce to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot and bubbly.
  6. Place one cooked hamburger patty on each slice of toasted sourdough bread.
  7. Spoon the warm pasta sauce over each burger and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  8. Return the burgers to the broiler for about 1 minute, or just until the cheese is melted. Watch closely so the bread doesn't burn.

Why Sourdough Bread?

The original recipe uses thick sourdough slices instead of hamburger buns. Toasting the bread first gives the saucy burger a sturdier base and makes this more like an open-faced pizza burger.

Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can measure the pasta sauce and mozzarella and help assemble the cooked burgers. An adult should handle the broiler, hot pan and saucepan.

Hamburger with Peach Sauce

Recipe contributed by Kristina, Illinois

This homemade burger combines spinach right into the ground beef, then tops the cooked burger with a sweet peach and mustard sauce, mozzarella cheese, tomato and lettuce. It's a fun sweet-and-savory variation on a traditional hamburger.

Hamburger with spinach and homemade peach sauce

Ingredients

For the Burgers

  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup chopped spinach

For the Peach Sauce

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon mustard
  • 1/2 cup canned peaches

For Serving

  • Hamburger buns
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Tomato slices
  • Lettuce leaves

Directions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, salt, soy sauce, black pepper and chopped spinach.
  2. Gently mix until combined, then divide the mixture into 3 portions and shape each into a hamburger patty.
  3. Place the burgers on a broiler pan and broil on low, turning once during cooking, until the centers reach 160°F on a food thermometer.
  4. While the burgers cook, add the brown sugar, mustard and peaches to a small saucepan.
  5. Simmer until the peaches are soft and the ingredients form a warm sauce.
  6. Remove the peach mixture from the heat, allow it to cool slightly and mash the peaches into the sauce.
  7. Place each cooked burger on a bun and top with mozzarella cheese, peach sauce, tomato and lettuce.

Spinach in a Burger

The chopped spinach is mixed directly into the ground beef rather than used as a topping. Chop it finely so it distributes throughout the meat and the patties are easier to shape.

Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can wash and chop the spinach with an age-appropriate tool, measure the peach sauce ingredients and help prepare the tomato, lettuce and cheese. An adult should handle the broiler, hot saucepan and cooked burgers.

Packed Burgers

These burgers are packed with extra flavor from bacon, onion, mushrooms, Parmesan cheese and steak sauce. A combination of ground beef and ground turkey makes a large batch that's great for a family dinner.

burgers are packed with extra flavor from bacon, onion, mushrooms, Parmesan cheese and steak sauce

Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon, cooked and cut into small pieces
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 small can mushrooms, drained and finely chopped or pureed
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • Salt, black pepper and garlic powder, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons steak sauce

Directions

  1. Add the cooked bacon, onion, mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, ground beef, ground turkey and steak sauce to a large mixing bowl.
  2. Season with salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
  3. Gently mix until the ingredients are evenly combined, being careful not to overmix.
  4. Divide the mixture into evenly sized portions and shape into hamburger patties.
  5. Grill or bake the patties until the centers reach 165F on a food thermometer.
  6. Serve on hamburger buns with your favorite burger toppings, if desired.

Why 165°F for These Burgers?

Packed Burgers contain both ground beef and ground turkey. Because ground poultry is part of the mixture, cook the patties to 165°F rather than the 160°F used for all-beef hamburgers.

Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can measure the Parmesan, steak sauce and seasonings and help prepare the mushrooms and other ingredients before the raw meat is added. Older kids can help portion the patties with close supervision and careful hand washing after handling raw meat.

Best Burger Recipe Video

Watch how to make a homemade burger and pick up more ideas for preparing a flavorful hamburger patty. Use the basic techniques above to shape evenly sized patties, then customize your burgers with favorite seasonings and toppings.

More Easy Beef Recipes

Once you've practiced making homemade hamburger patties, try more easy beef dinners. Learn how to make meatballs, meatloaf, tacos and roast beef while building more family meal cooking skills.

Homemade meatballs

How to Make Meatballs
Learn how to shape and cook homemade meatballs, plus try meatball soups, pasta dinners and other family meal ideas.

Easy homemade meatloaf

Easy Meatloaf Recipes
Turn ground beef into classic meatloaf, mini meatloaves, pizza meatloaf and other family-friendly variations.

Homemade beef tacos

Easy Taco Recipes
Cook seasoned ground beef and set out favorite toppings for an easy build-your-own taco dinner.

Homemade roast beef dinner

How to Make Roast Beef
Move beyond ground beef and learn how to prepare a classic roast beef dinner for the family.

Make Family Meal Planning Easier

Turn recipes like homemade hamburgers into a weekly dinner plan. Our meal planning resources can help you organize family meals, shopping and dinner ideas for the week ahead.

Share Your Hamburger Patty Recipe

Do you have a favorite homemade burger recipe, seasoning combination or creative hamburger topping? Share your hamburger patty recipe and cooking ideas with us.

Submit your favorite kids recipe

Do you have a favorite recipe your kids love to make? Or a recipe your kids ask you to make again and again? Share it with us!

Hamburger Patty FAQ

How do you keep hamburger patties from falling apart?

Handle the ground beef gently and shape each patty firmly enough to hold together without packing it too tightly. Finely chop any onions, mushrooms or vegetables mixed into the meat so large pieces do not make the patties harder to shape.

How thick should hamburger patties be?

Try to make each patty an even thickness so the burgers cook at a similar rate. The exact thickness can vary depending on the size of the burger, but keeping the patties consistent is more important than making them a specific measurement.

How do you know when hamburger patties are done?

Ground beef hamburger patties should reach 160°F in the center on a food thermometer. Ground turkey or chicken patties should reach 165°F. Check the thickest part of the burger rather than relying only on cooking time or color.

Can you freeze homemade hamburger patties?

Yes. Shape the patties, separate them with parchment or wax paper and store them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Label the package and thaw raw patties safely in the refrigerator before cooking.

Can you add vegetables to hamburger patties?

Yes. Finely chopped, shredded or pureed vegetables such as onion, mushrooms, carrots or zucchini can be mixed into some burger recipes. Start with a small amount so the mixture still holds together easily.

Can kids help make hamburger patties?

Kids can measure seasonings, prepare toppings and help portion ingredients. Older kids may be ready to shape raw hamburger patties with close supervision. Wash hands, utensils and work surfaces thoroughly after contact with raw meat.

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