Easy Grilled Beef Burgers
Add Preferred SourceThese Grilled Beef Burgers are juicy, flavorful, and exactly what a backyard burger should be. They cook up with a great crust on the outside, stay tender in the middle, and deliver that classic off-the-grill flavor that never goes out of style.
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Everyone needs a dependable burger recipe for cookouts, casual dinners, or those nights when only a real grilled burger will do. This one keeps things easy and lets the beef stay front and center, with plenty of savory flavor and none of the extra fuss. It’s the kind of recipe that works whether you dress it up with all the toppings or keep it classic and simple.
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Buy Now!Perfect for backyard gatherings, weeknight grilling, or feeding a hungry crowd, these burgers are easy to make and always a hit. Serve them with chips, fries, or a simple salad, and you’ve got a meal that feels familiar, hearty, and hard to beat.
I love making these burgers ahead of time and freezing them in patties, so all I need to do is thaw and grill. They’re a blank canvas for all your favorite toppings, so go wild!
Ingredients
- Ground beef – Use 80/20 beef for the juiciest burgers. Leaner beef makes dry, crumbly burgers. Don’t use 90/10 or higher—you need the fat.
- BBQ sauce – Adds moisture and flavor. Use your favorite BBQ sauce. Don’t add more, or the burgers will be too wet and fall apart.
- Salt – I use kosher salt.
- Black pepper – Freshly cracked black pepper tastes best, but pre-ground works.
- Garlic powder – Not garlic salt, or the burgers will be too salty.
- Onion powder – Not onion salt, or the burgers will be too salty.
Optional for Assembly
- Burger buns – Soft burger buns work best, and brioche are my absolute favorite for burgers. Toast them on the grill for 20–30 seconds to prevent sogginess.
- Cheese slices – Any cheese works. Cheddar, American, or Swiss are classic. It’s surprising how much flavor a bit of cheese can add to the burger, so don’t be skimpy!
- Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles – Or any of your favorite burger toppings.
How to Make Grilled Beef Burgers
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Prepare the BBQ grill with two heat zones: a hot direct heat zone for searing and a cooler indirect heat zone for finishing the burgers if needed.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, BBQ sauce, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Mix gently with your hands just until the seasonings are evenly distributed. Avoid overmixing, which can make the burgers tough.
Divide the mixture into eight equal portions. Using a circular cookie cutter or burger press, shape each portion into a smooth, uniform patty. Keeping the patties the same size helps them cook evenly.
Press a small indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb. This prevents the burgers from puffing up or doming during grilling.
Place the patties on the hot side of the grill and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes per side. If flare-ups occur, move the burgers temporarily to the cooler side of the grill.
If adding cheese, place a slice on each burger during the final minute of cooking and close the lid to allow it to melt.
Toast the burger buns on the grill for about 20 to 30 seconds until lightly golden. Assemble the burgers with your favorite toppings and serve immediately.
Chef Jenn’s Recipe Notes
- 80/20 ground beef is my favorite for burgers. Anything leaner doesn’t have as much flavor, and anything fattier will just cause all sorts of flareups on the grill.
- The thumb indentation in the center of the patties helps them cook flat instead of puffing up. I’ve tested this, and yes, it works.
- I love using a burger press for making burgers. This one comes with papers so that you can make your burgers ahead of time, and even freeze them.
- Chill your burgers ahead of time if you can. They’ll hold together better on the grill if they go on cold.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these grilled burgers with crispy fries, potato wedges, coleslaw, or a Grilled Peach Salad. They’re also great with Grilled Elote Corn Ribs or baked beans for a classic barbecue meal.
Storage
Store cooked burger patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze raw or cooked patties for up to 2 months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating or grilling.
Easy Grilled Beef Burgers
Ingredients
- 24 ounces ground beef
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Optional for Assembly
- 8 burger buns
- 8 cheese slices
- lettuce
- tomato
- onion
- pickles
Instructions
- Prepare the grill with a hot direct-heat zone and a cooler indirect-heat zone.
- Mix the ground beef, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large bowl.
- Divide the mixture into 8 portions and shape into patties using a burger press or your hands.
- Slightly dent the center of each patty using your thumb.
- Grill the burgers over direct heat for 3–4 minutes per side, moving to indirect heat if flare-ups occur. Cook until the burgers reach 165-F on a digital meat thermometer.
- Add the cheese for the last minute of cooking to allow it to melt slightly.
- Toast burger buns briefly on the grill for 20-30 seconds, then assemble the burgers with your favorite toppings and enjoy.
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Recipe Notes
- 80/20 ground beef is my favorite for burgers. Anything leaner doesn’t have as much flavor, and anything fattier will just cause all sorts of flare-ups on the grill.
- The thumb indentation in the center of the patties helps them cook flat instead of puffing up. I’ve tested this, and yes, it works.
- I love using a burger press for making burgers. This one comes with papers so that you can make your burgers ahead of time, and even freeze them.
- Chill your burgers ahead of time if you can. They’ll hold together better on the grill if they go on cold.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.
