Hey everyone, it’s Kevin here! Today I’m back with a stovetop burger recipe, and it is one of the tastiest burgers that I have ever eaten!

Since we live in an apartment, we don’t have the space to put a grill anywhere. However, burgers are one of my favorite foods, so that wasn’t going to stop me from making them at home. Nothing quite hits the spot like a thick, juicy burger patty with the perfect toppings. Thankfully, it’s actually really easy to make delicious burgers with just your stovetop!

How To Make The Perfect Stovetop Burger

Unsurprisingly, the type of ground beef you use will make a big difference in how your burger turns out. Ideally, if your local butcher can grind the meat for you on the spot that would be the best, but prepackaged ground beef works fine as well. More importantly, you’ll want to get either 80% lean 20% fat or 85% lean 15% fat ground beef. Any leaner, and you’ll end up with a dry patty instead of one that explodes with flavor when you bite into it.

To make the patty, keep things simple. Just season the beef with salt and pepper, and add some chopped raw onions for a bit of extra flavor. By not adding too many ingredients, you highlight the flavor of the beef, which is the centerpiece of the burger. Everything else plays a supporting role to complement the flavor of the beef.

When you are working with the ground beef, make sure to be gentle and don’t overwork the meat. Gently toss with your hands to combine the ingredients rather than squishing or kneading it. To make the patty itself, gently roll the mixture into a ball and press it flat onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using your fingertips, press a shallow indentation into the center of the patty. This step may seem odd, but it will allow the burger to cook evenly since the center is the thickest part of the burger. Also, as the burger cooks, the sides will pull in and the indentation will disappear.

Before cooking the patty, it’s important to chill it in the fridge for at least 10 to 15 minutes. This allows it to set so it will retain its shape on the pan. The last thing you want is to flip your patty over and have it fall apart.

When cooking the burger, make sure your pan is already heated up over medium-high. You should hear an instant sizzle when the patty hits the pan. One mistake that a lot of people make when cooking burgers is pressing it flat with the spatula. Unless you’re making smashburgers, this will only result in a dry burger since you’re losing all of the juice that’s inside the patty.

A common mistake that I’ve made in the past is overcooking the patty. For a medium-rare burger, you should only cook the patty on each side for about 3 minutes. It’s natural to worry that you’re undercooking, but I promise, 3 minutes of medium-high heat is all you need. For medium, cook for 4 minutes per side, and well-done, 5 minutes per side. Any longer than 10 minutes total, and you risk completely drying out your burger. You should also only flip your burger one time when cooking it. Flipping it too often will prevent it from developing a crust, which is not only essential to the taste, but also helps hold the patty together.

With these tips, you should be well on your way to making the perfect stovetop burger!

Let’s Talk Toppings

For this burger, I wanted to keep things simple by relying on the toppings to enhance the flavor of the burger rather than adding sauce. This has the added benefit of making the burger clean to eat since there will be no sauce dripping out.

Bacon and caramelized onions are the perfect toppings to complement the flavor of the patty. The bacon adds a savory and smoky taste, while caramelized onions balance that out with their rich, sweet flavor. In the end, neither is too overwhelming as to drown out the taste of the patty. Combine that with a slice of cheese and some fresh lettuce, and you have the perfect toppings for your burger!

For the bacon, I chose to use a thick cut of Applewood smoked bacon, but if you prefer your bacon more crispy, you can use a thinner cut. To make the caramelized onions, follow our caramelized onions recipe! You can make them several days in advance and keep them in the fridge, since making the caramelized onions takes the longest.

The order in which you assemble the ingredients is important. First, place the lettuce on top of the bottom bun. Then add the patty with the cheese and bacon, top it with a big scoop of caramelized onions and add the top bun. This will ensure that all the ingredients stay inside the burger while you eat.

Are you ready to make the perfect stovetop burger? Let’s get started!

If you like our recipes, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Yummly, and Twitter to stay in touch for the latest updates!

Pin this image and follow us on Pinterest

Like this recipe? Don’t forget to rate and share it with your friends!