My Homestyle Burgers are simple, juicy, and full of flavor. Start with good-quality ground beef, add a couple of dependable seasonings and one surprising ingredient that keeps the patties juicy, then cook them in a hot skillet until they’re beautifully browned and just the way you like them.
Almost everyone has their own style of burger making, don’t they? We sure do around here. I make my Homestyle Burgers while BeeBop makes his delicious BeeBop’s Bacon Cheeseburger. I tend to keep mine fairly simple, but he likes a burger piled high with toppings.
And I know what you’re thinking. Who can’t cook a hamburger? Right?
Well, it may be more people than you’d think. Anyone can shape ground beef into a patty and toss it in a skillet or on the grill. But turning that same patty into a dry, tough little hockey puck is just as easy.
A well-seasoned, carefully cooked burger is one of those simple pleasures that never goes out of style. The recipe here focuses on the patty itself. Once you have that part right, the toppings and buns are entirely up to you.
— This post was originally published on March 26, 2009. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.
Recipe Snapshot: Homestyle Burgers
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Grill or Stovetop
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Servings: 4
Primary Ingredient(s): Ground beef, seasonings, buns
Skill Level: Easy
What Makes This Recipe Special
- It’s simple and dependable and requires just a few ingredients.
- It’s perfectly seasoned using two pantry staples.
- A quick 20-minute meal that works any night of the week.
- Easy to customize with your favorite toppings and buns.
Key Ingredients
This post may contain affiliate links. Lana’s Cooking is reader-supported and earns a tiny commission at no extra cost to you when you shop from our links.
- Ground beef (80/20) — Ground chuck with about 20% fat produces a burger that stays juicy and flavorful during cooking. You might get by with an 85/15 mix, but I don’t advise going any leaner than that. Fat is what makes the burger flavorful!
- Jane’s Crazy Mixed-Up Salt — This seasoned salt blend adds garlic, onion, and herbs all in one ingredient.
- Cavender’s Greek Seasoning — A longtime favorite in Southern kitchens. When combined with Jane’s salt, it creates a surprisingly good burger seasoning.
- Water — Adding water may sound strange to you, but a small amount of water mixed into the meat helps keep the burgers moist while they cook.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Add sliced cheese during the last minute of cooking for a classic cheeseburger.
- Swap the skillet for an outdoor grill if you prefer grilled burgers.
- Use brioche or potato buns for a richer sandwich.
- Mix in a small amount of finely chopped onion for extra flavor.
How to Make Homestyle Burgers
STEP 1. Place the ground beef, Jane’s Crazy Mixed-Up Salt, Cavender’s Greek Seasoning, and water in a mixing bowl.
STEP 2. Use your hands to thoroughly combine the seasonings and water with the beef. Mix well, but avoid pressing or compacting the meat too firmly.
STEP 3. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat.
STEP 4. Divide the seasoned ground beef mixture into four equal portions and shape each portion into a patty.
STEP 5. Spray the hot skillet lightly with cooking spray. Add the patties and cook until they develop a nice brown crust on the first side. Flip and cook the second side to your preferred doneness.
STEP 6. Flip and cook the second side to your preferred doneness.
STEP 7. Remove the burgers from the skillet and assemble them on buns with your favorite toppings and condiments.
Recipe Tips
- Mix the seasonings thoroughly so every bite of the burger is flavorful.
- Avoid overworking the meat when mixing or forming patties.
- A hot skillet helps create a nicely browned crust on the burgers.
- Let the burgers rest briefly before assembling the sandwiches.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Why are my burgers dry? Overcooking is the most common reason for dry burgers. Use a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temperature and remove the burgers from the heat when they are just under your target temp. They’ll continue cooking for several minutes with the residual heat.
Rare: 120–125°F (cool, red center)
Medium-Rare: 130–135°F (warm, red center)
Medium: 140–145°F (pink center)
Medium-Well: 150–155°F (slightly pink center)
Well-Done: 160°F+ (brown throughout) - Why do my burgers seem dense? Two reasons: (1) the meat may have been compressed too much when mixing or shaping the patties, or (2) you used a lean ground beef (I always recommend 80/20 ground beef for burgers).
- Why aren’t my burgers browning well? The most likely reason is that the skillet wasn’t hot enough before adding the patties.
- Why did my burgers shrink? You didn’t do anything wrong. Shrinkage is to be expected. I’ve never cooked a burger that didn’t turn out smaller than it was when it went into the pan. As the fat cooks out of the burger, it just naturally shrinks.
How to Serve
Serve these Homestyle Burgers with classic cookout sides like potato salad, baked beans, or a crisp green salad. French fries or onion rings also make a perfect companion.
If you’re feeding a crowd, set out a tray of toppings so everyone can build their burger exactly the way they like it.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover cooked burger patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave until warmed through.
Cooked burger patties can also be frozen for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Questions About Homestyle Burgers
Yes, of course. The patties cook just as well on a grill. Preheat the grill to medium-high and cook until done to your preference.
It may be surprising, but that small amount of water helps the burgers stay moist during cooking.
These aren’t meant to be “smash burgers.” Pressing squeezes out juices and can result in dry burgers.
More Burger Recipes You’ll Like
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
Thank you for stopping by. It means a lot to have you here.
Do More With ChatGPT
Recipe
Homestyle Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 fat content)
- 1 tablespoon Jane’s Crazy Mixed-Up Salt
- 1 teaspoon Cavender’s Greek Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons water
- Cooking Spray
- 4 hamburger buns
- Condiments of your choice
Instructions
- Place the ground beef, Jane’s salt, Cavender’s seasoning and water in a bowl.1 pound ground beef, 1 tablespoon Jane’s Crazy Mixed-Up Salt, 1 teaspoon Cavender’s Greek Seasoning, 2 tablespoons water
- Using your hands thoroughly mix the seasonings and water into the ground beef.
- Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Spray with cooking spray.Cooking Spray
- Form the ground beef mixture into four patties.
- Place patties in skillet and cook until nicely browned on one side.
- Flip and cook on second side to desired doneness.
- Remove from skillet. Create your burger using buns and condiments of your choice.4 hamburger buns, Condiments of your choice
Notes
- Mixing a small amount of water into the ground beef helps keep the burgers tender and juicy.
- Avoid compressing the meat too tightly when mixing and forming patties.
- Store leftover cooked burgers in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
The beef patties look so appetizing in the last picture.