Ranch Burgers

I’ll find just about any excuse to enjoy ranch dressing, including mixing it into my burgers. This ranch burger recipe shows how to do just that! Adding a package of dried ranch salad dressing to the burger patties infuses the ground beef with a tangy, herbaceous, garlicky flavor. Meanwhile, folding in chopped bacon and a dash of Worcestershire sauce adds savory character.

Everything is mixed together to form extra-flavorful patties that stay juicy as they cook, which is a nice contrast to the charred, crispy exteriors. Ranch burgers are a perfect summer barbecue recipe when you want to fire up the grill.

Ingredients for Ranch Burgers

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• Ground beef: When grilling, I find the best ground beef for burgers has a higher fat content, like a 70/30 blend. This will ensure the burgers stay juicy even if they’re cooked well-done.
• Ranch salad dressing mix: Ranch dressing mix is a magical powder that makes everything taste like your favorite dressing!
• Bacon and Worcestershire sauce: These ingredients add savory flavor to the burger patties. Worcestershire sauce is fantastic for adding a tangy, umami element to any recipe.
• Hamburger buns: Use your favorite store-bought buns, or try your hand at our homemade hamburger buns.
• Optional fixings: This ranch burger recipe tastes great with all the classic burger fixings. Try American cheese, lettuce, tomato and sliced onion.

Directions

Step 1: Make the patties

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In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, ranch mix, chopped bacon and Worcestershire sauce.

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Mix lightly but thoroughly.

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Divide the beef mixture into four pieces and shape them into 1/2-inch-thick patties.

Editor’s Tip: Take care to avoid overmixing the meat, which will lead to tough burgers. You need to mix the ingredients only until everything is just combined.

Step 2: Grill the burgers

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Grill the burgers, covered, over medium heat until a thermometer reads 160°F, three to four minutes on each side.

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Serve each ranch burger on a hamburger bun with toppings as desired.

Editor’s Tip: To make cheeseburgers, add a slice of cheese to each burger patty immediately after it comes off the grill. You can cover the patties with a plate to help the cheese melt.

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Ranch Burger Variations

• Change up the meat: Ranch burgers don’t have to be made with ground beef. Try a lighter (but still delicious) version of this ranch burger recipe by substituting ground turkey or ground chicken.
• Add cheese to the mix: Make this ranch burger recipe extra indulgent by adding shredded cheese to the burger patties. Add shredded cheddar, Colby jack or pepper jack to the ground beef when you mix the patties.
• Make it spicy: Add chopped green chiles to the hamburger mix, or top the burger with chopped chiles, pickled jalapenos or fresh jalapeno slices. Or, make a spicy chipotle mayo by adding a dash of chipotle powder to your mayonnaise.

How to Store Ranch Burgers

Store ranch burger patties separately from the buns and toppings. Keep the cooked burger patties in airtight containers in the fridge.

How long do ranch burgers last?

These ranch burgers will last up to four days in the refrigerator if the ingredients are all stored separately. Wait to assemble the burgers until you’re ready to eat to avoid soggy buns.

Can you freeze ranch burgers?

You can freeze uncooked ranch burger patties for up to three months. After forming the patties, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze them until completely frozen. Transfer the frozen patties to a resealable freezer bag. Thaw them in the fridge overnight, or cook them from frozen to make air-fryer frozen burgers.

How do you reheat a ranch burger?

Reheat ranch burgers quickly in the microwave, or sear them in a pan on the stovetop. Cook until the burgers reach an internal temperature of 165°.

Can you make ranch burgers ahead of time?

Most burger recipes taste best when they’re fresh off the grill, so we don’t recommend cooking this ranch burger recipe ahead of time. However, you can make the burger patties ahead of time and store uncooked patties in the freezer for up to three months.

Ranch Burger Tips

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How do you keep burger patties from falling apart?

The best way to keep burger patties from falling apart is to make sure your grill is preheated and oiled before adding them. Then, perhaps most importantly, wait to move the patties until they form a good sear and lift naturally off the grill grates. They can fall apart if you try to move them too early. Once the bottom sear is formed, the patty can be easily flipped.

How else can you cook ranch burgers?

As much as I love grilling, I also love cooking burgers on a flattop griddle or making pan-fried burgers on the stove. If you don’t want to cook them all the way through on the stovetop, you can start them there to get a sear on both sides and finish them in the oven. Make oven-baked burgers in a 350° oven or air-fryer hamburgers in a 350° air fryer.

How long should you cook ranch burgers?

We grill 1/2-inch-thick ranch burgers for three to four minutes on each side. The cooking time varies depending on the burger’s thickness and desired level of doneness. The easiest way to achieve the type of doneness you’re looking for is to use a thermometer. The USDA recommends cooking burgers to 160° (well-done). If you decide to cook burgers to a lower temperature, shoot for 130° for medium-rare, 140° for medium or 150° for medium-well.

What can you serve with ranch burgers?

There’s nothing more classic than a burger and fries, and this burger goes great with everything from french fries and waffle fries to tater tots. If you’re looking to round out the ranch burger recipe with something green, it would go great with kale salad recipes, a side of green beans or asparagus, or a crunchy coleslaw.