Burgers are just about the easiest weeknight meal around. The best hamburgers are simple to throw together, easy to customize and beloved by even the pickiest eaters. And you don’t have to visit a drive-thru to make this meal convenient. We’ll show you how to bake burgers in the oven so you can get a delicious dinner on the table in only 20 minutes.
How to Cook Burgers in the Oven
The process for oven-baked burgers is similar to grilled or pan-fried burgers. First, shape the ground beef into 1-inch-thick burger patties. There’s no need to press or squeeze the meat together here—the patties will hold their shape and overworking the meat can make the burgers dense. Use your thumb to press a divot into the middle of each patty to prevent them from shrinking while they bake.
Then, instead of preheating the grill or a cast-iron skillet, you’ll preheat the oven. We show how to cook burgers in the oven at 350°F, a gentle temperature that bakes the burgers to 160° in about 20 minutes. Of course, the total cooking time varies depending on the size and thickness of the burger patties. Using an instant-read meat thermometer is more reliable than a timer.
Finally, plate the baked burgers on a soft bun. There’s no wrong way to serve a burger, so have some fun when choosing your burger toppings. Serve oven-baked burgers with classic sandwich sides like air-fryer sweet potato fries or air-fryer French fries, onion rings or a fresh side salad.
Ingredients for Easy Oven-Baked Burgers
- Ground beef: When it comes to which ground beef is best for burgers, our Test Kitchen recommends a blend with a high percentage of fat, like an 80/20 blend. This blend has 80% lean and 20% fat, which keeps the burgers juicy as they bake.
- Salt and pepper: A simple seasoning of salt and pepper allows the beef’s flavor to shine. For an easy twist, use another type of salt, swapping in Himalayan salt or smoked salt for the table salt.
- Hamburger buns: If you want to upgrade your burgers from the thin buns of the bread aisle, go with fluffy brioche or pretzel buns. They’ll hold up better than a typical bun and taste much better. Or, you can try your hand at making homemade burger buns.
- Optional toppings: You can always get creative with burger toppings, but we often opt for classic toppings like cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon and mayonnaise.
Directions
Step 1: Shape the burger patties
Preheat the oven to 350°.
Shape the ground beef into four 1-inch-thick patties. Arrange the patties on a greased 15x10x1-inch baking sheet.
Editor’s Tip: It may be tempting to add salt and pepper before shaping the patties, but please don’t! Wait to salt the ground beef until just before it’s cooked. Salt draws moisture out of the burgers, making them tough and dry.
Use your thumb to press a divot in the middle of each patty.
Step 2: Season the burgers
Sprinkle both sides of the patties with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Oven-bake the burgers
Bake until a thermometer reads 160°, 15 to 20 minutes, turning once. If desired, top each patty with cheese during the last two to three minutes. Serve on buns with toppings as desired.
Editor’s Tip: To toast the buns, heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Spread a little butter over the split buns. Toast the sliced sides of the buns for a minute or two until they’re golden brown.
Recipe Variations
- Use a seasoning blend: Feel free to season the burger patties with herbs and spices like Italian seasoning, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder or chili powder. You can use seasoning blends like all-purpose meat seasoning, but make sure to use a salt-free blend. Salting the ground beef too early can make the burgers dense and tough.
- Cook them in the air fryer: To make air-fryer hamburgers, cook the burger patties in a 350° air fryer for 6 to 10 minutes, flipping them once.
- Make one large burger patty: Form the beef into one large patty instead of individual patties—this is our secret to making cheeseburger sliders for a crowd! Press the ground beef into an even layer in an ungreased 8-inch square baking dish, and bake in a 350° oven until a thermometer reads 160°, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the cheese during the last two to three minutes. Once baked, cut the patty into four square burgers.
- Use a different meat: Use the same ingredient proportions and directions as listed in the recipe, but slightly change the cooking times and temperatures. For pork burgers, elk or venison burgers, and plant-based burgers like mushroom burgers or black bean veggie burgers, bake to an internal temperature of 160°. For chicken and turkey burgers, bake to an internal temperature of 165°.
How to Store Easy Oven-Baked Burgers
Store leftover baked burgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. When reheating, add a little water or broth to the pan to keep the burgers moist. Reheat oven-baked burgers in a covered pan in a 350° oven or in a skillet on the stovetop until they reach an internal temperature of 165°.
Can you make baked burgers ahead of time?
For those who like to meal prep, prepare the burger patties ahead of time and freeze the uncooked patties. Place the raw burgers on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until the patties are firm. Transfer the frozen patties to a freezer-safe container. You can freeze ground beef for up to four months. Bake the burgers from frozen, or thaw the patties in the fridge overnight.
Easy Oven-Baked Burger Tips
Can you cook frozen burgers in the oven?
You can cook fresh or frozen burgers in the oven. For how to bake burgers from frozen, simply increase the cooking time as needed for a thermometer to read 160°.
Should you flip baked burgers?
We recommend flipping burgers about halfway to promote even heating. Flipping also allows both sides of the burger to brown for a crisper exterior.
Is it better to cook burgers in the oven or on the stove?
Stovetop and oven-baked burgers each have advantages and disadvantages, so it’s up to your preference. Baked burgers are a nearly hands-off cooking method that won’t fill your kitchen with the smell of frying beef. Cleanup is also easier with baked burgers, as stovetop burgers create a greasy splatter on the countertop.
However, pan-fried burgers have crispy exteriors from being seared in a hot cast-iron skillet. And cooking burgers on the stovetop won’t heat the house as much as baking burgers in the oven.
Why do you put a thumbprint in a burger?
Adding a small divot to the middle of each burger patty helps circulate air around the burger and prevents it from bulging up in the center. That means it will cook more evenly and won’t shrink as much as it cooks. Creating a dimple is one of those expert burger grilling tips that will take your burgers from good to restaurant-quality in no time.
