Grilling hamburgers on your backyard gas (or charcoal) grill is fast and easy using store-bought ground beef and simple seasonings. Grilled over high heat for the best juicy homemade burgers, which will go from the refrigerator to your plate in under 20 minutes
Ground beef—80/20 preferred. Use ⅓ to ½ pound per burger.Seasoning—Salt and pepper to taste or other seasoningServing—buns, condiments, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes
This tutorial is for beginners and those who cant seem to get grilling burgers right on that big box store gas grill. I want them to love and enjoy their grill by creating great food easily.
I will cover everything from the choice of burger, seasoning, grill temperature, how long to grill, and final internal temperature. Once you perfect your primary method, the variations can flow.
If it’s too hot, your burgers will burn on the outside and remain raw on the inside. If it’s too cold, they’ll stick to the grill, dry out and develop an unappetizing gray color. The best approach is to have a hot zone (with more coals) and a cooler zone (with fewer coals) for more indirect heat.
How to Grill Hamburgers—Step-by-Step
1. Preheat the grill to high. Clean and oil the grill grates. I prefer a gas grill for easy and quick preheat, but a charcoal grill is fine.
2. Form 80/20 ground beef into ¼ to ½ into burger patties about 4 inches in diameter and ½ to ¾ inches thick.
3. Sprinkle with seasoning of your choice or kosher salt and black pepper.
4. Press a dimple of 1-inch diameter and ⅓ the thickness in the center of one side of the pattie.
5. Grill over direct heat with a closed lid preferred, but an open top is acceptable.
6. Flip with a spatula after 5 minutes. Grill another 3-4 minutes to get to 160°. Time may vary.
✔️Top 3 secrets for the best grilled burgers
- Indent the center of the burger to prevent “puffing.” This seems strange, but it is a must-do. Without the dimple, the center will puff thicker, making reaching the correct internal temperature hard. The outside will almost burn and will dry out — all bad things. I start with a ¾ inch thick burger and compress a 1-inch diameter area about ¼ inch.
- Do not compress the meat. Pat it into shape. If you use a burger press, use it to shape. Keeping the meat cold will keep the fat and make a more tender burger, so work quickly. Do not rest at room temperature before cooking like we sometimes do other meat.
- Flip once and do not press. Dont keep poking it to check the temp when you know its not done. The more you flip, the more juices drain and the more flare-ups. The more pokes, the more moisture drains. Pressing the meat drains the moisture, making the final burger dryer.
How Long To Grill Burgers (Gas Grill)
FAQ
Should grill lid be open or closed for burgers?
What is the secret to grilling burgers?
Why do my burgers burn on the grill?
How to grill burgers for dummies?
How do you cook a Burger without burning?
If you’re cooking on a skillet alone or on a barbecue, then make sure your burgers are relatively thin so they can cook all the way through without burning around the edges. Control the heat source, whether it’s flames, the burners on your stovetop, or the oven, so you can respond quickly if it looks as though your hamburgers are burning.
How to make a healthy burger?
There are different ways to make a healthy burger. Traditional bread can be replaced by wholemeal bread or skillet bread rich in fiber or other similar preparations. The sauce used can be a homemade avocado sauce or beet hummus for example. Meat can be prepared at home with ground beef and natural seasonings or you can use shredded chicken breast or canned tuna. Lettuce, tomato and onion are also welcome and a healthy burger.
How do you cook burgers on a gas grill?
Start by putting oil over the grill. You don’t need too much, and in fact adding too much can cause the outside of the burgers to burn much quicker because of the high heat of the oil. You just need a little brushed over the grill grates to prevent the burgers from sticking. Then you want to fire up the grill before placing the burgers on.
How long do you cook a burger on a grill?
Instead, flip your burgers only once. Place your hamburgers on the prepped grill with the controlled flames etc. and then leave it alone for 4 minutes. Seriously, don’t go near them. Just let them do their thing. After the 4 minutes are up, flip them and leave them again. This time leave them for 3-5 minutes, depending on how you like them cooked.