How to Cook Hamburgers in the Oven

    Hamburgers in the Oven

    A cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and a sesame seed bun on a black plate, accompanied by a side of seasoned fries. A blurred ketchup bottle and two jars are visible in the background on a gray surface.

    Grilling season might not be here yet, but the good news is that you can cook Hamburgers in the Oven 365 days a year! I’ve got the trick to keeping them tender and juicy even with lean ground beef seasoned to perfection.

    A cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and a sesame seed bun on a black plate, accompanied by a side of seasoned fries. A blurred ketchup bottle and two jars are visible in the background on a gray surface.

    Oven burgers that won’t disappoint.

    cookbook author erin clarke of well plated

    I’m a big fan of Air Fryer Hamburgers and Smash Burgers, but cooking hamburgers in the oven was always something I avoided. If I wanted them to be juicy, I’d have to use a fattier cut of ground beef than I like; even doing that, they still had a tendency to dry out. And then they never seem to have very much flavor since they don’t get a sear from high direct heat like grilled and griddled burgers do.

    I wanted to try to tackle these issues and bring you an oven-baked burger that won’t let you down. Flavorful! Juicy! Not dry! 

    Cooking hamburgers in the oven requires some finessing and the first step is adding some extra oil to the equation to keep lean ground beef from drying out. To overcome the lack of searing, I add a seasoning blend that includes smoked paprika. I also leave enough space between the patties so they don’t end up sitting in their juices, steaming.

    All that’s missing is the cheese, lettuce, tomato, and bun! 

    Key Ingredients

    You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.

    • Lean Ground Beef. I use 93% lean.
    • Olive Oil. You can leave this out if you’re using 85% lean ground beef.
    • Hamburger Seasoning. The perfect way to make hamburgers in the oven taste like something special.
    • Homemade Hamburger Buns. Or keep it low carb by serving the patties in lettuce wraps or Burger Bowl style.
    • Toppings. You know the drill! Cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard, etc. Or get fancy with caramelized onions, Sautéed Mushrooms, sliced avocado, etc.

    How to Make Hamburgers in the Oven

    A gray bowl contains various spices, including paprika, salt, and others on a gray countertop. Two spice jars are nearby, one partially open. The spices are arranged side by side in the bowl.
    A glass bowl on a gray surface containing raw ground beef mixed with spices. A metal spoon is partially inserted into the meat mixture. The spices appear to be in powdered form, with a brownish color.
    A hand mixes raw ground beef with seasoning in a clear glass bowl on a gray countertop. The meat appears red and is slightly clumped together. The person is wearing a bracelet on the wrist.
    Raw hamburger patties on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, ready for cooking. The patties are red and textured, indicating they are uncooked.
    A hand holding a slice of cheese over a baking tray with partially cooked burger patties. The cheese is ready to be placed on one of the patties. The scene suggests cooking or preparing hamburgers.
    Four hamburger patties on a metal baking sheet; two are topped with melted cheese slices, and two are plain. The cheese is slightly oozing over the sides of the patties.

    Prepare. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven and start preheating it to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

    Make the Ground Beef Mixture. Use your hands to combine the ground beef, oil, and seasoning. Don’t overwork it—gently mix without squeezing and smashing.

    Form the Patties. Shape the patties and divide them between the baking sheets. (Yes, you could cram them all onto one, but you want space between them so they don’t steam!)

    Bake. Place the pans in the oven and cook hamburgers for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the burgers reach 140 to 145 degrees F on an instant read thermometer. For even cooking, switch the pan positions halfway through the cooking time—this is when you can add the cheese too.

    Serve. Rest for a few minutes after taking the hamburgers out of the oven, then slide them onto buns and add your favorite toppings. ENJOY!

    A hamburger cooked in the oven with lettuce, tomato, and pickles on a sesame seed bun sits on a dark plate next to a portion of French fries. A small bowl of seasoning and a spoon are in the blurred background on a gray surface.

    What to Serve with Oven-Baked Hamburgers

    Here are some of my favorite pairings!

    • Fries. Since your oven will be occupied, make a batch of Air Fryer French Fries or Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.
    • Chips. These Air Fryer Spicy Dill Pickle Chips are the G.O.A.T.
    • Salad. For a cookout-style side, serve your burgers with this Healthy Potato Salad.
    • Veggie Fries. Root veggie fans will flip for these easy Parsnip Fries.
    A cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and a sesame seed bun on a black plate, accompanied by a side of seasoned fries. A blurred ketchup bottle and two jars are visible in the background on a gray surface.
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    Hamburgers in the Oven

    Not grilling season yet? You can cook your hamburgers in the oven instead! I’ve got the trick to keeping them tender, juicy and flavorful.
    Course Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 6 6-ounce burgers or 8 4-ounce burgers
    Calories 267kcal
    Author Erin Clarke / Well Plated

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds lean ground beef I use 93% lean
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil omit if using 85% lean
    • 1 batch Hamburger Seasoning
    • Homemade Hamburger Buns
    • Toppings of choice: cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard, etc

    Instructions

    • Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of your oven and preheat to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • Place the ground beef in a medium bowl. Top with the oil and hamburger seasoning. With your hands, gently combine, then shape into patties that are about 1/2-inch thick. Divide the patties between the two baking sheets, leaving plenty of space between each (place no more than 4 patties per sheet to allow room for the juices to release.
      A hand mixes raw ground beef with seasoning in a clear glass bowl on a gray countertop. The meat appears red and is slightly clumped together. The person is wearing a bracelet on the wrist.
    • Bake the hamburgers in the oven until they register 140°F to 145°F for medium, about 8 to 10 minutes, switching the pans’ positions on the upper and lower racks halfway through. If you’d like to add cheese, place it on top of the patties halfway through cooking.
      Four hamburger patties on a metal baking sheet; two are topped with melted cheese slices, and two are plain. The cheese is slightly oozing over the sides of the patties.
    • Transfer the burges to a plate. Let rest a few minutes then serve on buns with any desired toppings.

    Notes

    • Nutritional information is for patties only.
    • TO STORE: Store leftover hamburger patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    • TO REHEAT: Reheat cooked burgers in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until warmed through.
    • TO FREEZE: You can freeze cooked burger patties for up to 3 months. Place them in an airtight container or freezer bag, thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat according to the instructions above.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1(of 6) | Calories: 267kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Potassium: 579mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 336IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 4mg

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