Meat Burger recipe
For a classic, juicy beef burger, the key steps involve selecting high-quality ground beef, mixing ingredients gently, shaping the patties correctly, and cooking them carefully.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef (preferably 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
4 burger buns, toasted
4 slices of your favorite cheese (cheddar or American are popular choices)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional, for flavor)
Salt and pepper to taste
Your favorite toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, and mayonnaise
Instructions
- Mix the meat
In a large bowl, combine the ground beef with Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
Mix the ingredients with your hands until just combined. Be careful not to overwork the meat, as this can make the patties tough. - Shape the patties
Divide the meat mixture into four equal portions.
Gently form each portion into a patty, making it about 1 inch wider than your burger bun to account for shrinkage during cooking.
Press a small indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb. This prevents the burger from puffing up into a dome shape while it cooks. - Cook the burgers
Stovetop: Heat a cast-iron skillet or heavy-based frying pan over medium-high heat with a little oil. Cook the patties for 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until they have a nice crust and are cooked to your desired doneness.
Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Place the patties on the grate and cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side.
Do not press down on the burgers with your spatula while they are cooking, as this forces the juices out and can result in a dry patty.
In the last minute of cooking, place a slice of cheese on top of each patty to melt. - Assemble the burger
Remove the cooked patties from the heat and let them rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, keeping the burger juicy.
Toast your burger buns by placing them cut-side down on the hot skillet or grill for about one minute.
Start assembling with the bottom bun, adding your sauce, a layer of lettuce, followed by the patty with melted cheese, and other toppings.
Top with the other half of the bun and serve immediately.