How to Cook Lean Ground Beef Burger in Cast Iron Skillet

Learn the theory behind how to make your own juicy cast iron skillet burgers so you'll never need to look up a recipe or buy frozen burger patties again!

homemade cast iron skillet burger patties

THE LAST HAMBURGER RECIPE YOU WILL EVER NEED

While writing this post to see what the leading brand of frozen patties was, I ran a quick internet search and was surprised to see the results overflowing with recipes.

Recipes for the "Juiciest Hamburger Ever" and "How to Make Perfect Burger Patties" and "The Classic Burger Recipe". Um, excuse me?

Growing up, I watched my mother make burger patties so many times that the idea of digging up a recipe never occurred to me.

My dad taught me how to make pancakes and homemade kefir milk, and my mom taught me how to make flavourful burgers from scratch.

I don't think she ever used a recipe to make her burgers, and by the end of this post, you won't need to either.

CAST IRON SKILLET BURGERS RECIPE VIDEO

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Related: Cranberry Feta Turkey Burgers

Related: Pork and Shrimp Burgers with an Asian-Inspired Twist

THE FORMULA BEHIND MAKING HAMBURGERS FROM SCRATCH

Let's face it. Recipes take up so much time.

They remind me of frivolous kitchen gadgets like avocado slicers that you have to root around for in your kitchen drawers.

By the time you find the darn thing, you could have gotten the work done with the humble kitchen knife that just wants to please you and maybe get sharpened once in a while.

One of my goals, when I share a recipe, is not to dictate how to prepare something.

It's to share the formula behind how to make it so that the other rules can go out the window.

I don't want you to have to read and reread the recipe or fret if you missed a step.

Yes, I'm giving you a fish (a recipe), but I'm also showing you how to catch your own at the same time.

HOW DO I MAKE CAST IRON SKILLET BURGERS?

First off, you're going to need a cast iron skillet.

You're also going to need a pound of ground meat, an onion, a clove or two of garlic, a 3/4 cup of filler (breadcrumbs are a popular option), herbs, seasonings, and an egg.

We're going to take a look at each one. Follow me!

THE BEST MEAT FOR SKILLET BURGERS

What's in the freezer? What's on sale? Did you catch anything while you were out hunting this week?

I'm all about using what you have on hand before you run out and buy something.

The type of meat doesn't really matter; however, I do have to advocate for quality meat. I'm frugal, but I splurge where it's worth it.

Try to source meat that's local and sustainably and humanely raised, and that hasn't been pumped full of growth hormones or antibiotics.

Get to know your neighbourhood butcher or visit a food co-op. Better yet, plan a day trip to a farm and buy at the source.

Try making these cast-iron skillet burgers with beef, pork, chicken, or turkey.

Go wild with boar, venison, or bison.

If you have a stand mixer and a food grinder attachment like I do (or, better yet, a meat grinder), you can even make your own ground meat.

My husband and I have done this with meats that are hard to find pre-ground, notably duck, liver, and goose.

how to make 1/4 pound burgers from scratch

PUTTING ONION IN BURGERS

Every single batch of burger meat I have ever made has onion and garlic in it.

If you're not a fan of garlic, you can leave it out, but keep the onion! The flavour permeates the meat.

I chop my onion, but if you don't want chunks of onion in your burger or want to hide it, no sweat.

I suggest grating the onion into a pulp over your work bowl so you don't lose any of the juices, but get ready to cry!

FILLERS FOR BURGER PATTIES

Unless you want a pure ground meat patty, use a filler.

There's no rule saying that you have to use a filler, but I like what it does for the texture. I also find that the burger patties hold together better when it comes time to cook them.

Again, I like to use what I have on hand.

Breadcrumbs are a classic option, but if I have a lonely heal of bread that no one wants, I'll run it through the food processor (if it's dried) or tear it into itty bitty pieces.

Lately, I've been favouring Panko bread crumbs over regular breadcrumbs (there's even a gluten-free option available for those who avoid gluten in their diets).

If we're talking gluten-free though, rolled oats are another good option. Yes, oats! Oats make a great filler.

HERBS AND SEASONINGS FOR BURGERS

This is where it really gets fun, especially if you grow your own herbs.

In my humble opinion, fresh is best, but if you don't have fresh, use dried.

There's no sense in buying a bundle of parsley just for burgers (unless you plan on using it, of course)!

My favourite herbs to use for this purpose are parsley and dill, but it all depends on the meat and your preferences. Why not oregano? Sage? Basil? Lemongrass?

For seasonings, salt and pepper are essential, and I always dash in a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce no matter what.

Depending on what kind of burger you're going for–and I'll help you out with some ideas below–the sky is the limit.

If you want a wee bit of warmth, grate in some ginger root. Try mixing in some mustard or a few capers. Heck, shake it up with Montreal Steak Spice (this one is my favourite) or lemon pepper.

The gamut doesn't stop there.

You might recoil at the idea, but taste the tiniest pinch to check the flavour, and then immediately spit out. If needed, adjust the seasoning according to your taste.

Form your patties with cheese curds, goat cheese, or a smokey blue cheese in the centre.

FUN BURGER COMBINATION IDEAS

Here are a few seasoning ideas. Remember to add your filler, allium and Worcestershire sauce!

Turkey: oregano, basil, and grated parmesan cheese
Pork: shredded carrot, grated ginger, green onions, Chinese five spice, and hoisin sauce
Lamb: fresh dill and chives
Beef: mustard, tabasco, minced dill pickles

COOKING THE CAST IRON SKILLET BURGERS (ON THE STOVE AND OVEN)

Heat the cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.

Once the skillet is good and hot, coat it with a fat that has a high smoke point, like avocado oil or lard.

Since cast-iron retains heat, turn down the element to medium-low after popping your burgers patties in.

Wait.

If you flip the burgers prematurely, they will stick to the pan, so be patient for five minutes and wash some dishes while they sear.

Flip the burgers, admire the colour, and continue cleaning.

There are a couple of choices at this point.

FINISHING THE BURGERS IN THE OVEN:

You can pop them in the oven to finish cooking. Naturally, you will need to pre-heat the oven to do this. 375FºF for 15 minutes, or until done.

FINISHING THE BURGERS ON THE STOVE

Cook them low and slow in the pan for an additional 10-15 minutes and check them for doneness with a meat thermometer.

The Spruce Eats has a nifty infographic to help you translate the numbers on your thermometer.

DRESS AND SERVE!

When my mom made her burgers, she didn't serve them with buns. She'd make noodles or potatoes to go with them.

I like sandwiches though, so I advise a crusty kaiser bun (bonus if it's homemade!) and the condiments to go with it: ketchup, mustard, mayo, and relish.

Make up a plate with fresh toppings. We're in a time where burgers can get crazy, so consider serving yours with maple bacon, gut-healthy sauerkraut, or caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms.

I don't really need to tell you how to dress a burger, do I?

NEED A SIDE TO GO WITH THAT?

Don't serve your burgers alone! Here are some ideas to keep them company on the plate:

Pickled fried green tomatoes
Crispy skillet home fries
Potato salad
Greek pasta salad
A mean caesar salad
Onion rings

SHOP THIS POST

Cast iron skillet
Stand mixer and Food grinder attachment for custom ground meats
Meat thermometer

PRINT CAST IRON SKILLET BURGERS RECIPE

Old-Fashioned Cast-Iron Skillet Burgers

Juicy and flavourful beef burger patties for a good, old-fashioned hamburger.

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

10 or 12" cast-iron skillet

1 lb Extra Lean Ground Beef
3/4 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1 Onion small
1 Garlic Clove minced
1 Egg
1 tbsp Parsley chopped
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Fresh Ground Pepper
6 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
3 tbsp Avocado Oil

Preheat oven to 375º F (optional).
Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl (except the oil), adjusting the seasoning, as needed.
Heat the cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat and add the avocado oil once hot. Add the patties.
Sear burgers for 4-5 minutes on one side before flipping, turning down the heat to medium-low.
Sear other side for 4-5 minutes.
Either finish the burgers on the stovetop or transfer the skillet to the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until done*

*Avocado oil can be heated to high temperatures. If avocado oil is unavailable, use another cooking fat with a high smokepoint.

*Burgers are considered well done at 160ºF (learn more about internal temperature for burgers here)

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Love and gratitude,

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