Updated on October 2nd, 2025
Oven-baking is the simplest and cleanest way to cook a hamburger patty. Once you form your patties, you pop them in a hot oven for 15 minutes or so. You can get fancier than that by adding cheese and broiling in the last minute, but you don’t have to.
Read on for hamburger baking tips and a baked burger recipe that includes a special spice blend for a punch of flavor.
Oven-baked hamburger cooking tips
Selecting the beef
Avoid low-fat ground beef to keep your burgers juicy and delicious. The optimal fat percentage is 15% to 20%.
Don’t overwork the meat
Overworked meat creates tough hamburgers. When you are adding spices and shaping the patties, tread lightly. Do just enough with your hands to distribute the seasonings and shape the patties gently.
Use a scale
Use a scale to measure out 6 oz. for each burger. This way, the patties will cook evenly and you’ll have more consistent results.
If you have extra meat, shape extra patties and freeze them before cooking.
Use a meat thermometer
Check the temperature of the burger with an instant-read food thermometer to verify it reaches the recommended temperature of 160°F or 71°C.
Toast buns in the oven
If your oven has more than one rack, you can toast the buns in the oven by placing them on a baking sheet for 3 minutes or so.
Get creative
Experiment with different meats, cheeses, toppings, and bun styles to create your own perfect baked hamburger.
PrintBaked hamburger recipe
Baked hamburgers are perfect for parties because they cook hands-free and their easier to clean up than pan-fried patties.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven-baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 24 ounces of ground chuck
- One teaspoon of kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- 4 slices of cheese, such as cheddar, American, blue cheese, or Swiss
- 4 soft hamburger-style buns, split
- 4 slices of beefsteak tomatoes, optional
- Iceberg, romaine, or watercress, optional
- 4 tablespoons of your favorite mustard
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons ketchup
Spice Blend
- 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons of onion powder
- Hot sauce, to taste
Instructions
- Do the prep. Preheat the oven to 400°F or 204°C. Line a baking sheet with foil and place an oven-safe rack on top.
- Make the patties. Add the meat, salt, pepper, and spice blend (optional) to a bowl and mix gently with your hands. Divide the seasoned meat into 4 equal portions. You can use a scale to measure 6-oz patties or guess. Shape each portion into a patty that’s 3/4- to 1-inch thick. Use your thumb to press a dent in the center of each patty.
- Bake. Place the patties on the rack and bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. The recommendation for a safe food temperature for ground beef is 160°F or 71°C.
- Add cheese and broil. In the last minute of cooking, add cheese and turn on the broiler. Watch the patties closely because the cheese can burn.
- Toast buns. While patties are baking, toast the buns and arrange your toppings so you and guests can easily construct their burgers.
- Compile burgers and enjoy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 809
- Sugar: 12.7 g
- Sodium: 949.7 mg
- Fat: 33.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 156.1 g
- Protein: 17.9 g
- Cholesterol: 33.5 mg
