• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Nessy Kitchen
  • Home
  • Browse Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Meal Plan
  • Recipe Index
  • Mains
  • Breakfast
  • Snacks
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Meal Plan
    • Recipe Index
    • Mains
    • Breakfast
    • Snacks
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    • Pumpkin rice in a bowl and garnished with a sprig of thyme.
      Pumpkin Rice
    • Banana Oat Flour Muffins (Gluten Free)
    • Pumpkin muffin with a bite taken out.
      Pumpkin Oat Flour Muffins (Gluten Free)
    • Croutons on a baking sheet.
      Homemade Croutons with Sourdough Bread
    • Bowl of creamy potato salad topped with herbs.
      Greek Yogurt Potato Salad
    • Stack of pancakes topped with sautéed apples.
      Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes
    • Bowl of peanut sauce with a spoon in it.
      Healthy Peanut Sauce
    • Close up image of a piece of lettuce filled with a ground turkey mixture and topped with peanut sauce.
      Ground Turkey Asian Lettuce Wraps
    • Applesauce Oat Flour Muffins
    • Gyudon-Inspired Ground Beef and Rice Bowls
    • Sautéed Carrots and Spinach
    • Cajun Spaghetti Sauce
    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Simple Homemade Barbecued Beef Burgers

    Published: Apr 30, 2021, Last Modified: Aug 28, 2023 by Janessa.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Turn on the grill, grab just 2 ingredients and let's make some homemade barbecued beef burgers! Excellent for a summer barbecue with friends or just a quick anytime dinner, these burgers are lightly seasoned, juicy and the perfect canvas to all your favourite toppings.

    Jump to:
    • The Ingredients
    • The Method
    • Leftovers
    • Make it Your Own
    • How to Serve Barbecued Burgers
    • Dietary Notes
    • And if you liked this recipe...
    • Barbecued Burgers
    • Comments
    Barbecued beef burger on a bun with a barbecue grill in the background.

    When Brendan and I moved in together, most things went pretty simply. We had no trouble deciding who would park in the garage, which pictures we would hang, whose bed we would keep and whose pots we would use. There was one exception- our burger presses.

    We each thought that we had the better burger press and so in order to determine which one to keep, we had to have a showdown of sorts.

    We made these barbecued burgers and used his to make 2 burgers and mine to make 2 burgers. Then we cooked and tried them each and decided which was the better burger. I regret to inform you that mine lost...

    But barbecued burgers are still one of my favorite meals, especially in the summertime and this simple recipe is my go-to for making them!

    The ingredients are super simple so that you can customize the burgers with all sorts of toppings, but they are honestly so delicious- you could eat them all on their own.

    The Ingredients

    Ingredients for homemade grilled beef burgers.
    • Regular ground beef- I highly recommend using regular ground beef (rather than lean) because it produces the juiciest burgers. And since we are barbecuing them, I find that a lot of the grease cooks out, so they don’t seem greasy to eat. That said, you can substitute lean ground beef in the recipe if you prefer.
    • Steak spice- Just 1 teaspoon of steak spice gives the burgers nice flavour without being overpowering. If you have any dietary restrictions, make sure to check the ingredients of the steak spice that you are using. And if you don't have steak spice on hand, use ¼ teaspoon each of sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder and paprika.

    The Method

    1. Mix beef and spices.

    How to mix homemade burgers.

    2. Shape. Divide the beef mixture into four even balls (about 4 oz/115 g each). Flatten to about ½ inch (1 cm) thickness and then score 4-5 shallow lines through on both sides (this helps to prevent shrinking!). If you have a burger press, feel free to use that instead. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to grill.

    How to shape homemade beef burgers that won't shrink.

    3. Grill. Heat a barbecue grill over medium high heat (450-500 F). Place the hamburger patties onto the grill, close the lid and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the burgers and cook for 3-7 more minutes until cooked through to 160 F and no longer pink inside.

    How to grill beef burgers on a barbecue.

    4. Enjoy!

    Leftovers

    To Make Ahead: You can prepare the burger patties and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 day ahead of cooking. Layer in a single row or separate with wax paper or a silicone mat.

    To Freeze Raw Burger Patties: Uncooked patties can be frozen up to 3 months. Freeze in a single layer and then stack once frozen. Thaw to room temperature in the refrigerator before proceeding with cooking OR cook from frozen- just add 1-2 minutes to the grilling time.

    To Store: Leftover cooked burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

    To Reheat: You can use the microwave to warm through or reheat in a pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side. Leftover burgers can also be rewarmed in the oven at 350 F for 5-10 minutes.

    Beef burgers on a plate with fries.

    Make it Your Own

    • Cheeseburgers- Use tongs to place slices of cheese on the burgers in the last 2 minutes of cooking and allow it to melt.
    • Sliders- Divide meat into 8 equal portions instead of 4 and flatten to ¼-½ inch thickness. Cook time will be reduced slightly, around 4-7 minutes.

    How to Serve Barbecued Burgers

    Load them up with all of your favorite burger fixings! Some suggestions:

    • Toasted Buns
    • Lettuce (for topping or as a lettuce bun)
    • Tomato
    • Onion (fresh or caramelized)
    • Avocado or Guacamole
    • Sautéed mushrooms
    • Bacon
    • A fried egg
    • Santa Fe Ranch
    • Barbecue Sauce
    • Chimichurri

    And if you're looking for some good side dishes for burgers, these are all great options!

    • Crispy Oven Baked Fries
    • Crispy Baked Sweet Plantains
    • Cajun Corn
    • Mediterranean Salad
    • Santa Fe Salad
    • Mixed Berry Spinach Salad
    • Greek Yogurt Potato Salad
    Beef burger on a plate.
    How do I prevent my homemade burgers from shrinking?

    Cut 4-5 shallow lines through the burger patties before grilling. For best results, do so one both sides (but stagger them so that you don't cut all the way through!). But even if you just do it on one side, it should help to minimize shrinking. See the images under Step 2 above for a visual.

    How do you keep homemade burgers from falling apart?

    This recipe generally holds together pretty well! However, for some extra assurance, you can place the shaped patty in a single layer, cover and refrigerate them for about 30 minutes before grilling.

    What is the secret to juicy burgers?

    Use regular ground beef! Regular ground beef is more fatty and won't dry out as quickly when grilling as compared to lean or extra lean ground beef.

    Dietary Notes

    If you have dietary restrictions, be sure to check any packaging of specific ingredients that you use are compliant. As written, this recipe is naturally:

    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Nut Free
    • Paleo

    And if you liked this recipe...

    ...you might also like:

    • Pork Banh Mi Burgers
    • Ground Beef Tacos
    • Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie
    • Sugar Free Pulled Pork

    Barbecued Burgers

    Lightly seasoned and juicy, these homemade beef burgers are the perfect canvas for all of your favourite burger toppings!
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 288kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb regular ground beef
    • 1 teaspoon Steak Spice

    For Serving:

    • toasted buns
    • sliced cheese
    • lettuce
    • sliced tomatoes
    • sliced onions
    • caramelized onions
    US Customary - Metric
    (Prevent your screen from going dark)

    Instructions

    • Preheat a grill over medium high heat (around 450-500 F).
    • In a large bowl, add the ground beef and steak spice and mix until well combined.
    • Divide the mixture into 4 even portions (about 4oz/115g each), roll into a ball and then flatten to about ½ inch (1cm) thick patties. Use a dull knife to score 4-5 shallow lines through on each side.
    • Place the patties on the grill and cook for 8-12 minutes, until meat is cooked through to 160 F, flipping halfway through.
    • Serve immediately with your favorite toppings.

    Notes

    Substitutions
    Steak spice- substitute ¼ teaspoon each of fine sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder and paprika.
    Leftovers
    Uncooked, assembled burgers can be kept in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 1 day prior to resuming with the recipe and cooking. Or you can freeze uncooked burgers for up to 3 months.
    Cooked burgers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or in a frying pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side until heated through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 288kcal | Protein: 19g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 657mg | Potassium: 306mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe?Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

    More Meal Ideas!

    • Egg Roll Bowls
    • 34 Delicious and Healthy Sides to Serve with Sandwiches
    • Bowl of slow cooker buffalo chili topped with tortilla chips and avocado.
      Buffalo Chicken Chili (Slow Cooker)
    • Canned Salmon Over Rice (5 Ways!)
    « Crispy Baked Fries (Convection or Conventional Oven)
    Taco Seasoning »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Lisa

      July 27, 2022 at 12:35 pm

      5 stars
      I was looking for a blog post to teach my college-age daughter how to make burgers for her friends today! This is the best one I found...simple and clear instructions. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        July 27, 2022 at 12:53 pm

        Thank you for your kind review, Lisa!

        Reply
    2. L

      July 27, 2022 at 12:39 pm

      5 stars
      such a simple way to make a burger!

      Reply
    3. Amy

      July 27, 2022 at 12:40 pm

      5 stars
      I cannot believe how well the scored burger lines worked! Thank you so much for this tip which made delish burgers!!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        July 27, 2022 at 12:52 pm

        Yay, I'm glad that it worked for you! Thank you for your kind review, Amy!

        Reply
    4. Claudia Lamascolo

      July 27, 2022 at 12:43 pm

      5 stars
      Very good flavors and we loved them will make them again

      Reply
      • Janessa

        July 27, 2022 at 12:52 pm

        I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe, Claudia!

        Reply
    5. Tayler Ross

      July 27, 2022 at 2:21 pm

      5 stars
      There's just no beating a classic burger, and this recipe takes the cake! I've used it several times and it always turns out perfectly!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        July 27, 2022 at 2:41 pm

        Thank you for your kind review, Tayler! I'm glad you enjoy this recipe.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Janessa

    Hi, I'm Janessa and I'm passionate about sharing recipes that are made with wholesome ingredients, are quick and easy and most importantly, delicious!

    More about me →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Site Policies and Disclaimer
    • Blogging Resources

    Web Stories

    • Check out my Web Stories!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Instagram
    • Subscribe!

    Copyright © 2020-2023 The Nessy Kitchen

    Content shared on The Nessy Kitchen is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or health advice. Before acting on any information presented here, please consult with a qualified health care professional.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT