There’s something so satisfying about biting into a juicy, homemade burger, and these burger patties are hands-down some of the best I’ve made. They’re flavourful, moist, and come together in about 30 minutes, making them perfect for a weeknight dinner or a laid-back weekend meal.
While it’s easy to default to takeaway, I’ve found that making our own burgers and sweet potato fries at home is quicker than you’d think. It’s definitely quicker than going to pick up takeaways!
You can customise the flavours, use what you’ve got on hand, and skip the extra cost. Once you try this recipe, you might just ditch the drive-thru for good.
These burgers are always a hit in our house. I usually make a double batch so we’ve got leftovers for the next day, and no one ever complains. I can’t wait for you to try them.
Looking for more easy ground beef recipes? Try these homemade meatballs or this cheesy baked rigatoni.
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Ingredients & Substitutions
The printable recipe card below has the full ingredients list and instructions.
- Ground Beef: Any ground beef will work in this recipe!
- Egg: large free-range egg.
- Panko breadcrumbs: You can use normal breadcrumbs, but panko breadcrumbs are commonly used in Japanese cuisine and have a light texture and crunch. For gluten-free, use a gluten-free breadcrumb.
- Herbs: Any fresh or dried herbs you enjoy will work in these burger patties. I personally like adding thyme, parsley, oregano, and mint to these patties. If you want to swap the dried herbs for fresh, use 2 tablespoons.
- BBQ sauce: A smoky or hickory BBQ sauce packs these patties with flavour.
- Garlic salt: This adds extra flavour to the patties. If you don’t have any garlic salt, just use normal salt.
- Pepper
If you want to mix things up, there are plenty of tasty extras you can add to these homemade burger patties. Try a splash of Worcestershire sauce, a spoonful of mustard, or a pinch of chilli flakes for a bit of heat. Finely diced onion, fresh garlic, paprika, or even chopped jalapeños are all great ways to boost the flavour and keep things interesting.
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- Don’t overmix the meat. Mix just until everything is combined. Overworking the mixture can lead to dense, tough patties.
- Chill before cooking. Refrigerating the patties for 20–30 minutes helps them hold their shape and prevents them from falling apart in the pan or on the grill.
- Use high-quality beef. A mix with a bit of fat (around 15–20% fat content) gives you a juicier burger. Lean beef can make them dry.
- Press a small dimple in the centre. Gently pressing your thumb into the centre of each patty helps prevent it from puffing up in the middle while cooking.
How to Make Homemade Burger Patties
Step 1: Add the ground beef to a large mixing bowl and break it up gently with a fork.
Step 2: Add the egg, panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, BBQ sauce, and herbs to the bowl. Mix everything together with your hands or a fork until just combined. Don’t overmix, or the patties can become tough.
Step 3: Divide the mixture into 6 even portions. Roll each portion into a ball, then flatten it using a burger press or your hands until it’s about 1cm (½ inch) thick.
Step 4: Line a plate or tray with baking paper and place the patties on top. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 20 minutes to help them firm up before cooking.
Step 5: Heat a frying pan or grill over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked through. You can cook them longer if you prefer well-done.
Step 6: Let the patties rest for 10 minutes before assembling your burgers. This helps keep them juicy.
Step 7: Assemble your burgers and serve alongside air fryer sweet potato fries or, for a lighter option, air fryer parsnips or salad.
Burger Combinations To Try:
- Cheddar cheese, lettuce, red onion, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard.
- Baby spinach, caramelised red onion, sliced tomato, and mayonnaise.
- Melted Brie cheese, lettuce, red onion, tomato relish and mayonnaise.
Storage Instructions
Uncooked patties can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just keep them in an airtight container or wrap them well with cling film. I like to layer them with a bit of baking paper so they don’t stick together.
Cooked patties will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Let them cool completely first, then pop them into a container with a lid. You can reheat them in a frying pan, microwave, or oven until they’re warmed through.
To freeze them raw, place them flat on a tray lined with baking paper and freeze until solid. Then transfer to a container or zip-top bag, using baking paper between each one so they don’t stick. They’ll keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use them, defrost the patties in the fridge overnight before cooking as usual.
You can freeze cooked patties too. Let them cool completely, then wrap them individually or store with baking paper between each one. Reheat straight from frozen or thaw overnight for quicker cooking.
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review and comment below! I’d love to know what you enjoyed about it.
Homemade Burger Patty Recipe
Ingredients
- 500 g ground beef (1.1 lb)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano see notes
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme see notes
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt or plain salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add the ground beef to a large mixing bowl and break it up gently with a fork.
- Add the egg, panko breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, BBQ sauce, and herbs to the bowl. Mix everything together with your hands or a fork until just combined. Don’t overmix, or the patties can become tough.
- Divide the mixture into 6 even portions. Roll each portion into a ball, then flatten it using a burger press or your hands until it’s about 1cm (½ inch) thick.
- Line a plate or tray with baking paper and place the patties on top. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 20 minutes to help them firm up before cooking.
- Heat a frying pan or grill over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked through. You can cook them longer if you prefer well-done.
- Let the patties rest for 10 minutes before assembling your burgers. This helps keep them juicy.
- Assemble your burgers and serve alongside air fryer sweet potato fries or, for a lighter option, air fryer parsnips or salad.
Notes
- If you want to swap the dried herbs for fresh, use 2 tablespoons total of all fresh herbs. Chop them altogether.
What’s the recipe for the bun?
Hi Lillian, these buns are store-bought brioche. Thanks, Makyla