Burgers occupy an interesting space in the cultural landscape. On the one hand, they're one of the most ubiquitous and beloved foods. Certainly in America, where they're practically the national dish, you can find burgers on just about any restaurant menu from fast food to gourmet dining. Travel the globe, it's still a pretty safe bet you can find a burger somewhere since they're so widely enjoyed.
On the other hand, nobody can agree about how to prepare the best burger:
- Rare, medium-well, cooked through?
- Skip the meat and opt for a veggie patty instead?
- American cheese, Swiss, cheddar, pepper jack? No cheese at all?
- Bun or lettuce wrap?
- Ketchup and mustard? BBQ sauce? Aioli?
- Loaded with veggies or nah?
And don't even get us started on the best sides!
Whatever your preferences, the best burgers require the right ingredients, proper cooking technique, and the most delicious condiments. Here's what you need to know.
Great Burgers Start with Great Ingredients
The secret to cooking exceptional burgers—or any dish, for that matter—is to start with outstanding ingredients. In reality, that means choosing the best we can afford. For burgers, the top of the line is grass-fed beef or bison, or poultry sustainably raised without added hormones if you can swing it.
For the perfect hamburger patty that is seared crisp on the outside and stays juicy on the inside, don't shy away from fat. 80/20 ground beef is our top choice. Leaner works too, but your burgers will tend to be a little dryer. They can still be scrumptious, though, if you properly season the meat and add the right condiments. DIYers can grind their own blends to customize the ratio of lean meat to fat they like best. Chuck steak, sirloin or tri tip, brisket, or boneless short rib all make delicious ground beef. You can even add organ meats for nutrients or bacon for a smoky-salty flourish.
How to Cook Burgers to Perfection
First things first, size matters. The thicker the patty, the more likely the middle is to stay rare. Thinner patties cooked on high heat are better for the smash burger style. Ultimately, the "right" way comes down to personal preference. Making your patties ½ - ¾ inch thick is a good middle ground. And don't forget to account for shrinkage! If serving on a bun, you want the patties to be slightly bigger than the bun before cooking.
Whatever you choose, season the patties with plenty of salt and pepper. Add other spices like garlic powder, ground cumin, ground mustard, smoked paprika, or your favorite blend if you're feeling feisty.
Now you're ready to get cooking. While we do love the smoky flavor a charcoal grill can impart, cooking burgers over high heat in a cast iron skillet or on a flat top griddle creates that contrasting crusty exterior and tender interior that makes a burger craveworthy.
Follow these simple steps to cook the perfect burger:
- Season well.
- Heat a cast iron pan over high heat until it starts to smoke slightly. Add a couple of teaspoons of avocado oil or other fat and place the burgers in the pan. Once the burgers touch the pan, don’t move them around until it’s time to flip them. You want to give the burgers time to develop a crust.
- Cook for about 3 minutes on the first side. Flip the patties over with a spatula and cook for another 3 to 8 minutes on the other side.
Quick guide to approximate cooking times (these assume your patty is about ¾ inch thick):
- 6 minutes total = rare
- 7 minutes total = medium rare
- 8 minutes total = medium
- 9 minutes total = medium well
- 10-11 minutes total = well done
If you’re making cheeseburgers, add the sliced, grated, or crumbled cheese 1-2 minutes before removing the burger from the heat. To get that restaurant-quality melt, you need a lid or other heat-safe cover that fits over the burger. Add a teaspoon or two of water to the pan and quickly cover to create steam, which will melt the cheese more evenly.
Our Best Burger Recipes
No judgement if you like to keep things simple with just meat and a bun, but we're in the business of flavor. So as you might expect, we like to jazz up our burgers with toppings and sauces that please the palette. These are some of our favorite takes on the humble hamburger (which are just as great with a turkey burger, chicken burger, or veggie patty).
Classic Burger
It doesn’t get more homespun Americana than topping charbroiled burgers with ketchup and mustard, plus a leaf or two of cool iceberg lettuce and a slice of tomato. For a slight twist, the jalapeño kick of Primal Kitchen Spicy Organic Unsweetened Ketchup spices things up nicely.
Island Burger
Pineapple and teriyaki sauce turn a basic burger into a taste of the tropics. Enhance this sweet-and-salty combo by brushing the pineapple with teriyaki before charring on a hot grill. Finish by drizzling your burger with Primal Kitchen Polynesian Dipping Sauce for even more island flavor with 60% less sugar than the leading Polynesian Sauce.
Rancher Burger
This variation gives hearty comfort food vibes with grilled or sautéed onions and mushrooms piled high on your burger patty and topped with a generous helping of Primal Kitchen Organic Steak Sauce. Now you’ve got yourself a home-on-the-range meal worthy of a cattle rancher.
Vampire Slayer
Start with a bulb of roasted garlic. (Pro tip: Roasting garlic is easy in the oven, slow cooker, or air fryer. If you love garlic, make this part of your regular meal prep routine and keep it in the fridge to toss into your favorite recipes.) Squeeze a couple cloves onto your bun or lettuce wrap and mash with a fork. Add a good dollop of Primal Kitchen Garlic Aioli, then your burger patty, and finish with a handful of peppery arugula.
Southwest Burger
For the foodies who crave feisty flavor, there's no tastier combo than a burger with roasted poblano peppers, pepper jack cheese, avocado, and Primal Kitchen Chipotle Lime Mayo.
Smashing Sides
What's a burger without the sides? Try one of these:
- Double Fried French Fries
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Crispy Parsnip Fries
-
Avocado Fries
- Secret Menu Fries
- Mexican Street Corn Salad (Esquites)
- Fried Guacamole Fritters
- Ranch Pasta Salad
