The secret ingredient for the best burger recipe will change the way you grill burgers at home. This secret ingredient will give you the most flavorful, juicy burger you will ever make.
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For an ideal summer day outdoors, keep the grill hot to cook my southwest burger or if a salad is more your style, you will love this Big Mac salad. Wash it all down with a classic frozen margarita.
This is my husband JJ's famous burger recipe. The classic burger recipe made me (and my friends) fall in love with him. When our friends visit, their number one request is for JJ to grill these juicy burgers. They are seriously the best homemade burgers!
I can't blame them because this is the best homemade hamburger recipe I've ever had. Of course, they are made with love and grilled to perfection, but there is a secret ingredient that makes these burgers stand out.
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Why You Will Love this Recipe
- Classic burger - no fancy stuff here, it's the traditional flavor we all know and love. For another dinnertime classic, whip up our cheesy sloppy joes.
- Simple ingredients - this recipe uses just a few ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
- Easy recipe - simply mix the ingredients in a bowl, form hamburger patties, and grill.
- Quick - ready in under 30 minutes!
Burger Ingredients
- Ground Beef: we like to use 80/20 (80% lean, 20% fat) because I think it is the ideal lean-to-fat ratio for the best burgers.
- Egg yolks
- Seasonings: salt, black pepper, smoked paprika
- Minced garlic: or garlic powder
- Hamburger buns: I like to use brioche buns for a buttery sweet flavor.
- Toppings: lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled white onion or red onion, cheese, etc.
- The Secret Ingredient... (drumroll, please): brown sugar!
How to Make the Best Burger
Get ready to dig in to the perfect burger. Trust me, you will want to make these grilled hamburgers all summer long. Here's how to make our juicy burger recipe:
Step 1: Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl until well combined.
Step 2: Form the meat mixture into hamburger patties. One pound of meat will make 3-4 ground beef patties. We like thick patties, so we usually get 3 burgers out of one pound.
Step 3: Preheat an outdoor grill or cast iron griddle to approximately 400°F. Place ground beef patties on the grill and cook covered on medium-high heat. Flip burgers and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side depending on the thickness.
The internal temperature of the burger should reach 160°F. Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
Step 4: To make a cheeseburger, add a slice of cheese to the burger patty in the last minute of cooking. Cover the grill to help it melt. Toast buns at this time as well.
Step 5: Assemble the hamburger with your favorite burger toppings, such as: a slice of tomato, cheddar cheese, lettuce, pickles, mustard, ketchup, and/or mayo. For an added kick, spread our spicy mayo sauce on the toasted bun.
What to Serve with Burgers?
Traditionally, French fries are served with burgers. For a healthier option, serve burgers with air fryer sweet potatoes or green beans. For more burger side dish ideas, look through our favorite air fryer side dishes and best side dishes for sandwiches.
Pro Tips
- Keep the ground beef cold. If the meat has warmed to room temperature after you form the hamburger patties, chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Doing this will help the burger patties stick together while grilling.
- Salt can affect the meat by drawing out moisture, so if you don't plan to cook the patties right away, wait to salt them until right before cooking.
- For perfectly juicy burgers, let them rest for 5 minutes after cooking.
FAQs
When grilling burgers, it's best to use 80/20 ground beef chuck. This means the meat is 80% lean and 20% fat. This is the ideal lean to fat ratio for grilled burgers.
One pound of ground beef will make 4 burger patties. If you like larger burgers, make 3 patties out of 1 pound.
Yes, ground beef may still be pink after it has been safely cooked. Just make sure it has been cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F.
Storage
Once the patty has come to room temperature, wrap it in plastic wrap or put in an airtight container to store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Leftover patties freeze well! To freeze burger patties, place them in a freezer safe container. Freeze for up to 4 months. If frozen, allow patty to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat the patty on a microwave safe plate for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Leftover burger toppings can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Hungry for More?
If you try this recipe or any recipe from Happy Honey Kitchen, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! Enjoy!
Best Burger Recipe (Secret Ingredient!)
Save this Recipe!
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- hamburger buns
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix well. Using your hands, mix ingredients together until well combined. Form ground beef mixture into 3 to 4 round patties.
- Preheat the grill to approximately 400°F. Place burgers on the grill and cook covered on medium high heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side depending on thickness of the patty. The internal temperature of the burger should reach 160°F.
- If making a cheeseburger, add a slice of cheese to the patty in the last minute of grilling. You can also toast the hamburger buns in the last minute of grilling. Let burgers rest for 5 minutes before assembling.
Notes
- Optional toppings: lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onion, etc.
- You can substitute ½ teaspoon garlic powder in place of fresh garlic.
- One of the keys to keeping the patties together is to keep the ground beef cold. If the meat is room temperature after you mix and form the patties, let the patties sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. Doing this will help the patties stick together when you are cooking or grilling them.
- For thin burger patties you may want to leave the grill lid open while cooking.
Morgan
Whoa. These are stellar. We have an allergy here to paprika so I substituted 1/2 tsp ancho chili powder. I would probably add more next time bc it wasn't spicy. These are just amazing.
I will say, I cooked them in a skillet and smoked up the kitchen bc the sugar burned. I'm trying to find a way to cook them on the stove instead of the grill. Will likely be able to do it on a lower temp.
Angela Lietzke
I'm happy you enjoyed these burgers - they are a favorite in our home! Ancho chili powder is a great substitute. I've only cooked these burgers on the grill, so keep me updated on how cooking them in the oven goes. Enjoy!
JJ
Wow! I love this recipe, so tasty and my guests are always asking for more!
Lorena
Making these asap!! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Ryne Menard
I’m one of the friends! These burgers were so good that the first bite shocked me! After the first bite, I literally stared at the burger wondering why this burger was so good! My favorite!
Addie
I’m a huge burger lover so I’m so happy to have found this recipe! So juicy!
Rob
Love the brown sugar and spice additions to these burgers. Can't wait to try them!
Kristina
I never thought about putting brown sugar in a burger! I can't wait to try it out. Thanks!
Megan
Well, I never would have thought to use brown sugar in the burger. I love the addition of paprika too!