Stovetop Burgers

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 25 min.
Yield 4 servings
Test Kitchen Approved
The secret to cooking burgers on the stove is poking a hole through the patties. Here's why, plus how long to cook burgers for perfect doneness.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 pounds ground beef
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
  • 4 hamburger buns, split
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Optional: Cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard

Directions

  1. Shape beef into four 1-in.-thick patties. Using your thumb, press a 1/2-in. hole in center of each patty. Refrigerate patties until cooking.
  2. Meanwhile, spread 2 tablespoons butter over cut sides of buns. In a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, toast buns, cut sides down, in batches; remove to serving plates. Wipe skillet clean. Sprinkle chilled patties with salt.
  3. In the same skillet, melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add chilled, seasoned patties. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°, turning once. Serve on toasted buns with toppings as desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 burger: 472 calories, 28g fat (13g saturated fat), 116mg cholesterol, 849mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 31g protein.

You don't need a grill to create these juicy, tender burgers. This recipe uses the stovetop to create restaurant-quality burgers that just might be the best you've ever had! —Lindsay Mattison, Hillsboro, Oregon
Recipe Creator

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