This homemade beef burger recipe is so quick and simple to make, with just two ingredients. You won’t want to buy ready-made ever again!
We’ve had a couple of days of glorious warm weather up here in North Wales which got me thinking about barbecues. When it comes to barbecues as a family we’re quite traditional and tend to stick to sausages and burgers (actually I like all sorts of different things – ribs, chicken, kebabs… but I’m in a family of BBQ fussiness so I tend to stick to what everyone else wants!).
What are your favourite barbecue foods?
Ready for grilling
- Unlike some pre-prepared burgers, you know exactly what’s gone into the burger because you put it there. If you’re unsure about pre-prepared mince (I’m not, I’m very trusting, but I know some people are) you can always choose your beef at the butchers and ask them to mince it for you.
- You can change the size to suit who you’re cooking for. A whole burger is too big for my boys (who are two and four) so I make them thinner ones that are much more suitable.
- Sticking on the subject of children, when you make your own beef burgers you can add as little or as much salt as you like. When I’m making burgers at home, I’ll make little ones for the boys without any added salt, and then add seasoning and make the burgers for us.
- They contain just two simple ingredients (beef mince and salt) so they’re perfect for people on special diets such as gluten-free, wheat-free or egg-free which not all ready-made burgers are (although not so great for vegetarians or vegans!)
- Another great reason why it’s useful to know how to make your own burgers is that here in Wales we don’t get all that many days with perfect barbecue weather, so you tend to find that when that day happens everyone swarms to the supermarket and bulk buys all of the meat they can get their hands on. I’ve had several instances where I’ve turned up at the chiller only to discover that it’s already been cleared out by people with far better planning than me.
- If you can make your own there’s no problem!
How to make tasty homemade beef burgers
I’ve added the full recipe below. However here are a few tips…
- Keep it simple – There are lots of recipes out there that add all sorts to the burgers. In my opinion it’s just not necessary. I use just two simple ingredients – beef and a little salt. That said, once you can make a great basic burger than why not start having a play with flavourings, you can add all sorts of herbs and spices. I even sometimes go for a hidden cheesy centre!
- Don’t go too lean with your mince. In all my other recipes with beef mince I use extra lean so cut down on the fat. However, when you’re making something so simple a little extra fat tastes better.
- The better the mince the better the burger. These burgers are simple beef mince with a little salt to enhance the flavour. If you buy rubbish mince then there’s no disguising it with other ingredients.
- Don’t play around with it while it’s cooking. The more you play with it, the more of the juices will flow out and it’ll make your burger drier.
How do you know when your burgers are cooked
One worry I have when cooking burgers at home is making sure that they’re properly cooked. This has become especially important as I’m now feeding them to my little ones too.
In the past I’ve tended to go for the “I think they’re cooked so I’ll just leave them on for another 10 minutes and make sure they’re incinerated” approach. Whilst there’s little chance of getting food poisoning this way, it’s also not the best way to ensure you get a yummy burger.
According to the USDA, ground beef should be cooked to 160ºF (71ºC) to ensure it’s safe to eat. I’ve never owned a meat thermometer before so never bothered checking (hence the incineration method). However, my chocolate thermometer came in handy as when you remove the spatula attachment it’s perfect for sticking into meat to check if it’s done (I’ve tried it on roast chicken too). There are probably better meat specific thermometers out there, but it did the job so I was happy.
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Easy Homemade Beef Burgers
RECIPE VIDEO
INSTRUCTIONS
- Pre-heat your grill/barbeque
- Place the beef mince in a large bowl and break it up slightly with your hands.
- Season with salt (I use about ¼ tsp) and carefully mix it with your hands to ensure it is evenly spread – if you’re unsure you’ve added the right amount of seasoning then simply fry a little bit in a small pan to taste before carrying on.
- Divide the mince into 4 and roll each into a ball.
- Place the balls down on a work surface and pat them to make them flatter. Use your hands to push the sides in slightly so they make an even(ish) circle – you don’t need to completely squish them, they don’t need to be too tightly compacted, just enough to hold them together. If there’s any mince trying to escape, gently pinch it together with the burger.
- Place into the heated grill/barbeque and cook for 12-15 minutes until cooked through, turning halfway through the cooking time.
- Serve.
NOTES
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Any nutritional information provided is the estimated nutritional information per serving. Please refer to my guide to Charlotte’s Lively Kitchen nutritional information if you would like to learn more about how this is calculated.
Free From/Suitable For…
The ingredients I used to make this recipe are all free from the following allergens. However, please check any labels carefully for allergens you need to avoid as brands can vary and product recipes can change over time.
- Gluten-Free
- Egg-Free
- Dairy-Free
- Tree Nut-Free
- Peanut-Free
- Sesame-Free
- Soya-Free
- Sulphur Dioxide & Sulphite-Free
- Fish-Free
- Crustacean-Free
- Mollusc-Free
- Celery-Free
- Mustard-Free
- Lupin-Free
paul says
mince and salt is not a recipe
James Marsden says
That is precisely how the original hamburger was made by German migrants building the first railway across America, small patties of ground seasoned beef cooked in a frying pan over an open fire. The migrants where mostly from Hamburg hence the term Hamburger.
Pitt says
And beefburger ? Fried mince and salt is not a burger
Alexander says
Delicious and simple. Thanks for the recipe!
Kirsty says
Really easy and tasty. My husband prefers thicker burgers than I do, so making my own meant I could make them to suit each of us.
Allison says
Won’t they break up with an egg to bind them? If they don’t I will give them ago. Used egg in mine.
Charlotte Oates says
No, as long as you squeeze them together firmly then they should hold together just fine.
hashemfor says
Thanks so much Charlotte for the recipe, will definitely try it. It look very deliicious
plasterer bristol says
Yummy homemade burgers are the best and this is great recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Simon
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Simon, I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Yum Girl says
This recipe has been chosen to be part of our Burgers, Sliders, and Dogs Recipe Roundup – we hope you will help us spread the word by sharing, pinning, and tweeting! All links go directly to your recipes and we hope you get lots of traffic! Kelli and Holli at Yum Goggle
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks for featuring my burger, I had a look through and there’s a really yummy selection in there.
Fionnuala says
These look great. We started making our own burgers too a couple of years ago. You just can’t beat them for juciness and flavour.
Like you, I go with the flow. My husband and sons are not too adventurous when it comes to the BBQ but I love to try out different things – BBQ fish (salmon, sardines or whole trout) is one of my favourites. The BBQ gives the fish such a great flavour.
I totally agree with Renee about your post format. It is all so clear and user-friendly. Well done.
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Fionnuala. I have a gas BBQ, it’s so convenient but you don’t get the same smokey flavour as you get with a “proper” one. I’ve not tried fish on the BBQ before so I should definitely give it a go sometime.
Mike says
Burgers become more interesting now when outside temepratures are inviting us to go in nature and spend time with others.
A good smell can be the key here.
Charlotte Oates says
I thought the weather was warming up for BBQs and then we had frost this morning so it might have to wait a bit longer!
Mummy Tries says
I read this the other day on email and have been meaning to comment since. LOVE your post format Charlotte, they contain such helpful tips and your photos are just stunning these days.
I could eat this burger right now! It’s great that the recipe is so simple, the ultimate gluten free burger really, provided you are using quality mince you only need to add salt. Another brilliant post hon 🙂
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Renee, I’ve always looked up to you as a blogger so your lovely comment means a lot to me.
I’m not a natural cook. Sadly I can’t go into the kitchen and make something amazing with no planning (I’d be terrible at the Masterchef invention test!). It means that I end up making things over and over again until I’m happy to share them. The tips come from all the slightly not right versions that go into the right one. I hope that by sharing them people will avoid making the same mistakes I did!
I’m glad you like the pictures. Until I started the blog I was never really in to photography but it’s quickly turning into one of my favourite things to do.
Mummy Tries says
I’m really touched to hear you say that, thank you. I read this comment reply in the midst of another sickness bug and it cheered me right up!
It’s great that you’re sharing your inside knowledge to help others. Have you thought of turning you favourite recipes into a little e-book?
Charlotte Oates says
Another sickness bug! Your family aren’t having much luck this year. I hope it all clears up soon.
I know quite a few people make little e-cookbooks for their subscribers. I might think about doing that in future but I think I could do with a few more to choose from first.
Clare says
You can’t beat a homemade burger. These look delicious.
Charlotte Oates says
Thanks Clare. You’re right, it’s just a shame that the Welsh weather has gone back to it’s normal slightly miserable self so we can’t put any on the BBQ!