A baked hamburger with lettuce, tomato, red onion, cheddar cheese, and guacamole on a sesame seed bun, served alongside crinkle-cut potato chips and a bottle of Tabasco sauce.

Why you’ll love this baked hamburgers recipe 

The big game is right around the corner, and I’m dying to know what everyone is planning to eat. I could care less who’s playing. It’s all about the food for me. We all know there will be snacks, but when I’m hosting I always try to serve something filling – and these perfectly cooked burgers are my go-to choice.

This recipe makes 12 burgers, which makes it perfect for hosting, and you can cook them in the oven, which means you won’t miss any of the game and there won’t be any running out to the grill in the snow.

The key is cooking them in the oven is cooling rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. This lets the air circulate all the way around each patty so they cook evenly while allowing the grease to drip below, just like a grill.

More game day favorites: dairy free potato skins / quick & easy beer chili / fried onion strings

uncooked hamburgers on a cookie sheet with a cooling rack fitted inside
baked hamburgers on a cookie sheet with a cooling rack fitted inside

Ingredient notes:

  • Ground chuck (80/20) – The fat content here matters. 80/20 keeps the burgers juicy as they bake. Anything fattier might cause a buildup of grease.
  • Granulated garlic – I find it easiest to just use granulated or garlic powder to make burgers, but you can use fresh minced garlic if you want.
  • Mustard – I always add a little bit to my burgers. It adds a subtle tang and helps bind the patties.
  • Hot sauce – This is totally optional, but it adds a nice kick without making the burgers really spicy.

Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.

A close-up of two baked hamburgers with sesame seed buns, cheddar cheese, tomato slices, red onion, and guacamole, served on a white plate with potato chips nearby. Bottles of hot sauce and a bowl of guacamole are in the background.

Melissa’s tips & tricks

  1. Make sure your rack is oven safe. Not all cooling racks are safe to put in the oven. If your rack has a non-stick coating, make sure it’s safe to use in the oven (not all of them are) or opt for a stainless steel or aluminum rack instead.
  2. Weigh your patties. Use a kitchen scale to make sure your patties are the same size for even cooking. You want each patty to be 4 ounces or ¼ pound.
  3. Use a meat thermometer. The easiest way to check for doneness is to use a thermometer. 155˚F–160˚F is medium. 165˚-170˚F will be well done.
  4. How to serve: I like to create an assemble your own bar so my guests can choose their own toppings – starting with burgers and buns on one side, leading through the different toppings and, on the other end, condiments and napkins.
Three baked hamburgers on a white plate, each topped with tomato slices, red onion, cheddar cheese, and one with a bun and green spread. Potato chips and condiments are visible in the background.

Frequently asked questions

Can you cook burgers in the oven?

Yes — and they turn out great. Baking at a high temperature (425˚F) gives you a nicely browned, juicy patty without any flipping required. The rack setup is the key to making it work.

What temperature should baked hamburgers reach?

For medium, take the burgers out of the oven when the center reaches 155˚F–160˚F. This should take about 15 minutes. For well done, the center should be 165˚F, so you’ll need to add a few minutes of cook time – about 5 more minutes.

Can I make these ahead of time?

The patties can be formed and refrigerated up to 24 hours before baking — just keep them covered and separate with pieces of parchment paper if you need to stack them.

More beef recipes: shredded beef tacos / grilled beef satay / bolognese sauce / Guinness braised beef / Greek meatballs / diner style cheeseburgers

4.58 from 33 votes

Baked Hamburgers

By: Melissa Belanger
Don’t worry about grilling this winter. This simple, baked hamburgers recipe is perfect for a crowd and the patties are cooked in the oven at 425˚ for juicy, flavorful burgers that are ready for your favorite toppings.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12 burgers
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Ingredients 

For the burgers:

  • 3 pounds lean ground beef, 80/20
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic, or garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 – 2 teaspoons hot sauce, such as Tabasco
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 425˚F and place an oven-safe cooling rack into a cookie sheet. This allows the air to circulate under the patties, and lets them cook more evenly.
  • Make your burger patties. Mix the ground beef with the yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, granulated garlic, hot sauce and salt & pepper until evenly combined.
    Then, divide and shape into quarter pound burger patties.
  • Bake your burgers. Place the patties onto the rack and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 155˚F – 160˚F for medium or 165˚F – 170˚F for well done.* Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
    If you want to add cheese, do this with about 2 minutes left in cooking time to give it time to melt.
    Remove burgers from oven and allow them to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcal, Carbohydrates: 0.4g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 23g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 305mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 0.1g, Vitamin C: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

More things to cook in the oven: how to broil steak in the oven / crispy baked chicken wings / baked chicken fajitas / baked scallops / baked chicken kabobs

Hi! I'm Melissa.

I create easy, dairy free recipes because I know how hard living without milk can be. I believe you can live a completely satisfying life without dairy, and I want to teach you how.

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4.58 from 33 votes

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Recipe Rating




93 Comments

  1. Lee says:

    Doesn’t this make a mess in oven? Splatter from grease?

    1. Melissa Belanger says:

      If you use lean beef for your burgers, it shouldn’t be too bad, but that’s why I use the cookie sheet underneath. If you use fattier meat, then you might have a little more of a mess.

  2. Ana G says:

    5 stars
    I used this recipe tonight. The burgers were delicious. I left them in the oven for 20 minutes.

  3. Camila says:

    Delicioso. Awesome recipe. Thanks for sharing these Baked Hamburgers, this one is so amazing. I’m feeling hungry now.

  4. Jackie Brown says:

    I would love to know if you have directions for making these in the air fryer.

    1. Melissa Belanger says:

      I have not tried making these in the air fryer. Let me know if you try it out!

  5. Brandy says:

    5 stars
    Burgers came out great, I had to forgo the cheese since I ran out of my vegan cheese. My kids practically cleared the platter once it hit the table. This also made it so easy to cook a bunch of patties at once since it is too cold to cook them on the grill.

  6. Jasonj says:

    4 stars
    good stuff

  7. M K Singh says:

    Burgers came out great, I had to forgo the cheese since I ran out of my vegan cheese. My kids practically cleared the platter once it hit the table. This also made it so easy to cook a bunch of patties at once since it is too cold to cook them on the grill.

  8. Dave says:

    5 stars
    A simple recipe, and the burgers turned out great! Placed cheese during the last 2 minutes and they turned out perfectly. Thanks!

  9. Lisa says:

    5 stars
    I used 1 1/4 lbs lean ground beef for 4 burgers. 425° for 18-20 minutes. Right at 160°. Turned the oven off and let sit 5 minutes, placing a slice of cheddar on the last couple minutes. Would love to grill on charcoal but my apartment complex doesn’t allow. This will be my new go to for burgers.

  10. Kristy says:

    People amaze me with there comments.. Anyway, the burgers turned out great!! Thanks 😊