How to Cook the Burgers on the Stove

Name: How to Cook the Burgers on the Stove
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
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

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

Yield 4 servings

Test Kitchen Approved

The secret to perfect stovetop burgers is poking a hole through the middle of the burger patty so it cooks evenly, inside and out. Here's how to cook burgers on the stove (including 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

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.
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.
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