Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

Half-pound, restaurant quality, perfectly seasoned thick and juicy Cast Iron Skillet Burgers will be your go-to recipe.

There's no arguing if a burger cooked on a grill over an open flame is delicious or not. It is. But making burgers in a cast iron skillet is a game changer in flavor, just like it is for our steaks.

Jump to:

• Are burgers good in cast iron?
• Recipe ingredients
• Step by step directions
• Variations and Tips for Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
• Recipe FAQs
• Our favorite tools to make Cast Iron Skillet Burgers!
• Other Burger and Sandwich Recipes
• Get the Recipe

This post has been updated from its original February 22, 2018 publishing with new content, photography, and clarified recipe card.

Are burgers good in cast iron?

Good. Oh so very good.

Not everyone has a grill or if they do, want to stand in 6 feet of snow to grill a burger in the middle of winter. Cooking a burger in cast iron is the way to go. Heck, cooking in cast iron might be the BEST way to go.

Cooking the burger in cast iron retains all those flavorful juices that would otherwise be lost through the grates of the grill.

Recipe ingredients

• Ground beef — we used 85% lean ground beef. We also recommend a good quality meat for optimal flavor.
• Butter — the leaner the beef, the less renderings it will have and we want to get a nice crust on these burgers. We used salted butter.
• Seasoning Salt — simple and provides just the right amount of flavor.
• Cheddar cheese — because cheese makes things even better.
• Buns — pick sturdy hamburger buns for these bad boys. I know it's tempting to buy the $1 pack of buns but these thick and juicy burgers need a sturdy bun to handle them.
• Condiments — you do you. Ketchup, mustard, mayo, lettuce, onions, pickles, tomato...whatever suits.

Step by step directions

Step 1 — Preheat the oven to 350°F. Divide meat into 8 ounce portions.

Step 2 — Mix ½ teaspoon of seasoning salt into each of the meat portions. We chose to mix the seasoning in individually since we were making a small quantity and wanted each one to have the full seasoning. You can mix together first then divide into portions.

Step 3 — Form each portion into patties and press a thumb or finger into the center to create a small dent. They'll be nearly an inch thick.

Step 4 — Heat the cast iron skillet over medium heat and melt the butter.

Step 5 — Add patties to the hot skillet and leave undisturbed for 3-4 minutes.

Step 6 — After 4 minutes, flip and leave undisturbed for 3 minutes. Use a large cast iron skillet to cook them all at once (at least a 12"), but we like using a 10" for cast iron burgers and cooking two at a time so the pan isn't crowded. Cook burgers in the oven for 10 minutes.

Step 7 — Shut the oven off and place the cheese slices on each patty.

Step 8 — Let the cheese melt over the patties in the oven, about 2 minutes. Remove and allow to rest for a couple of minutes before serving. Serve with your favorite toppings.

Variations and Tips for Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

While we find these Cast Iron Skillet Burgers to be melt-in-your-mouth juicy, but playing with flavor is always fun.

• Salt and black pepper — skip the seasoning salt and use salt and pepper. Table, sea, or kosher salt will work.
• Worcestershire sauce — this will add extra layers of umami.
• Toppings — we went with basic traditional toppings, but get creative or simply use your favorites like crispy bacon, caramelized onions, or even bleu cheese crumbles.
• Hot pan — making sure the pan is hot before cooking is important for developing a crispy crust. You want to hear that sizzle when you place them in the iron skillet.

Recipe FAQs

Our favorite tools to make Cast Iron Skillet Burgers!

FINEX 10" Cast Iron Skillet

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BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

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Get the Recipe