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:
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
No. You can cook them on the stove top and skip the oven. They'll take at least 4-5 minutes per side to reach 160°F. They'll also have a crispy crust too.
Sure! We were going for a massive burger, but quarter or third pound hamburgers are just as delicious. The smaller the burger size, adjust the cooking time per side and in the oven.
No! Use your favorite. American cheese is a classic choice for its melting properties, but any cheese you like will be delicious or simply omit cheese if you don't want a cheeseburger.
Yes, use a high heat cooking oil in place of the butter.
Our favorite tools to make Cast Iron Skillet Burgers!
BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning
Buy Now →Other Burger and Sandwich Recipes
If you tried these Cast Iron Skillet Burgers or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Get the Recipe
Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
Equipment
- 10" cast iron skillet 12" cast iron skillet will work too.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs 85% ground beef
- 2 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 4 hamburger buns
- Toppings of choice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and the skillet on the stove top over medium heat.
- Divide the ground beef into 4 ½ pound (8 ounce) portions.
- Season each portion with ½ teaspoon seasoning salt and form into patties.
- Melt butter in skillet.
- Add patties to skillet, 2 at a time.
- Cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side then flip and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Do not disturb the patties while cooking.
- Place the skillet (with the patties in it) in the oven and cook for 10 minutes or until they've reached the desired temperature (160°F).
- Turn off the oven and add the cheddar cheese slice to each patty and place it back in the warm oven to melt; about 2 minutes.
- Serve on bun with your favorite condiments.
Nutrition
Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Dina Miller
Oh my gosh these were amazing!
Ned Adams
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed them!
D
Look like great burgers!!!
Ned Adams
Thank you!!
Dannii
This was the perfect way to cook burgers. Thanks for all the great tips - I will always be cooking them this way from now on.
Tara
Oh wow! These burgers look absolutely fantastic. Definitely perfect for the season, especially since I dont have an outdoor grill.
Gianne
The burgers had a perfect sear and juicy interior that made every bite flavorful and satisfying. Cooking them in a cast iron skillet really brought out the rich, smoky taste, making it a new favorite in my household.
Jeff
Oh so good. I'm a big grilling fan but these are incredible. There's no going back.
Dannii
These burgers were epic. So juicy! 10/10.
Ieva
These were big and juicy, and absolutely scrumptious. We added some Worcestershire sauce as you suggested, and I have to admit, they were some of the best burgers we hade at home. Thanks for the recipe!
Charla
We love burgers so we are looking forward to making this on the weekend.
Elisa
Love this Cast Iron Skillet Burgers recipe, never made them in a cast iron skillet. Definitely will cook them like that next time. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Beth
This is the perfect way to have a delicious grilled hamburger without having to bundle up and shovel your way to the grill!
Jess
I'm drooling just by looking at the pictures!