Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

Name: Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 17 min
Total time: 22 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs 85% ground beef; 2 tsp seasoning salt; 4 tbsp butter; 4 slices cheddar cheese; 4 hamburger buns; Toppings of choice

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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.

Branded image of Cast Iron Skillet burgers in a bun with lettuce, onion and tomato; fries plated as well.

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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

Labeled ingredients for making the burgers: Buns, ground beef, butter, season salt, cheddar cheese and then potential condiments like lettuce, onion, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and mayo.

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

Ground beef on a kitchen scale registering 8 oz or a half pound. — **Step 1**

Ground beef in a glass bowl with season salt sprinkled over it. — **Step 1**

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.

Butter melting in a cast iron skillet. — **Step 4**

Two half pound patties placed in a cast iron skillet to sear. — **Step 4**

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.

A slice of cheddar cheese placed atop a burger in a cast iron skillet. — **Step 7**

Two hamburger patties with melted cheddar cheese in a cast iron skillet. — **Step 7**

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.

Two cheeseburgers in a bun with lettuce, onion, and tomato with french fries between them.

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.

Cheeseburger in a bun with lettuce, tomato, and red onion sitting next to french fries.

Recipe FAQs

Do I have to cook these in the oven?

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.

Can I make these smaller?

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.

Do I have to use cheddar cheese?

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.

Can I use oil instead of butter?

Yes, use a high heat cooking oil in place of the butter.

Branded image of cast iron skillet burgers with melted cheese and the top bun askew to show the patty.

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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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!

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5 from 27 votes