Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

Cast Iron Skillet Burgers is the most flavorful and easiest way to make homemade burgers right on the stove. Pan fried hamburgers come together quickly, only take a few minutes to make in a cast iron pan, and using cast iron creates a delicious crispy outside that is a tastebud treat with every bite. 

Cast Iron Burgers

If you want to learn how to cook burgers on a cast iron skillet, you have come to the right place. Cooking homemade hamburgers in a cast iron skillet is one of the simplest ways to get restaurant quality burgers at home. The flavors you get from cooking beef in a cast iron skillet are just simply amazing.

Traditionally our instinct might be that the best burgers can only be made on the grill over an open flame, but this homemade burger recipe is here to challenge that theory. Cooking with cast iron is so simple and works perfectly for making the most delicious, perfectly cooked hamburgers. 

This hamburger recipe is cooked and ready in just 15 minutes, no need to wait for the grill to heat up. Cast Iron distributes the heat evenly, ensuring for perfect cooked hamburgers every time!

Recommended Equipment

• 12 inch cast iron skillet
• Fish Spatula– any spatula will work, I just like how big and wide a fish spatula is.

How to Cook Burgers on Cast Iron

This recipe for homemade burgers is our family’s favorite way to make burgers at home. Let’s walk through how to make them:

1. Get the Best Beef for Burgers– to make these burgers at home start with quality ground beef, ground chuck, or ground sirloin. Make sure the meat is at least 20% fat to ensure that the burgers will get a delicious, crispy bark on the outside while cooking and to help the burgers stay moist. Nobody likes a dried out hamburger. 
2. Season and Form the Hamburgers– combine the beef with Worcestershire sauce. Measure out equal amounts of beef and form into patties. We usually shoot for 3.5-4 oz per person, a kitchen scale can really come in handy with this recipe. Season both sides of the patties with salt and pepper.

3. Heat the Cast Iron Skillet– place the cast iron on the stove over medium high heat for 3-4 minutes before placing the patties into the pan. Don’t add more oil to the skillet unless you need to, if your pan is not well seasoned. There should be enough grease from the fat in the hamburger to coat the pan.
4. How Long to Cook Burgers on Stove– Cook the hamburgers in the cast iron skillet for 4 minutes on each side, turning only once. This is for burgers cooked to medium, if you want them well done, cook for a minute longer on each side. To check for accurate doneness, you can use an instant read thermometer like the Thermapen ONE. 

5. Allow the Burgers to Rest– set the burgers on a clean plate or parchment lined baking sheet for 3-5 minutes before devouring. This will allow the juice to redistribute and then they won’t be dripping down your arm while you are eating, unless that is what you are going for. 

Tips for Cooking Cast Iron Skillet Hamburgers

Ready to make the best homemade burgers of your life? Here are some tips to help you make that happen every time

• Start with quality beef. Look for high grade ground beef, ground chuck, or ground sirloin. Make sure it is at least 20% fat. If you don’t see ground chuck or sirloin on the butcher shelf, have a chat with your butcher, they can usually make some for you. 
• Make sure your cast iron is well seasoned. Look for rust spots or spots that need more oil. If your cast iron needs a bit of oil before cooking, add a teaspoon of vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil to the pan and spread it thinly to coat the bottom of the pan.
• Preheat the pan before adding the prepared burgers to the pan. This will sear the beef, locking in a ton of flavor. 
• Season the hamburgers. Season well with salt and pepper, when you think you’ve added enough, add just a little bit more! 

What to serve with Homemade Burgers

Looking for simple sides to go with your burgers? These are some of our fam favorites:

• Homemade Coleslaw
• Oven Roasted Potatoes
• Baked Beans with Bacon
• Greek Garden Salad

Other Cast Iron Recipes to Try:

Cast Iron Skillet Burgers is the most flavorful and easiest way to make homemade burgers. Cast Iron Burgers come together quick, only take a few minutes to make in a cast iron pan and using cast iron creates a delicious crispy outside that is a tastebud treat with every bite.