Baking is one of the simplest ways to prepare a hamburger; it is significantly easier than alternatives like frying and even grilling. Of course, you need to ensure that you get the baking temperature right.
So, what temperature to bake burgers at? After adding the pre-seasoned ground beef inside the pan, you should bake the burger at around 400 degrees Fahrenheit, for around 15-20 minutes.
The reason we mention using ground beef is that it is extremely convenient, affordable, and versatile.
Baking Burgers – Required Ingredients:
Like we mentioned, it is pretty easy and simple to bake burgers, and one of the main reasons behind this ease is the small number of ingredients involved. Below is a general overview about the things you will need:
Ground Beef:
We recommend going with a lean, 85/15 variety. Going leaner than that will not help with this recipe (a 90/10, for instance, will turn out terribly dry).
Black Pepper and Kosher Salt:
If you are going for fine salt, you will want to restrict the amount that you use. If you go even slightly overboard with fine salt, you could end up making your burger excessively salty.
Sliced Cheddar:
We recommend going with sharp (or even extra-sharp, if you want) cheddar, in order to maximize flavor. Swiss and provolone cheese can also work well with this recipe.
Spices:
Chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder will work nicely. Please ensure that you are only using fresh spices –even a single stale spice can end up ruining the whole dish.
Instructions:
Once again, cooking burgers in the oven is delightfully easy. You will not need to convert the meat into patty, nor will you have to monitor the burgers as you would have had to with grilling or frying. Also, once you are done cooking, you will not have to worry about wiping out any splatters of grease.
So, below is the list of the primary steps involved in preparing a baked burger:
Step 1:
Combine the spices with the grounded beef. Make sure that the spices are spread evenly throughout your beef mixture. At the same time, you want to avoid overworking the mixture. There is a fine line between the two – that is for sure.
Step 2:
Once the beef and spices have been combined, gently press your beef mixture into an 8-inch, square, glass pan. Greasing the pan will not be required with this method.
Step 3:
Bake until the mixture has been cooked adequately. With a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven, this should take around 15 to 20 minutes. Drain carefully.
Step 4:
Use the cheese slices to top this cooked meat. Once done, put the pan back inside the oven and continue baking until the cheese has completely melted. This should take around two to three minutes.
Step 5:
Once done, wait for around five minutes, after which, you can cut the dish into four equal squares, and serve.
Substitutions and Variations:
The recipe, as it has been given, produces excellent results. However, if you want to play around a bit, below are a few things that you can try:
- You can make changes to the spices. Thyme would be a good substitute, and you can also go for a bit of cumin.
- Just like spices, you can also experiment with different types of cheeses. Pretty much any cheese, as long as it is adequately melt-able, will work well. You can try out gruyere, Swiss, or even brie cheese.
Serving Suggestions:
If you want to complement your baked burgers with something, you can pretty much go for anything that you would have served with regular burgers. A few recommendations are:
- Red, pickledonions
- Grilled broccolini
- Jicama fries
How to Store the Leftovers?
You can put the leftovers in a sealed container, and store them in your fridge, for around three or four days. If you want to eat them later, you can simply reheat the burgers in the microwave, at around 50% of the total power.
The truth, though, is that these burgers are at their best when they are cold. You can couple a baked burger with fresh-cut veggies, Dijon mustard, and even a few pickles. It is one of the most convenient and desirable lunch options.
Is a Baked Hamburger Good?
Yes, a baked hamburger is certainly good. The only problem is that the meat in baked hamburgers is slightly drier, compared to grilled or fried hamburgers. This is because the baking process tends to lower the quantity of juices present in the meat.
Having said that, baked burgers are still incredibly delicious, and we are pretty confident that you and your family will love them. The main advantage of baked burgers, like we have repeatedly asserted, is that they are extremely quick and easy to prepare.
Will I Need to Flip Burgers?
No, you will not have to flip your burgers while they are in the oven. Once you have seasoned the meat, all you need to do is press it inside the pan, and keep baking until it has been cooked.
How long do Hamburgers take to Cook in a 400-degree Oven?
Generally, it takes around 15 to 20 minutes. If you want to be certain that the meat has been adequately cooked, we recommend using an instant-read thermometer.
You should target an internal temperature of 150 to 155 degrees Fahrenheit. Once you put the meat back in the oven to melt the cheese, the desired temperature should go up around 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Final Word:
To sum up, when it comes to burgers, baking is a lot more convenient, quicker, and affordable compared to options like grilling or frying. Not only is the actual process a lot more straightforward, but the number of required ingredients, too, are considerably smaller – not to mention that you are likely to already have many of the required ingredients in your kitchen.
To learn more about burgers and the different ways to cook them, please feel free to check out some of the other blogs on our website.
