How to Cook Burgers in the Oven

 Cooking burgers in the oven is a great way to make juicy, delicious burgers without needing a grill or stovetop. It’s a simple process and allows you to cook multiple burgers at once. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Ingredients:

Ground beef (preferably 80/20 for juiciness), about 1/2 pound per burger

Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, etc.

Burger buns and toppings (cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Prepare the Burger Patties:

Take the ground beef and form it into patties. Make each patty about 1/2-inch thick, slightly larger than your burger buns to account for shrinkage during cooking.

Season both sides of each patty generously with salt, pepper, and any additional seasonings you like (garlic powder, onion powder, etc.).

3. Line a Baking Sheet:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil to make cleanup easier.

If you want crispy edges, you can place a cooling rack on top of the baking sheet, which allows air to circulate around the patties.

4. Bake the Burgers:

Place the patties on the prepared baking sheet (or cooling rack if using) in a single layer.

Bake the patties in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes for medium doneness. For rare, bake for about 8 minutes, and for well-done, bake for 14-15 minutes. Keep in mind that the burgers will continue to cook a bit after being removed from the oven.

5. Add Cheese (Optional):

If you're adding cheese, place a slice of cheese on each patty during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Return the burgers to the oven for those last 2 minutes to melt the cheese.

6. Check for Doneness:

To ensure the burgers are cooked to your preferred level of doneness, you can use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be:

Medium-rare: 130°F (54°C)

Medium: 140°F (60°C)

Medium-well: 150°F (66°C)

Well-done: 160°F (71°C)

7. Rest the Burgers:

After removing the burgers from the oven, let them rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.

8. Serve:

Toast the burger buns in the oven for the last 2-3 minutes of the burger cooking time, if desired.

Assemble the burgers by placing the patties on the buns and adding your favorite toppings like lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and sauces.

Tips:

Use Ground Beef with Fat: For juicier burgers, opt for ground beef with about 20% fat (80/20). Leaner beef can result in dry burgers.

Don't Overwork the Meat: When forming the patties, avoid overworking the ground beef, as this can lead to tough burgers.

Make Burger Sliders: If you want smaller, slider-sized burgers, reduce the cooking time to 7-8 minutes.

Cooking burgers in the oven is an easy and effective way to get perfectly cooked, juicy burgers every time!