Juicy Broiled Burgers Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
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Updated Jun. 14, 2021
A juicy broiled burger with lettuce, tomato, cheese

Serious Eats / Andrew Janjigian

When forming large (6 ounce or larger) patties for the broiler, form the patties wider than you'd like them to be, and create a small dimple in the center by pressing down with your fingers.

Recipe Details

Juicy Broiled Burgers Recipe

Prep 10 mins
Cook 10 mins
Total 20 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 28 ounces freshly ground beef (preferably the Blue Label Burger Blend; ground chuck will do)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 4 slices cheese (I recommend American or cheddar)

  • 4 soft hamburger buns, lightly toasted

  • Toppings and condiments as desired

Directions

  1. Preheat broiler to high. Divide meat into four equal 7-ounce portions and gently shape each one into a patty 4.5-inches wide by approximately 3/4-inch thick. Place on flat surface and create a dimple in the center of the patty by pushing down with three or four fingers. The dimple should be about 1/4 of an inch deep and 3 inches across. Season generously with salt and pepper.

    burger patties formed into discs with indents

    Andrew Janjigian

  2. Place patties on foil-lined broiler pan and position so that tops of patties are 2 1/2 to 3 inches below the broiler elements or flame. Broil for 3 minutes until top is well-browned and begging to char. Flip patties and continue to broil until center reads 130 degrees on an instant read thermometer for medium-rare, about 3 minutes longer. Adjust cooking time if you want them more or less cooked.

    burgers on a baking sheet under the broiler

    Andrew Janjigian

  3. Top each patty with a slice of cheese, place back under broiler for 25 seconds to melt, place on buns, top as desired, and serve.

    broiled burgers topped with cheese

    Andrew Janjigian
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
804 Calories
45g Fat
32g Carbs
63g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 804
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 45g 58%
Saturated Fat 17g 84%
Cholesterol 195mg 65%
Sodium 1189mg 52%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 63g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 445mg 34%
Iron 8mg 43%
Potassium 909mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)