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Juicy BBQ hamburgers loaded with homemade sauce, savory seasoning, and classic toppings - easy to make and perfect for family dinners or backyard cookouts! Ready in 15 minutes.
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It's no secret I'm a big fan of burgers, especially when they're cooked on the grill. Of all the burger recipes I've made over the years, this BBQ hamburger recipe has always been one of my favorites. If you love juicy burgers with tons of flavor, trust me - this one belongs at the top of your list too!
You really can't beat a perfectly cooked beef patty brushed with homemade BBQ sauce and seasoned just right. Add all the classic toppings - crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, red onion, and melted cheese - and you have a burger worth savoring. And if you really want to take it to the next level, try it with candied bacon. It's irresistible!
What's even better is how easy these BBQ burgers are to make. Fire up the grill or cook them in a grill pan on the stove - either way, they're quick, simple, and always delicious.
Ingredients in BBQ Hamburgers
| Ingredient | Notes & Substitutions |
|---|---|
| Ground Beef | I'm using an 80/20 mix of ground beef and recommend it, but feel free to use a leaner variety if you'd like. |
| Burger Seasoning | My homemade burger seasoning uses salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. You can use any seasoning you like, but this mix is perfect for burgers. |
| BBQ Sauce | I use my homemade BBQ sauce, which has brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, water, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, paprika, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, salt, pepper, and cayenne. You can make your own following my recipe or use your favorite bottled brand. |
| Hamburger Buns | Brioche buns are my favorite for burgers. Use your favorite bun! |
| American Cheese | Cheddar cheese is good on these burgers, too. |
| Lettuce | Butter lettuce or romaine are great choices for a burger. |
| Tomato | A plump, ripe tomato balances out the flavors of this burger very well. Use your favorite variety of tomatoes. |
| Red Onion | You could also use white or yellow onion, but I find red onion has the best flavor contrast with sweet BBQ sauce on burgers. Pickled onions and caramelized onions are great, too. |
| Pickles | I'm using regular sliced dill pickles. You could also use bread & butter pickles, if you'd like. |
| Cooked Bacon | My air fryer bacon works great, but candied bacon is amazing, too. |
How to Make BBQ Hamburgers
- If you make homemade BBQ sauce and seasoning, see the steps below.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Add ground beef to a large bowl, along with burger seasoning and BBQ sauce. Combine, but don't over-mix, or your burgers will be tough.
- Divide the meat mixture into four equal portions and shape each portion into a patty slightly larger than the burger buns.
- Press down in the center of each patty with your thumb to make an indentation. This prevents the burgers from bulging as they cook so the patties will cook at an even size.
- Once the grill is hot, place the patties over direct heat. Cook 5 minutes on one side and 5 minutes on the other, or until they reach your desired degree of doneness (a medium-rare burger will read 130-135°F, medium burgers read 140-145°F; for well-done burgers, cook to 160°F). In the last minute of cooking, top with a slice of cheese to melt.
- Lightly toast buns, if desired, while the burgers cook. Place a burger patty on each bun, then top with tomato, pickles, onion, lettuce, and tomato. Add cooked bacon if you prefer, plus a little extra BBQ sauce. Enjoy!
How to Make Burger BBQ Sauce
- Add all BBQ sauce ingredients to a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir well and bring to a boil. Once it begins to boil, drop the heat to low.
- Cook until the BBQ sauce thickens to your desired consistency, about 5-10 minutes or so of cook time.
See my Sweet BBQ Sauce for full instructions. Measurements are included in the recipe card below!
How to Make BBQ Burger Seasoning
- Add all seasoning ingredients to a bowl.
- Mix together until fully combined.
- Store in a cool, dry place with other seasonings until ready to use.
See my Burger Seasoning for full instructions. Measurements are included in the recipe card below!
Isabel's Top Tips for Making BBQ Burgers
- Work with clean grill grates for the best tasting burgers.
- Flip after the 5 minute mark and continue to cook for another 5 minutes or until they reach your desired temperature. Don't flip more than once.
- Use an Instant Read Thermometer to check the internal temperature of the burgers before taking them off the heat. See my guides to beef temps and burger temps.
- BBQ hamburgers can also be made on the stove or even in the air fryer. Make them in a cast iron skillet on the stove following the same instructions as for the grill, or try my Air Fryer Burger using the ingredients in this recipe.
- Use an 80/20 ground beef or ground chuck mix and not lean ground beef, unless you want less fatty burgers. The higher fat content in an 80/20 mix is perfect for a juicy burger.
- French fries are the ideal side! Try my Air Fryer Frozen French Fries or Crispy Baked Potato Wedges.
- Burgers do not need to be cooked with a lid on the grill, as they cook quickly all of the way through. However, if you want to close the lid, you can. This will give your burgers a smoky flavor, which is great for recipes like this BBQ hamburger recipe.
Once you try this BBQ hamburger recipe, you'll find yourself reaching for it every time you have ground beef in the fridge! Don't forget to serve them with crispy fries and extra burger sauce for dipping!
BBQ Hamburgers
Easy BBQ Hamburgers are the burger you're going to want for every party! Juicy, flavorful, and perfect for grilling!
Video
Ingredients
BBQ Burgers
- 1.5 pound ground beef - 80/20
- 1 Tablespoon burger seasoning
- 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce - more for topping if needed
- 4 burger buns
- 4 slices American cheese - or cheese of choice
- lettuce leaves
- tomato slices
- red onion slices
- pickles
- cooked bacon - optional
Burger Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅓ Tablespoon paprika
- ⅓ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoons garlic powder
BBQ Sauce (homemade is optional)
- 1½ cup brown sugar
- 1½ cups ketchup
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1½ Tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 Tablespoon dry minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon dry minced onion
- 1½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon of cayenne more for a spicier result
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Add ground beef to a large bowl, along with burger seasoning and BBQ sauce. Combine, but don’t over-mix or your burgers will be tough.1.5 pound ground beef,2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce,1 Tablespoon burger seasoning
- Divide meat mixture into 4 equal portions and shape each portion into a patty slightly larger than the burger buns.
- Press down in the center of each patty with your thumb to make an indentation. This prevents the burgers from bulging as they cook, so the patties will cook at an even size.
- Once grill is hot, place the patties over direct heat. Cook 5 minutes on one side and 5 minutes on the other, or until they reach your desired degree of doneness (a medium-rare burger will read 130-135°F, medium burgers read 140-145°F; for well-done burgers, cook to 160°F). In the last minute of cooking, place a slice of cheese over top to melt.4 slices American cheese
- Lightly toast buns, if desired, while the burgers cook. Place a burger patty on each bun, then top with tomato, pickles, onion, lettuce, and tomato. Add cooked bacon if you prefer, plus a little extra BBQ sauce. Enjoy!4 burger buns,lettuce leaves,tomato slices,red onion slices,pickles,cooked bacon
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Notes
Making Homemade BBQ Sauce for Burgers
- Add all BBQ sauce ingredients to a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir well and bring to a boil.
- Once it begins to boil, drop the heat to low.
- Cook until the BBQ sauce thickens to your desired consistency, about 5-10 minutes or so of cook time.
- Add all seasoning ingredients to a bowl.
- Mix together until fully combined.
- Store in a cool, dry place with other seasonings until ready to use.
Nutrition
Serving: 1burgerCalories: 648kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 37gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 768mgPotassium: 567mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 245IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 325mgIron: 5mg
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