Ingredients
1 lb. 80% lean ground beef
1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. onion powder
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 slices sharp Cheddar cheese
4 burger buns, toasted
Tomato slices
Bibb lettuce leaves
Pickles
Ketchup
Mustard
Preparation
Step 1Preheat the oven to 400º. Place a 10” cast iron skillet or a baking sheet on a rack in the middle of the oven.Step 2In a medium bowl, gently mix the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper until just combined.Step 3Shape beef mixture into 4 equal-sized patties that are slightly wider than the buns. Press a wide, shallow indent into the center of each patty.Step 4Carefully remove the preheated pan from the oven and place patties in the pan. Return to the oven and cook for 4 minutes.Step 5Flip patties and continue to cook to desired doneness, about 2 more minutes for rare, 4 for medium-rare, 5 for medium, 6 for medium-well, and 8 for well-done.Step 6Top each patty with cheese and let melt, about 30 seconds. Serve patties between toasted buns with desired toppings.
You don’t actually need a grill to make burgers at home. Instead of using a pan on the stovetop—which covers the grates with hard-to-clean grease—the oven is the perfect way to make burgers at home because it contains the mess. Though you might see some recipes out there for pressing meat into a square pan for oven-made burgers, the key to getting a good crust on the burger in the oven is in preheating a cast iron skillet in the oven. When the meat hits the hot pan it mimics the griddle at a fast-food joint. Though you can go with plain, seasoned ground beef for the patties, the addition of Worcestershire sauce and a dash of onion and garlic powder ensures extra-flavorful burgers. Once cooked, top with your favorite fixings: Cheddar, tomato, and lettuce are standard, but caramelized onions or oven-cooked bacon would be welcome, too. Before baking, you’ll press an indent into the center of each patty, which helps keep them from puffing up while cooking.
