How to Cook Juicy Hamburgers in the Oven, Plus a Homemade Recipe

Hamburgers are a staple of any good barbecue, but you don't need it to be grilling season to enjoy a homemade burger. That's because you can make juicy hamburgers in the oven (or on the stove or with an indoor grill, for that matter!).

While you may love the ambiance and chargrilled taste outdoor grilling offers, cooking burgers in the oven tends to make them juicier and more tender. Some say baked burgers taste better because the oven allows heat to be evenly distributed.

Frying burgers tends to keep the oil and grease near the meat, so some of it gets absorbed, making the patty less nutritious. Baking burgers, on the other hand, allows some fat to drain out of the patty without diminishing the flavor. By adding a few extras before baking, you can enhance the flavor and stretch the meat to make more patties.

One key to a tasty homemade burger is keeping the patties flat while cooking. If you're not careful, while the hamburgers cook, the juices can cause the ground beef to expand and lead to the top of the burger forming a dome shape.

You want to avoid this dome shape for two reasons: Flat tops ensure even cooking throughout the burger, and the shape also allows you to pile on toppings without fear of them sliding off the patty and onto your lap.

Here's everything you need to know about cooking hamburgers in the oven. These techniques will ensure your homemade burgers come out flat, hot, juicy and delicious.

The list above is only a beginner's suggestion for cooking and seasoning your burger. Some of the other most popular additions to a burger include chopped onion and garlic powder. You can get creative with ingredients like chili powder, assorted salts, steak sauce, cheeses, breadcrumbs and Worcestershire sauce.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Place the pan in the oven, once pre-heated, for 5 minutes before cooking the burgers. Heating the pan before the patty touches it will sear the patty quickly, locking in the juices.

Gather all your ingredients (see the list above) and wash your hands.

If you refrigerate your ground beef or patties for later use, keep them at 40 degrees F or below and be sure to use them within 2 days, according to the USDA.

Be sure to add any seasonings ‌before‌ mixing to limit the amount of interaction you have with the beef. When you overwork ground beef, it can produce tough hamburgers.

Lightly fold the meat to incorporate the seasonings without making the mixture dense. While there are plenty of combinations to choose from, a basic recipe combines 1/4 pound of ground beef, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper (keep scrolling for more suggestions).

Mix together and form a ball about the size of a golf ball.

Next, flatten the ball into a patty less than 1/2 inch thick. A thinner patty reduces the chances of overcooking the meat or drying out its exterior.

Most hamburgers shrink up to 25 percent during cooking, so shape the ground burger into a patty slightly larger than the bun, but no more than 3/4 inch thick.

Use your fingers to press in on the sides so that the patty is an even height from the center to the edges. Then, use your thumb or knuckles to make a deep indentation in the center of the patty (this will help prevent the dome shape you want to avoid).

Carefully remove the now-hot baking pan from the oven with oven mitts and place the patties on top of the pan.

How long you'll need to bake hamburgers in the oven typically ranges from 10 to 20 minutes and depends on the thickness of the patties. Start by setting the timer for 5 minutes.

After 5 minutes, juices should start to appear on the surface of the patty — a good indication that the inside of the patty is being cooked. If you don't see any juices, return the burgers to the oven for a few minutes, and keep a close watch.

Once the juices appear, pull the pan out of the oven with oven mitts. Flip the patty with cooking tongs and add your veggie toppings, like 1/4 cup each of diced green pepper and chopped onion to the surface of the patty. Don't add the cheese just yet, as it will likely burn.

After you flip your patty, put the hamburger back in the oven. Bake for an additional 5 to 12 minutes, or until the interior of the patty is no longer pink and is cooked to your liking.

Stick a meat thermometer into the center of the patty. Make sure it reads a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees F, as undercooked ground beef can harbor bacteria that may make you ill. Test the internal temperature of your hamburgers at the thickest point for the most accurate results.

You might also use the oven to finish burgers that start on the grill. The heated grate will help create a sear on the meat that some people love.

To go from grill to oven, do the following:

1. Turn the grill on before you're ready to cook so that it can come to temperature and preheat the metal grate. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Brush a light layer of oil on the surface of the patty before placing it on the grate to help prevent it from sticking, or brush the grill grate with a minimal amount of oil as an alternative.
3. Place the patties on the grill and leave them for 2 to 3 minutes to create a sear. Flip the burgers and wait 2 to 3 minutes for the opposite side to sear.
4. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then place a baking rack on top. Place the seared burgers on the baking rack.
5. Cook the burgers in the oven for 8 or 9 minutes for medium-rare, 10 to 11 minutes for medium or up to 15 minutes for well-done meat.

• The most common types of beef used for hamburgers are ground chuck, ground sirloin, ground round and ground beef with varying percentages of fat, according to Consumer Reports.
• While meat with less fat content will make for a healthier burger, the higher the fat content, the more heat the meat will be able to withstand, and the juicier your burger will be.
• Mix in 1 to 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise (or full-fat Greek yogurt) before you make the patties.
• Place a few ice cubes or a pat of butter in the middle of the patty before baking.
• Sear the burger for 2 to 3 minutes before putting the burgers in the oven.
  
• Try using ground turkey instead. Just make sure it's cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F.