Bump up the flavor of your grilled burgers with a homemade burger seasoning mix. Sprinkle this DIY seasoning on ground beef patties before you put them on the grill.
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The Best Burger Seasoning for Grilling
Hamburgers are a classic cookout food beloved by generations. But all too often, the flavor can fall a little flat. Not so with our mouthwateringly simple burger seasoning.
Just a handful of common spices are married together in a quick-to-make, affordable seasoning that goes with burgers and nearly anything else you can grill. You may never want another fast food burger again!
What makes this burger seasoning for the grill so good?
There’s certainly no shortage of potential combinations of spices out there. But one bite and you’ll have little doubt this is the best burger seasoning for grilling. It’s designed to complement the natural beefy flavors of the burger, not overpower or hide them.
The salt works on both a flavoring and scientific level, preparing the ground beef to receive the mix of other spices. Black pepper brings a subtle spiciness and pepperiness, with the earthy but sweet notes of paprika offering additional complexity. Garlic and onion round out the classic combination with their unmistakable taste.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Aside from the deliciously savory flavor, this burger seasoning recipe is fast and easy to make with pantry staples you likely already have sitting on your spice rack. It’s also simple to scale up for a big batch or scale down for any amount you need, from just a few burgers to a massive holiday barbecue.
Plus, when mixed with fresh spices and stored correctly, it can last for many months, ensuring you always have some on hand for last-minute cookouts or unexpected guests.
Ingredients You Will Need
Just five everyday spices work together to create the best hamburger seasoning, proving the whole can be much more than the sum of its parts:
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Smoked paprika
How to Make Burger Seasoning for Grilling
There are no secrets to making this recipe — just measure out the appropriate quantities of spices and combine them in a small bowl or container. Whisk or stir the mixture to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed.
Recipe Variations
One of the best features of this recipe that makes it the best burger seasoning for grilling is how easy it is to tweak to meet your taste. Spice lovers can add some cayenne pepper or chili powder, while those looking for a herby addition can toss in dried oregano, rosemary, or Italian seasoning blends.
Even the basic ingredients can be tweaked to amp up flavors, like using smoked or other flavored salts instead of typical table or kosher salt.
Alternatively, it’s easy to dial back the onion or garlic if you’re among those sensitive to these pungent spices.
While you can always rely on the standard recipe, adventurous grillmasters can experiment with whatever spices they have around to find their perfect custom blend.
How to Use Burger Seasoning
The process of how to season burgers for the grill is as quick as making the seasoning.
- Form your burger patties gently, without overworking or over-compacting the meat. Lay them on a plate or platter in a single layer.
- Generously sprinkle seasoning over the top of the patties.
- Flip the burgers and repeat. You should use one to two teaspoons of seasoning per pound of ground beef.
Don’t wait too long to cook your burgers once they’ve been seasoned. The salt in the spice blend begins to break down the proteins in the beef, which can create a tougher, even rubbery texture when cooked instead of the tender, juicy burgers you’re looking for.
For this same reason, grilling experts often recommend seasoning only the exterior of the patties rather than mixing the burger seasoning into the ground beef.
What Goes Well with Burger Seasoning
This robust but versatile spice blend is great on much more than hamburgers. It pairs just as well rubbed on chicken thighs or breasts before grilling, along with pork chops, steaks, and even grilled vegetables or fish. You can also sprinkle some on french fries for a mouthwatering flavor boost.
How to Store Homemade Burger Seasoning
Grillers with burger seasoning leftover or conscientious cooks prepping for future barbecues can easily store this seasoning.
Keep it in an airtight container or spice jar in a cool, dry place. When stored properly, it can last at least a year (or as many as three) without any noticeable loss in flavor.
More Recipes for Grilling and Smoking
Burger Seasoning for Grilling
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Store the seasoning in an airtight container.
Stephanie Manley says
Very tasty!