All American Burgers

All American Burgers on plates

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 27 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 hamburger

You can serve this classic, tender, well-flavored, and juicy All American Burger recipe with any topping(s) you'd like. If you're adding cheese, put a slice (or two) on the beef while it's on the grill and let stand for about a minute to let it melt. All other toppings such be put on the table so each diner can assemble their own masterpiece.

The addition of Worcestershire sauce, milk, and water makes the burgers very moist. Seasoned salt and onion powder add fabulous flavor.

When making the best hamburgers, it's important that you handle the meat as little as possible. Too much kneading or shaping can make the burgers tough. That is why all of the ingredients are combined before the beef is added in this recipe.

Then, when you shape the meat into patties, press your thumb slightly into the center to make a divot. This will prevent the burger from puffing up when it's cooked, so you have a nice flat surface to pile on the toppings.

It is also very important that you cook burgers to 165 F, or well done, for food safety reasons. Don't groan—burgers cooked to that safe temperature can still be delicious. The breadcrumbs in this recipe, along with the Worcestershire sauce, water, and milk, called a "panade," holds moisture as the meat cooks so it stays juicy.

We like to serve our burgers on a sturdy bun. There's nothing more unappealing than a bun that disappears as you eat the hamburger. Whole wheat hamburger buns are good, as are English muffins. Ciabatta buns are a nice change of pace, and sturdy hoagie buns can be used as well. It's your choice!

Serve this classic recipe with some fabulous potato salad, a fruit salad, and an ice cream pie for dessert. What could be better?

"My family loves burgers and they are a weekly meal that we enjoy together! This recipe is really simple and comes together so easily that it will become a staple for your next BBQ or even a quick weeknight dinner! I like to pair mine with chips!" —Kiana Rollins

All American Burgers/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup soft white breadcrumbs

  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1 tablespoon water

  • 1 tablespoon milk

  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 1/4 pounds ground beef

  • 4 sandwich buns, split and toasted

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    All American Burgers ingredients

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  2. Pre heat a medium-high gas or charcoal grill. Alternatively, use a grill pan on the stovetop. Combine the breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, water, and milk in a large bowl and let stand for 5 minutes.

    Bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, water, and milk in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  3. Add the seasoned salt, onion powder, and pepper and mix until just combined.

    Seasoned breadcrumbs in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  4. Add the ground beef and mix gently with your hands until everything is just incorporated. Do not overmix.

    Meat and breadcrumbs in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  5. Shape the meat mixture into four patties. Make a deep impression in the center of each patty; this helps the burger cook evenly and keeps it from plumping in the middle as it cooks.

    Burger patties on a plate

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  6. Grill until the hamburgers to your liking, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 F, about 8 to 12 minutes total.

    Burger patties on a grill pan

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  7. Serve the burgers on the toasted buns with traditional fixings of choice such as mustard, ketchup, pickles, relish, and cheese.

    All American Burgers on plates

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

Tip

  • You can toast the sandwich buns on the grill just before serving if you like.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
599 Calories
28g Fat
39g Carbs
45g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 599
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 36%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 126mg 42%
Sodium 962mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 45g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 126mg 10%
Iron 6mg 35%
Potassium 667mg 14%
*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.)