Nothing hits quite like a raw burger.
You think I’m kidding.
But in all actuality, there are so many endless possibilities when it comes to raw burgers.
Maybe you’ve got your hands on a frozen burger patty, just waiting to be cooked.
Maybe you’re surprising your partner for date night.
You could be hosting a party and really wanting your guests to rave about your grill skills after.
But maybe, just maybe, you just want to eat a really good burger.
Lucky for you, I’ve got you covered.
Here are all of the best raw burger recipes and easy meal ideas for burgers.
How To Cook A Raw Burger From Frozen
First things first, if you’re dealing with frozen burgers, you need to know what you’re up against.
Lucky for you, this article has you covered.
A little secret:
It’s all in the seasoning.
If you season your frozen burgers the right way, it’ll make a world of difference.
The Montreal Steak Method
This method for creating the best juicy burger around is a tried and true common practice in our family.
My fiance’s father has been making delicious burgers this way for years.
Simply take some kosher salt, black pepper, and a whole hell of a lot of Montreal steak seasoning and coat each side of the burger with the combo.
Let the burger sit for about 15 minutes in the fridge before grilling, cooking on the stovetop, etc.
This method is also great for seasoning a raw veggie burger; raw vegan burgers and black bean burgers taste great with this seasoning.
Air Fryer Hamburgers
If you’re in a pinch and don’t feel like grilling, this may be the method for you.
I know, I know.
“Who would ever even think of air frying a hamburger?”
Let me tell you, this is a really great low maintenance cooking method, and wonderful if you’re short on time.
Season your burger however you like.
Preheat the air fryer to 350°, and cook your burger for 4 minutes on one side. At the 4 minute mark, flip it over, and cook for another 4 minutes. Of course, you can adjust the time to accommodate your preferences.
Top with romaine lettuce, red onions, tomatoes, pickles, and anything else you desire. Your taste buds will thank you.
Stovetop Hamburgers
Believe it or not, I actually use this method a LOT over the winter.
It requires olive oil, seasonings, and a little patience to get things just right. It’s a very flexible recipe, one that doesn’t require a whole lot of ingredients.
In a large bowl, take a pound of ground beef and mix it together with some fresh parsley, salt, pepper, chili powder, and a dash of BBQ sauce if you’d like. Form your meat mixture into individual patties.
In a medium pan, heat up some olive oil. Once the oil is heated, place the patties directly in the pan. Cook from 3-5 minutes on medium high heat on each side.
For optimal results, press the patties with your spatula as you’re cooking. It’ll make all of the difference in your end result.
Tips For Enhancing Your Burgers
No matter how you cook your burgers, if you’re dealing with raw veggie burgers or traditional burger patties, everyone deserves a great and enhanced burger.
Here are some of my best tips on enhancing your burger:
- Butter and grill your burger buns – This will allow your bread to have maximum flavor, and will deepen the overall taste of your hamburger.
- Toss a little BBQ sauce in – If you really want to make some juicy burgers, try throwing some BBQ sauce into the mix before you roll out your patties. A little will go a long way to keeping it moist.
- Don’t crowd your cooking surface – This applies to those cooking a big batch of burgers. Even if you’re using a grill, you don’t want your patties to get overcrowded, even by a little bit. It’ll steam them more so than grill them, and they’ll lose all of their delicious flavor in the process.
- Toppings – Even adding a little white onion, cayenne pepper, ranch dressing, etc will be enough to take your burgers to a whole new level. It doesn’t have to be the same old ketchup, lettuce, and tomato combo each and every time.
- The seasoning – For best results, just like a steak, salt your patties 30 minutes to an hour before cooking. It’ll make all the difference. Once you’ve let them rest, top them with pepper, steak seasoning, and black pepper before cooking.
