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Hamburger Seasoning

5 from 99 votes
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posted: 03/18/25

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Hamburger Seasoning comes together with simple ingredients that you can already find in your pantry. Add it to your hamburger patties for the best hamburger seasoning! Make a big batch and have it on hand all grilling seasoning.

a small, shallow, blue dish with handles on a black surface, filled with hamburger seasoning broken up by seasoning

As we head into grilling seasoning, I wanted to make sure you had our favorite grilling recipe. The easiest summer dinner is some hamburgers and on the grill along with grilled corn and other veggies.

But if you are going to have hamburgers once a week on the grill, you need the best hamburger seasoning to go with it. I’m here to help!

One of my joys in life is coming up with simple recipes that contain simple ingredients and leave you feeling so happy about the dinner you created in your kitchen. This burger seasoning recipe is the best and totally fits the bill.

READER REVIEW

This is the best hamburger seasoning ever. Everything incorporates together nothing is strong. Everything is balanced. I love love this recipe! Will use forever!

overhead of a small blue dish with handles filled with hamburger seasoning recipe that is partially mixed together

Homemade Hamburger Seasoning Ingredients

The best part about this seasoning blend is it is made with spices you already have in your pantry.

  • Paprika: Both smoked paprika and sweet paprika work in this recipe. Choose which one you enjoy most.
  • Brown Sugar: The brown sugar and the seasoning crisp up on the outside of the burger making for such a great flavor and delicious burger.
  • Onion Powder
  • Table Salt: If you only have kosher hand on salt, you will want to increase it a little bit.
  • Black Pepper: I love using freshly ground black pepper in this recipe.
  • Garlic Powder
  • Cumin: This brings a really subtle smokey flavor to the mix.
  • Cayenne Pepper: This brings a really small subtle spice to the mix. It brakes down to a small pinch per burger. I wouldn’t hesitate to add this even if you are sensitive to spice.

How To Season a Burger

After you mix up your seasonings, store in an airtight container for up to six months. The mix makes 9 tablespoons, which will be enough for 9 pounds of meat or 36 hamburgers.

  • Once you make the burger patties, use one tablespoon of the seasoning on them. Sprinkle the spice mix on the patties, and gently rub it into each side of the patties.
  • I typically use 1 pound of 80/20 ground beef to make four burgers that are gently indented in the middle for best grilling.
  • To use with turkey, follow my recipe for Turkey Burgers. I mix the seasoning right into the meat with a few other ingredients.
  • If you don’t have access to a grill, but own an air fryer, make these: Air Fryer Burgers.

Storing

Store your homemade burger seasoning in an airtight container. Keep it in a cold and dry place for up to six months. Please note that this time frame is based on you starting with fresh spices. While spices don’t really go bad, they are less flavorful as time goes on.

up close of a hamburger made with the best hamburger seasoning, garnished with red onion, tomatoes, and lettuce on a bun held by a toothpick

What to Serve with Grilled Hamburgers

I have so many amazing recipes that would be perfect on the side of a grilled hamburger!

  • Grilled Corn: Our very favorite side dish for grilling is corn, and we have a full post telling you how to make it to perfection.
  • Grilled Potatoes: I love these baby potatoes, and they cook up so perfectly on the grill.
  • Strawberry Spinach Salad: This is a really popular recipe, and for good reason; it’s delicious and easy. That dressing though!
  • Greek Pasta Salad: If you aren’t really feeling leafy greens, make this! It’s easy and one of those recipes you will come back to over and over.

If you make this best burger seasoning mix or any of the recipes listed here, please be sure to leave me a comment letting know what you think!

a small, shallow, blue dish with handles on a black surface, filled with hamburger seasoning broken up by seasoning
5 from 99 votes

Burger Seasoning

Serves: 36 servings
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
This Hamburger Seasoning comes together with simple ingredients that you can already find in your pantry. Add it to your hamburger patties for the best hamburger seasoning!  Make a big batch and have it on hand all grilling seasoning.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons table salt
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl. The recipe will make 9 tablespoons total, or enough for 9 pounds of hamburger meat.
    2 tablespoons paprika, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 2 teaspoons table salt, 2 teaspoons black pepper, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • To make hamburgers, divided one pound of 80/20 ground beef into four equal patties, indenting the middle for easier cooking.
  • Use one tablespoon of the hamburger seasoning and gently rub it into both sides of each hamburger patty. In other words, you will use a total of 1 tablespoon of the seasoning to season both sides of four burger patties made from 1 pound of ground beef. (Alternatively you could mix 1 tablespoon into one pound of hamburger meat.)
  • Grill the patties over medium heat for 3 1/2 minutes on each side for medium doneness.
  • Store the rest of the mixture in an airtight container for up to six months.

Notes

Please note that the nutritional information reflects the amount of seasoning used per burger.
Serving: 1serving Calories: 5kcal Carbohydrates: 1g Protein: 0.1g Fat: 0.04g Saturated Fat: 0.01g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g Sodium: 130mg (6%) Potassium: 10mg Fiber: 0.1g Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin A: 30IU (1%) Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) Calcium: 3mg Iron: 0.1mg (1%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
a small, shallow, blue dish with handles on a black surface, filled with hamburger seasoning broken up by seasoning

did you make this

Burger Seasoning

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    5 from 99 votes (78 ratings without comment)

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  1. Mom of two boys says

    5 stars
    My husband, who is normally the chef in our family, is unable to cook due to a recent foot surgery. So, when he asked me to make burgers for dinner tonight, I searched for the best seasoning to use and found your recipe. I used it as a rub for the burger patties. He gave it 5 stars! Thanks! I made the full amount, so we’ll have our seasoning ready to go for the next couple of months.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad that you both liked it and I hope your husband has a speedy recovery.

  2. Jean says

    Making this. Looking forward to a great tasting burger!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you love it as much as we do!

  3. Bettina says

    5 stars
    Very good and popular with friends and family

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’ms og lad to hear it!

  4. Susan says

    5 stars
    We’re having a bigBBQ party in 2 weeks and so I tried out your recipe for just the two of us tonight. HOLY COW! The seasoning is just PERFECT! I added 1 egg and 1/4 of Italian breadcrumbs to the beef and sprinkled and rubbed your seasoning on both sides of the burgers (1.5 TBSP)…just fantastic and I won’t be making burgers any other way from now on!! Thanks so much for posting!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked it, Susan!

  5. Cindy says

    5 stars
    Love this hamburger seasoning. What a difference it makes in my burgers. Looking forward to using it again and again.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad that you like it!

  6. Leonard says

    Lisa, I just made your burger seasoning and used it immediately.
    All I can say is ‘Wow’!! Burger crisp on outside and juicy on inside.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad that you like it, Leonard!

  7. Mylissia says

    Can’t wait to try this recipe frying up the pit tonight 🎊 I’ll let y’all know how things turn out from Texas

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope your whole family loved it!

  8. Sylvia says

    So you have any keto recipes?

  9. joseph blythe says

    5 stars
    Just made this. So good. Thanks.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked it!

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