Cast Iron Griddle Hamburgers

This recipe for cast iron griddle hamburgers is easy to make and doesn’t require a grill. Your burgers will be juicy and flavorful – you may never want to use a grill again.

With a grill, all the fat that gives your burgers their flavor will drip down onto the coals. But using a griddle lets you cook the meat in its own juices, which provides you with crispy edges and a flavor-packed inside.

Cleanup is easy, too, as a cast iron griddle such as an Uno Casa type is quick to clean.

Let’s get to the recipe!

This recipe serves 4.

Ingredients

•  1 pound ground beef, 20% fat (that gives you the flavor)
•  vegetable oil
•  salt
• freshly ground black pepper (optional)
•  8 slices American cheese (optional, if you want cheeseburgers)
•  4 hamburger buns

Optional topping ingredients

• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Salad leaves or lettuce
• Tomato
• Sliced red onion
• Pickles

Method

Heat your cast iron griddle on the stove over medium-high heat. Brush it with oil.

Divide the ground beef into 4 equal parts and form each one into a ball. Make sure the meat is loosely formed – you don’t want to pack it tightly.

Put the meat onto the oiled skillet and smash each burger with a spatula or a grill press. Aim for burgers that are about 4 inches in diameter.

Salt each burger generously. You can add a few grinds of black pepper if you wish.

Let each burger cook for about 2 minutes. You should see the outside edges start to go brown.

If you want to toast the buns first, open them up and toast them with the cut sides down on one side of the griddle. You can spread some butter on your buns first before toasting or use some bacon grease if you’re adding bacon to your burgers (see FAQs below).

Flip your burgers, and add more salt. If you are using cheese, place 2 slices on top of each burger. Turn the second square of cheese slightly so that you’ve got a kind of star shape. Placing the cheese in this way ensures even distribution over the burgers as it melts.

For medium-rare burgers, one minute is enough once you’ve put the cheese on top. Otherwise, leave for another minute.

Remove your burgers from the griddle, place them on buns, and let each person add whatever toppings they desire.

Of course, if you want double-decker burgers, simply double this recipe!

Cast iron griddle hamburgers FAQs

Can I use low-fat meat?

You could use meat with less than 20% fat, but your burgers won’t have as much flavor.

What other types of cheese can I use?

Any type of sliced cheese will do but choose one that melts well. American cheese tends to melt more easily than Cheddar, for example. However, you could also use Gouda, Swiss, Monterey Jack, or even goat’s cheese.

What other toppings can I use?

You could fry up some bacon on your griddle before frying your burgers, and then top each burger with 2 slices of cooked bacon.

You could also use piccalilli, which goes beautifully with burgers.

Other topping ideas are:

• pesto sauce
• sautéed mushrooms
• sautéed or caramelized onions (caramelized onions go well on a goat’s cheese burger)
• slices of avocado
• homemade chili
• barbecue sauce

Are there any other types of meat that work well for burgers?

Some people use a combination of ground beef and ground pork – just be sure to make your burgers well-done if you use pork. 

Another popular meat combination is ground steak or steak chunks mixed with chunks of boneless beef ribs.

What can I serve on the side?

Along with your burgers, try any of these tasty side dishes:

• Coleslaw
• Onion rings
• Fries (chili fries, gorilla fries, sweet potato fries, any kind)
• Potato skins
• Baked beans
• Pasta salad
• Corn on the cob

How do I clean my cast iron griddle?

While the griddle is still warm, run hot water over it and get as much food off it as you can with a scrubber or sponge. You can use coarse salt (like kosher salt) with a bit of water for a paste that you can rub over any food that has stuck to the griddle. Simply rinse off the salt when you’ve finished.

Dry the griddle well with a clean towel, or leave it on the warm stove so that the water evaporates.

Apply a coating of oil, wiping off any excess with a paper towel. Put your griddle away, ready to use again. Simple!