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Smoky and savory with the perfect hint of sweet and spice, this burger seasoning creates amazing hamburgers, cheeseburgers, turkey or veggie burgers and more! This recipe for homemade burger spices is totally customizable and come together with just a few simple pantry ingredients! Mix together a big batch and use it all grilling season long!

Overhead photo of burger seasonings on raw burger patties.

Make the best, most flavorful burgers of your life with this super simple recipe for the BEST Burger Seasoning! Made with just a handful of spice cabinet staples in under 5 minutes, this is by far the easiest way to give your homemade ground beef patties a diner-level boost.

Table of Contents

About the best burger seasoning

Whether you go traditional with a beef-based cheeseburger, or you opt for a patty made from chicken, turkey, fish, or veggies, there’s no denying it: A well-crafted burger is one of the great, simple joys of life. 

For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out how to make my burgers taste as good as the ones you’d find at In-n-Out, Shake Shack, or my favorite local diner. What in the heck were they doing to make their burgers taste so good? Aside from toasting the bun and making a divot in the center of the patty, I was at a loss. 

Luckily, I’ve figured out the ridiculously easy solution: burger seasoning mix. What a revelation! With just 9 ingredients (most of which you probably already have on hand) and a few minutes, you can stir up a big batch of homemade seasoning mix that’ll take your burgers from ho-hum to OH YUM in almost no time flat.

Why you’ll love this homemade seasoning!

This simple burger seasoning is:

  • Flavorful: This blend of hamburger spices is incredibly robust in flavor and makes an amazing burger! Nothing will be boring or bland once adorned with these spices!
  • Fast & Easy: This seasoning recipe literally comes together in a matter of minutes in just one bowl.
  • Basic Pantry Staples: This versatile spice blend is made with common spices you probably already have on hand in your pantry!
  • Allergen-Friendly: While store-bought seasoning mixes are convenient, they also contain undesirable additives and preservatives.
  • Perfect For Meal-Prep: Homemade burger seasonings store great for up to 1-2 years! 
  • Customizable: Mixing your own hamburger seasonings allows you to control the ingredients! Make your blends lower in sodium and gluten-free too. Or make it super hot and spicy. You do you! Plus, homemade blends taste brighter and fresher in flavor!
  • Super Versatile: These burger spices are delicious on just about anything you want to add smoky, savory flavor. Sprinkle it on vegetables, potatoes, chicken, fish, or steak, and MORE!

Overhead photo of the dry seasonings in homemade burger spices neatly organized on a plate.

Ingredients in burger seasoning

As promised, this quick & easy recipe doesn’t require a crazy long list of burger spices. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Smoked Paprika – Add a touch of smokiness, even if you’re making your burgers on the stovetop!
    • Substitution: Feel free to use a 50/50 split of sweet and smoked paprika for a less intense smoke flavor. You can also use hot paprika to bump up the heat!
  • Kosher Salt – The wide flakes of kosher salt make it easy to season food without overdoing it. If you’re using a different kind of salt, please refer to this conversion chart for proper measurement. 
  • Ground Pepper – Freshly ground black pepper is where it’s at. Do yourself a solid and invest in a pepper mill!
  • Brown Sugar – Either light or dark will work here. 
  • Onion Powder – Both sweet and savory, onion powder is one of my favorite spice cabinet workhorses.
    • Substitution: Feel free to swap in onion flakes if you’d like a little more texture.
  • Garlic Powder – Milder and sweeter than fresh garlic, this powdered allium brings big flavor in a little package.
  • Cumin – For warmth.
  • Cayenne Pepper – For a touch of spice.
  • Ground Mustard – For a little tang.

Variations for burger spices

While these burger patty seasonings are MY ideal blend, there’s a lot of room for customization here. These are a few of my favorite variations that I’ve tried so far:

  • Spicy – Up the heat quotient by bumping up how much cayenne you use.
  • Citrusy – Add a bit of brightness without any extra salt by using lemon pepper in place of regular ground pepper.
  • Low Sodium – reduce the sodium to just 2 teaspoons if you’re watching your salt intake.
  • Other Add-Ins – Add up to a teaspoon each of chili powder, celery seed, and/or dried parsley. You can also add up to ½ teaspoon of coriander for some bright, floral notes.

Overhead photo of burger seasoning mix in a glass storage jar.

How to make burger seasoning mix

This combination of burger patty seasonings comes together in a jiffy! Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Combine seasonings: Add all the ingredients to a small bowl. Use a fork of a small whisk to combine well. (Tip: If you want to season the beef before forming hamburger patties, omit the salt. You will need to liberally season the patties with salt just before cooking.)
  2. Store: Transfer to an airtight storage container, spice container or glass clamp jar. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.

Tips for the best burger seasoning 

  • Check expiration dates: Double check your spices and dry herbs for expiration dates before adding them to your burger blend.
  • Use whole spices: For the most flavor, buy whole spices and grind them yourself in a spice grinder or coffee grinder.
  • Start small: When using salt and “spicy” seasonings, such as cayenne, start with a small amount. Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take it out once you add it!
  • Adjust to taste: Taste and adjust the burger seasoning mix to your taste before storing. That way it’s ready to go when you are!
  • Store properly: To keep your burger patty seasonings fresher for longer, make sure you store them in an airtight container in a dark, cool place!

Overhead photo of raw ground beef drizzled with Worcestershire and soy sauce in a glass bowl.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

What can I add to my burgers for the best flavor?

This delicious spice blend is a great place to start. You can also add an even bigger boost of flavor by adding up to a teaspoon of Worcestershire and/or soy sauce into the meat before shaping it into patties.

Should I mix my hamburger spices into the meat?

I generally use this homemade seasoning blend like a dry rub, giving my burger patties a lovely crust. That said, if you’re using Worcestershire and/or soy sauce and are mixing the meat anyway, feel free to add ½ – 1 tablespoon of the burger spices in with the mix.

Do I need to add an egg to my burger patties?

Nope! But adding a fried egg to the top of your burger? Well, that’s plain delightful. Imma go do that right now.

Serving suggestions for hamburger spices

Once you see how easy it is to make your own spice mixes at home, you’ll find no end to their uses. Here are a few of my favorite ways to serve this tasty burger spice:

  • This homemade burger seasoning blend is perfect for adding big flavor to any kind of burgers. Use it with beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, salmon, or even veggie burger patties. 
  • It’s also great to add to casseroles or homemade “Hamburger Helper” style dishes.
  • Use it as a dry rub on cuts of meat like chicken thighs, steaks, or pork chops.

Storing this burger patty seasoning

  • Once made, store the leftover burger seasoning mix in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to 2 months. 
  • Feel free to double or triple the batch as needed. This tasty spice blend is the perfect hostess gift, especially during grilling season!

Straight on photo of a bacon cheeseburger made with hamburger spices, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Get all the flavor of your favorite fast food or diner burgers at home with this fast and easy recipe for the Best Burger Seasoning of all time! You literally need just a few minutes to whip up a batch, and it’ll pay big flavor dividends for multiple meals to come. Until next time, friends — eyes on the fries! Er, I mean, prize.

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More homemade seasoning recipes!

How to DIY burger seasoning mix👇

Overhead photo of five burger patties sprinkled with the best burger seasoning.

Best Burger Seasoning

4 from 1 vote
Author: Cheyanne Holzworth
Total Time: 5 minutes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6 tablespoons
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Smoky and savory with the perfect hint of sweet and spice, this burger seasoning creates amazing hamburgers, cheeseburgers, turkey or veggie burgers and more! Mix together a big batch and use it all grilling season long!
Recipe can be scaled up or down by using the slider if you hover your mouse over the number of Servings.

Equipment

  • 1 Small mixing bowl

Ingredients 

  • 2 TBS Smoked Paprika (or 1 TBS Sweet + 1 TBS Smoked)
  • 1 TBS Kosher Salt (reduce salt to 2 tsp for lower-sodium option)
  • 2 tsp Black Pepper (or Lemon Pepper for different flavor variation)
  • 1 ½ tsp Dark Brown Sugar (or Light Brown Sugar)
  • 1 ½ tsp Onion Powder
  • 1 ½ tsp Garlic Powder
  • ¾ tsp Cumin
  • ½ tsp Cayenne Pepper - more or less, to taste
  • 1/8 heaping tsp Ground Mustard
  • Optional spices: Chili Powder (1 tsp), Celery Seed (1 tsp), Dried Parsley (1 tsp), and/or Coriander (1/2 tsp) (optional spices to add to homemade burger seasoning)
  • Optional flavoring: Worcestershire (1 tsp) and/or Soy Sauce (1 tsp) (mix in the ground beef before forming patties)

Instructions

  • Combine seasonings: Add all the ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Use a fork of a small whisk to combine well. (Tip: If you want to season the beef BEFORE forming hamburger patties, omit the salt. You will need to liberally season the patties with salt just before cooking.)
  • Store: Transfer to an airtight storage container, spice container or glass clamp jar. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.
  • To use: Depending upon how well-seasoned you prefer your burgers, you will need about ½ to 1 tablespoon of homemade burger seasoning per pound of ground beef.
  • Using seasoning mix for the most flavor (recommended): Add Worcestershire and soy sauce to ground beef. Very lightly and gently mix the meat a couple times to incorporate. Form patties. Just before cooking, sprinkle seasoning liberally and evenly over the top side of the burgers (I use about ¼ tsp of seasoning per side). Add burger patties to grill, grill-pan, skillet, or place on a baking sheet – seasoning side down. Season the other side (now the top!) and cook to desired doneness.
  • Quick application of seasoning mix: Form hamburger patties and sprinkle seasoning liberally and evenly over top (I use about ¼ tsp of seasoning per side). Add to grill, grill pan, cast iron skillet, or baking sheet - seasoning side down. Season the other side of the burgers and cook to desired doneness.
  • Other option: Add Worcestershire, soy sauce and 2-3 teaspoons of seasoning mix (without salt!) to 1 pound of ground beef. Very lightly and gently mix the meat a couple times to incorporate. Form patties. Just before cooking, sprinkle kosher salt liberally and evenly over the top side of the burgers. Add burger patties to grill, grill-pan, skillet, or place on a baking sheet – salt side down. Season the other side (now the top!) with salt and cook to desired doneness.

Notes

Recipe Yield: Approximately 6 Tablespoons
Nutritional information is an approximation based upon 6 servings (1 tablespoon each). Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.

Nutrition

Calories: 18kcal    Carbohydrates: 4g    Protein: 1g    Fat: 0.4g    Saturated Fat: 0.1g    Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g    Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g    Sodium: 1166mg    Potassium: 85mg    Fiber: 1g    Sugar: 1g    Vitamin A: 1225IU    Vitamin C: 0.3mg    Calcium: 15mg    Iron: 1mg
Course: Condiment, pantry
Cuisine: American

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