Burger Seasoning Mix
Say goodbye to bland burger patties and hello to bold flavor—this hamburger spice mix is your secret weapon for juicy burgers that pack plenty of backyard-grill flavor. With a rich blend of smoky paprika, savory garlic, a hint of brown sugar, and just the right kick of spice, this classic burger seasoning creates that irresistible, caramelized crust and mouthwatering flavor, while keeping the inside juicy and tender. If you’ve been wondering how to season burgers for maximum flavor, this recipe delivers every single time.
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 burger seasoning)
- Optional flavoring: Worcestershire (1 tsp) and/or Soy Sauce (1 tsp) (mix in the ground beef before forming patties)
Instructions
- Combine Burger 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.)
- Storing Burger Seasoning Mix: Transfer to an airtight storage container, spice container or glass clamp jar. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.
Using Hamburger Spices
- Recommended - Using Hamburger Spices: Add Worcestershire and soy sauce to ground beef. Very lightly and gently mix the meat a couple times to incorporate. Next, form the ground beef mixture into burger patties. Just before cooking, sprinkle the burger seasoning liberally and evenly over the top side of the burgers (I use about a heaping 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 - Just Seasoning Mix: Form hamburger patties and sprinkle seasoning liberally and evenly over top (I use about a heaping 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.
- Using Burger Spice Mix for Most Flavor: 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. Next, form the ground beef mixture into burger 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.
Depending upon how well-seasoned you prefer your burgers, you will need about ½ to 1 ½ tablespoon of burger spice mix per pound of ground beef.
Notes
-
Need to Scale the Recipe? Hover your mouse over the number of servings in the recipe card. You'll see a sliding scale pop up, you can use that to scale the recipe up or down as needed.
-
Got questions? I've got answers! If you ever run into an issue, have a question, or need any clarification - please feel free to drop them in the comments section. I'm happy to help when I can!
- Recipe Yield: Approximately 6 Tablespoons
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