Steakhouse Burgers
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No need to go out—these homemade steakhouse burgers are tender, juicy, and full of flavor thanks to a few simple tricks.
Who doesn’t love a big, tender, juicy steakhouse burger? Problem is, they’re hard to replicate at home because most steakhouses use custom blends of beef—like sirloin, chuck, and short ribs—to get the perfect balance of flavor and fat. While you can grind your own meat or ask your butcher for a special blend, there’s an easier way.
By combining ordinary supermarket ground beef with a panade—a mixture of bread and milk—plus garlic and scallions, these steakhouse-style burgers come together in no time.
When my kids were little, this recipe made me a star among their friends. My daughter’s friend Allie nicknamed them “Segal Burgers,” and the name stuck. No matter how old everyone gets, they still ask for them! You can dress them up with condiments like ketchup, mustard, spicy relish, or mayonnaise, add a slice of cheese, or pile on bread and butter pickles, pickled red onions or caramelized onions. But, honestly, they’re so flavorful, you barely need anything at all.
“Best burgers ever! I served them on buns with cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, and butter pickles, but I seriously believe they don’t need any dressing up—they’re that good.”
What You’ll Need To Make The Best Steakhouse Burger Recipe
- White Sandwich Bread & Milk: These two come together to form a simple panade—a soft paste that keeps the burgers juicy and tender. Use soft white bread with the crusts removed so it blends right in.
- Ground Beef: Stick with 80 to 85% lean for burgers that are juicy, flavorful, and hold together nicely.
- Garlic & Scallions: Add a fresh, aromatic boost that takes the flavor up a notch.
- Worcestershire Sauce & Ketchup: Bring in that classic steakhouse vibe with a hit of umami, a little sweetness, and just the right amount of tang.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: Keep it simple—these basic seasoning bring out the best in the beef.
- Hamburger Buns: Go for soft but sturdy, and toast them if you like a little crunch to contrast the juicy patties.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step instructions
Step 1: Make the panade. In a large bowl, mash the torn-up sandwich bread and milk with a fork until you get a chunky paste.
Step 2: Add seasoning. Stir in the salt, pepper, garlic, Worcestershire, and ketchup until everything’s mixed together. Adding the seasonings to the panade first ensures they distribute evenly throughout the meat later without overmixing the beef itself.
Step 3: Mix in the beef. Add the ground beef and scallions (if using). Use your hands to mix just until combined—don’t overdo it. Mixing too much can compress the meat and make the burgers dense. Gently folding the mixture with your hands keeps the texture light.
Step 4: Shape the patties. Divide the mixture into 8 portions and roll into balls. Flatten into ¾-inch-thick patties about 4½ inches wide. (Keeping the burgers thick ensures a nice char on the outside without overcooking the inside.) Use a light touch when shaping the patties—packing them too tightly can make them tough. Press a little dent in the center of each one so they don’t puff up while grilling.
At this point, the uncooked burgers can be refrigerated for 24 hours or frozen for up to 3 months. Just pop them into the fridge to thaw overnight prior to cooking.
Step 5: Grill the burgers. Grill the patties for 2 to 4 minutes on the first side, until nicely browned. (Avoid pressing down on the burgers while they cook—it squeezes out juices and can dry them out.) Flip and cook a few minutes more, until they’re done to your liking. (The panade keeps them tender and juicy—even if you prefer your burgers well done—so they’re great for kids, grandparents, or anyone who’s not into pink centers.)
Pro Tip: While I never bother, you can use an instant-read thermometer to determine the doneness of your burgers. You’re aiming for 130–135°F for medium-rare, 140–145°F for medium, and 160°F for well done.
More Burger Recipes You May Like
Steakhouse Burgers
Ingredients
- 2 pieces white sandwich bread, crusts removed and cut into ¼-in (6-mm) pieces
- ⅓ cup milk
- 2½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 3 lb (80 to 85%) lean ground beef
- 3 scallions, white and green parts, very finely sliced (optional)
- 8 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to high heat.
- In a large bowl, mash the bread and milk together with a fork until it forms a chunky paste. Add the salt, pepper, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and ketchup and mix well.
- Add the ground beef and scallions and break the meat up with your hands. Mix everything together until evenly combined. Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and form compact balls. Flatten the balls into ¾-in (2-cm) patties about 4½ in (12 cm) across. Form a slight depression in the center of each patty to prevent the burgers from puffing up on the grill.
- Oil the grilling grates. Grill the burgers, covered, until nicely browned on the first side, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip burgers and continue cooking for a few minutes more until desired doneness is reached. Before serving, toast the buns on the cooler side of the grill if desired.
Notes
Pair with
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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You haven’t lived until you have one of these burgers!
These are the first burgers I’ve ever made that I was proud of! They were tender and flavorful. Thank you!
This may seem like too much work for burgers, but once you’ve made them once, you’ll be a believer that the time is worth it. The burgers are so flavorful and hold together when grilling.
Hi Jen: We don’t have a grill. Would this recipe work indoors, and for 4 people, can I just cut ingredients in half?
Hi Pamela, It’s fine to make them indoors. You can use a grill pan (or cast iron pan) on the stove or broil them in the oven. (If you broil them, just place them on a broiler pan or rack so the juices can drip down.) Cook time should be about the same. And it’s perfectly fine to cut the recipe in half. Hope you enjoy!
I need a good burger recipe and would like to try this one because it has so many excellent reviews. However, I am trying to limit my intake of beef and wonder if I could do this with ground pork or chicken instead? If so, would you recommend any alterations to the cooking method?
Many thanks.
Hi Tony, If you’d like to use something other than beef, I’d go with the pork. Make sure you generously grease the grill grates as the pork may be more prone to sticking than beef. I’d love to hear how they turn out if you try it!
I’m looking forward to making these burgers but Printable recipe states 3 lbs hamburger and detailed instructions state 2 lbs. If you could clarify, I’d appreciate it very much.
Thanks so much for pointing that out Shirley! The correct amount is 3 pounds. I just updated the recipe. Sorry for any confusion!
Haven’t made my own burgers in a long time – totally worth the effort and SO delicious!!!
Hi Jenn, Thank you for so many awesome recipes. You are truly a Chef, second to none. At this point, my recipe file is all Jenn, Once Upon a Chef. You really know your stuff and my family, and I Love your deliciously flavorful and easy to cook recipes. Thank you! Tom
Delicious. Everyone loves them
My favorite burger. Delicious, and juicy!!
Disappointment! It may have had the look of a burger but it was more like baby food on the inside of the burger. The only thing we ended up chewing on was the lettuce and bun! I DO NOT recommend this at all.
No way did you follow this recipe correctly. I make these burgers all the time and never had slop burgers. It’s either the quantity of ingredients or the quality of meat you are using, or possibly the thickness and cooking time for the burger you formed to be mush.
That happens if you over mix the beef and ingredients. You want to mix lightly, and squash it around like dough. Also if you have too much milk, that can happen.