How to Cook Burgers in the Oven (Baked and Broiled)

To cook burgers in the oven, bake ¾-inch patties on a wire rack set over a foil-lined baking sheet at 400 to 425°F for about 15 to 20 minutes, until they reach 160°F inside, the USDA's safe minimum for ground beef. For more browning, broil them 3 to 4 inches below the element for roughly 4 to 6 minutes per side instead.

The oven is the easiest way to cook a big batch of burgers at once, with no flipping marathon at the stove and far less splatter. Here's how to bake them, how to broil them, and how to get a better crust.

Why cook burgers in the oven?

• Batch cooking: a sheet pan holds 6 to 8 patties, so everyone eats at the same time.
• Hands-off: once they're in, you can make sides like crispy oven fries on another rack.
• Even cooking: gentle, all-around heat cooks the patty evenly from edge to center.
• Less mess: no grease splattering across the stovetop.

The trade-off is crust. Baked burgers brown less than grilled or pan-seared ones. The broiler and the sear-then-bake method below fix that.

How to bake burgers in the oven

1. Heat the oven. Preheat to 400°F, or 425°F if you want a little more browning. Place a rack in the upper-middle position.
2. Set up the pan. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup and set an oven-safe wire rack on top. The rack lets fat drip away and hot air circulate, so the bottoms don't stew in grease. No rack? Bake directly on the lined sheet and flip halfway through.
3. Shape the patties. Form 80/20 ground beef into patties about ¾ inch thick and a bit wider than your buns. Press a shallow dimple in the center of each one. Our guide to forming burger patties has sizing tips.
4. Season. Salt and pepper both sides right before baking.
5. Bake. Arrange the patties with an inch or so of space between them. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes. Flipping isn't required on a rack, but turning them halfway helps both sides brown evenly.
6. Check the temperature. Start checking at about 12 minutes with an instant-read meat thermometer, inserted from the side into the center. Ground beef is done at 160°F.
7. Melt the cheese. Top each patty with cheese and return the pan to the oven for 1 to 2 minutes.
8. Rest and toast buns. Let the burgers rest 2 to 3 minutes while you toast the buns on the oven rack or under the broiler for about a minute. Watch closely; buns burn fast.

How long to bake burgers in the oven

Times for ¾-inch, ⅓-pound fresh beef patties on a wire rack. Thinner patties cook faster, and thicker ones take longer.

At 400°F

• Medium-rare (130-135°F): about 12 to 14 minutes
• Medium (140-145°F): about 14 to 16 minutes
• Medium-well (150-155°F): about 16 to 18 minutes
• Well-done (160°F): about 18 to 20 minutes

At 425°F

• Medium-rare (130-135°F): about 10 to 12 minutes
• Medium (140-145°F): about 12 to 14 minutes
• Medium-well (150-155°F): about 14 to 16 minutes
• Well-done (160°F): about 16 to 18 minutes

At 350°F, plan on roughly 20 to 25 minutes for well-done. That lower temperature is gentle but gives very little browning.

Doneness and safety: the USDA's safe minimum internal temperature is 160°F for ground beef, pork and lamb and 165°F for ground poultry. Anything below 160°F, such as medium-rare, is a personal risk choice and isn't recommended for children, older adults, pregnant people or anyone with a weakened immune system. See our burger temperature guide for the full chart.

How to broil burgers

Broiling is the closest thing to grilling indoors: intense heat from above gives the patties a browned, slightly charred top. It's faster than baking but needs your attention.

1. Position the rack so the tops of the patties sit about 3 to 4 inches below the broiler element.
2. Preheat the broiler on high for about 5 minutes.
3. Use a broiler pan or a wire rack over a foil-lined rimmed sheet, so fat drips away from the heat. Avoid glass baking dishes, which aren't meant for broiler heat.
4. Broil about 4 to 6 minutes per side for ¾-inch patties, flipping once. Well-done usually lands near the longer end.
5. Check for 160°F, then add cheese and broil for 20 to 30 seconds until melted.

Broilers vary a lot from oven to oven, so check the burgers early the first time you try it. Keep the oven door as your manual recommends, and keep an eye out for flare-ups from dripping fat.

Sear first, then bake: the best of both

For thick burgers (1 inch or more) with a real crust, sear them in a hot oven-safe skillet for 2 to 3 minutes per side, then move the whole skillet to a 400°F oven to finish. That usually takes another 5 to 8 minutes to reach 160°F, depending on thickness. This method works especially well for stuffed burgers and big pub-style patties. For the stovetop part, see how to cook burgers on the stove.

How to keep burgers warm for a crowd

When you're cooking in batches, the oven doubles as a warming station. Set it to about 200°F and keep finished burgers on a wire rack over a sheet pan, loosely covered with foil. They'll hold well for 15 to 20 minutes without drying out much. Keep buns separate until serving so they don't get soggy, and keep hot food at 140°F or above if it's sitting out for a party. Leftovers should go into the fridge within 2 hours.

Tips for better oven burgers

• Don't skip the rack. It's the difference between roasted and boiled-in-fat bottoms.
• Keep patties the same size so they all finish together.
• Pat the patties dry before seasoning. A dry surface browns better.
• Use the broiler for the last 1 to 2 minutes of baking if you want more color on top.
• Add toppings with oven-friendly flavor, like sautéed mushrooms and Swiss in our mushroom Swiss burger.
• Pick a sturdy bun. Oven burgers are juicy, so a good bun matters. See the best buns for burgers.

Cooking outside instead? Our grill time chart covers every thickness.

FAQ

Do you flip burgers in the oven?

On a wire rack, flipping is optional, but turning them halfway gives more even browning. If they're baking directly on a sheet pan, flip them halfway so both sides cook evenly.

What temperature should I bake burgers at?

400 to 425°F is the sweet spot. It cooks ¾-inch patties in under 20 minutes and gives some browning. Lower temperatures work but take longer and look paler.

Can I bake frozen burger patties?

Yes. Bake them from frozen at about 400°F, expecting roughly 50 percent more time, and confirm 160°F in the center. See how to cook frozen burgers.

How long do you cook burgers in the oven at 350°F?

About 20 to 25 minutes for ¾-inch patties to reach 160°F. It works, but expect less browning than at 400 to 425°F.

Is baking or broiling better for burgers?

Baking is more hands-off and better for big batches. Broiling is faster and gives more color, but you need to watch it closely and flip once.