Steakhouse Burgers

Tested & Perfected Recipes Cookbook Recipe
Steakhouse Burgers

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.

Replicate your favorite steakhouse burgers at home — these are packed with flavor and reliably juicy, even when cooked to well-done.

Steakhouse burger on a plate with burger toppings.

Who doesn’t love a big, tender, and juicy steakhouse burger? Problem is, they’re difficult to replicate at home because most steakhouses blend different cuts of beef, like sirloin, chuck, and short ribs, to customize the flavor and fat content of their hamburgers. While it’s possible to 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 — or mixture of bread and milk — and lots of seasoning, you can make steakhouse-style burgers in no time. This recipe has made me a star among my kids’ friends. My daughter’s friend Allie nicknamed them “Segal Burgers” — it stuck, and now we all call them that too.

What You’ll Need To Make Steakhouse Burgers

burger recipe ingredients

Step-by-Step instructions

Begin by making the panade. In a large bowl, mash 2 pieces of white sandwich bread (cut into small pieces) and 1/3 cup milk together with a fork until it forms a chunky paste.

panade or bread and milk paste for burger recipe

Add 2-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1-1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce and 2 tablespoons of ketchup.

adding seasoning to panade for burger recipe

Stir until well combined.

seasoned panade in mixing bowl

Add 3 pounds of 85% lean ground beef and 3 finely sliced scallions (if using).

adding ground beef and scallions to panade

Mix everything together until just combined.

meat mixture for burgersDivide the mixture into 8 equal portions and shape into balls. Flatten each ball into a 3/4-inch-thick patty that’s about 4-1/2 inches across. (Keeping the burgers thick ensures a nice char on the outside without overcooking the inside.) To prevent the burgers from forming a domed shape on the grill, create a slight depression in the center of each patty.

burgers ready to cook on baking sheet

Grill the burgers 2 to 4 minutes on the first side until nicely browned. Flip and cook on the second side a few minutes more, until desired doneness is reached. The panade in these burgers keeps the meat tender and juicy, even when overcooked, so these burgers are ideal for kids, the elderly, pregnant women, or anyone who just prefers their burgers well done.

burgers on the grill

You May Also Like

Steakhouse Burgers

Replicate your favorite steakhouse burgers at home — these are packed with flavor and reliably juicy, even when cooked to well-done.

Servings: 8
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 25 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pieces white sandwich bread, crusts removed and cut into ¼-inch pieces
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 2½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 3 pounds 80 to 85% lean ground beef
  • 3 scallions, white and green parts, very finely sliced (optional)
  • 8 hamburger buns

Instructions

  1. Preheat the grill to high heat.
  2. 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.
  3. 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-inch patties about 4½ inches across. Form a slight depression in the center of each patty to prevent the burgers from puffing up on the grill.
  4. 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.
  5. Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The uncooked burgers can be frozen for up to three months. (Freeze the burgers on a baking sheet or plate so their shape sets, then transfer them to a sealable plastic bag for easy storage.) Defrost the burgers overnight in the refrigerator prior to serving and then cook as directed.

Pair with

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Serving size: 1 burger
  • Calories: 517
  • Fat: 27 g
  • Saturated fat: 10 g
  • Carbohydrates: 28 g
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 37 g
  • Sodium: 567 mg
  • Cholesterol: 116 mg

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.

See more recipes:

Comments

  • Just made these for tonight’s bbq with family. I was concerned about some comments that they had a “meatloaf” taste & texture so I pan fried one to taste test. Absolutely delicious and no hint of meatloaf anywhere! LoL
    They’re chilling in the fridge and I’m confident they’ll get rave reviews from everyone. Thanks again for sharing your time and talents Jenn – this Canadian really appreciates you!

    • — Susan on August 13, 2023
    • Reply
  • I want to make this recipe tomorrow…would Panko bread crumbs be an okay substitute for the white sandwich bread crumbs? If so how much would equal two slices of white bread?
    Thanks Jenn.
    Susan
    PS: I’ll let you know how they turn out.

    • — susan priest on August 12, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Susan, yes, you can use panko here instead. I’d guess you’ll need about 1/2 – 2/3 cup. Enjoy!

      • — Jenn on August 14, 2023
      • Reply
  • What if you really just hate garlic? Any substitutes in various recipes?

    • — Candy on August 10, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Candy, it depends a bit on the recipe, but shallots, chives or fennel can stand in for garlic.

      • — Jenn on August 11, 2023
      • Reply
  • I split 92% fat 5lbs ground beef so I use 2 1/2lbs but don’t adjust the other ingredient measurements. I also add an egg because I’m a creature of habit. Also add some crackers to absorb the extra moisture since I use less beef. These come out amazing, everyone loves them, so tender. Will never buy premade again, thanks

    • — Vvvv on July 26, 2023
    • Reply
  • Delicious burgers. Enjoyed and praised by my entire family. Definitely keeping this recipe for our grilling rotation.

    • — Emily on July 9, 2023
    • Reply
  • Added 1/2 tsp chilli powder and 2tsp fish sauce to the mix for more flavour .

    • — Kate on July 9, 2023
    • Reply
  • We loved this recipe! Super easy and delicious. Very flavorful! 😋

    • — Evelyn Daniels on July 8, 2023
    • Reply
    • The absolute BEST burger recipe. I have been making these for a few years now. It’s the only way I make my burgers. Super juicy and flavourful every single time. Thank you!

      • — Olivia Hutchins on July 13, 2023
      • Reply
  • LOVED these!!! Definitely the BEST burger I’ve ever made!

    • — S Garza on July 7, 2023
    • Reply
  • Awesome burgers!!! I’ve yet to try one of your recipes that we didn’t like. I make a lot of your recipes as I have your two cookbooks 🙂

    • — Joanne on June 26, 2023
    • Reply
  • These were delicious. The only thing I would change is MAYBE make 9-10 instead of 8. Delicious!

    • — Christina Gibson on June 20, 2023
    • Reply

Add a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.