Kebab Beef Burgers Recipe

Best Homemade Beef Burger Recipe

Give your homemade beef burgers a twist with these kebab beef burgers. They are packed with wonderful kebab spices, onions, fresh herbs and served alongside homemade tahini sauce. This will be a recipe you will make over and over again this summer.

Have you already started with BBQs this summer? Oh, we have! It’s a ritual here, almost every two weeks, the family wants to get together and the only cooking happening is BBQ. Of course burgers and steaks mostly. While good meat needs nothing more than just salt and pepper for flavoring, you can’t deny the extra kick you get from a few spices – can you?

About these homemade Kebab beef burgers

These burgers are an absolute hit every single time. If you love Middle Eastern kebabs then this recipe is going to blow your mind. The kebab spices added to the basic burger mixture just takes these to a whole new level of wow. Coriander, smoked cumin and fresh herbs with some onion, garlic, and ginger. This is one burger that’s packed with flavors. Yum!

How to make the best homemade beef burgers?

Homemade burgers are the best. And everybody claims they have the best recipe. The secret to perfect burgers is in the quality of the meat and the method of cooking.

• Use good ground meat.
• Combine all the ingredients well. Season it well.
• Form the burger patties.
• Chill the burgers well.
• Cook them.

What is the secret to juicy homemade beef burgers?

My big tip for juicy burgers is – DO NOT SEASON THE BURGERS UNTIL THEY ARE READY FOR THE GRILL. Yes, no salt in the burger mixture. Salt usually tends to bring out the juices in the meat and these flow out on the grill. To keep those juices in, add salt only later, when the burger is on the grill.

Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)

• Beef – Always use good quality meat for grilling. The best meat for juicy burgers is the tender but full-fat meats with an 80% meat and 15 to 20% fat ratio. Chuk is a recommended cut for burgers.
• Onions – I love using a mix of red and white onions to my kebabs – to add more depth of flavor. While the white onion has a zing, the red is sweet. But either works great in burgers and kebabs.
• Mustard – I think mustard is a must for red meats, especially on the grill.
• Kebab spices – These are very easily available in most supermarkets these days.

Useful Tips and Tools

• A good outdoor grill in summer is perfect for BBQ. And yet, a good cast-iron stovetop grill works great indoors.
• Use a glass or stainless steel mixing bowl to mix all the ingredients. Plastics tend to absorb strong Middle Eastern spices and flavors.
• Also, always use separate cutting boards for meats and veggies.
• A good meat spatula is best to flip burgers and other items on the grill.
• Use a kitchen knife for the veggies and a good bread knife for the buns.

How to make kebab beef burgers (Save/Pin) 

Ingredients

• 500 grams ground beef – ( 1 lb)
• 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce (optional)
• 1 tsp mustard (Dijon)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper to taste

Kebab spice mix

• 1 cup onions finely chopped
• 1 tsp garlic grated or minced
• 1/2 tsp ginger  grated
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 1/4 tsp cumin powder
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1/2 cup cilantro chopped

Method

Basic Burger

• In a bowl, place the ground meat.
• Do not season with salt, just add pepper.
• Add mustard and Tabasco sauce.
• Leave to marinate for a few minutes.

Add kebab spice mix

• Sprinkle all kebab marinade ingredients over the ground meat mixture – onion, garlic, ginger, spices, herbs, and lemon juice.
• Mix just enough to combine. (do not overwork the mixture as it will make the burgers tough).

Form the beef burgers

• Divide your mixture into four large or six medium patties.
  (not too thick or thin).
• Just press lightly into a ball then flatten with the fingers.
• You can keep these wrapped with cling wrap in the fridge until you are ready to grill them.

Outdoor/ Grilled Beef Burgers

• Heat the grill on medium high.
• Now, season the burgers generously with salt on both sides.
• Place burger – let cook without touching – you will see the sides changing color from the bottom up.
  • For medium well – cook about 4 minutes on the first side then 3 on the next.
  • Medium – about 3 minutes on each side.
  • Medium rare – about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes on each side.
  • Rare – about 2 minutes should do.
• For the last minute – add the sliced cheese. (optional)

Stovetop Beef Burgers

• Place a grill or fry pan on medium high.
• Season with burgers generously with salt on both sides.
• Once hot – place the burgers and let cook for at least 2 to 3 minutes before you touch them.
• When grilled on one side – you will see the side changing color from the bottom up.
• Flip and cook on the other side for two more minutes.
• For the last minute place the cheese slices on top (optional).
• Remove from the pan. The heat in the burger will melt the cheese further.

Heat Burger Buns and Serve

• Split the burger buns and heat them on the same hot pan.
• Serve burger with your choice of sides. We love our onion rings and Oven Baked Potato Wedges or oven-fried potato chips.

8 tips for making perfect homemade beef burgers every single time

1. Always buy the best quality ground meat for your burgers.
2. Avoid handling the meat too much. The more you handle the meat the tougher it gets resulting in dense chewy burgers.
3. Keep the burgers chilled until you are ready to cook them. This prevents them from falling apart.
4. If you choose low-fat ground meat – stuff the burgers so you won’t have to overcook them waiting for the center to cook. This is a great way to prevent low-fat burgers from drying out.
5. Don’t squish the juices out. When cooking burgers – leave them alone!! NEVER press down with a spatula as you will push the juices out making the burger dense.
6. Don’t flip the burgers quickly. You need to flip the burger just once or twice. No more. Place the burger on the grill or pan, wait till it has done on one side. If you try to lift and it’s still stuck means it’s not ready yet. If you force it all the beautiful caramelization you just got on the meat with the high heat will stay stuck to the pan!
7. Always use good quality fresh vegetables. This makes the burgers appetizing. Fresh green lettuce, red tomatoes, red onions.
8. Heat the buns on the grill so they are at least warm not cold with the burgers. I think cold burgers are a big turn-off. Give the light kiss of those pan juices and you take your burger to a whole new level.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best ground meat for homemade beef burgers?

Full-fat cuts of meat give you rich, tender, juicy burgers. The lean cuts tend to give you dryer burgers because there is not fat to hold the moisture in.

How to make juicy homemade beef burgers

Use full-fat meats. If you choose one with less fat the burgers tend to shrink and become dry. Also, use coarse ground meat, not finely ground. The fine ground will tend to dry out faster.

How do you keep hamburger patties from falling apart?

There are few things you can do as I have explained in the tips section above

• Keep the burgers chilled as warm patties then to fall apart.
• Don’t over mix the burger mixture.
• Avoid flipping the burgers too soon, or often.
• Do not add too much liquid to the burger mixture. When using frozen ground meat, make sure to drain excess moisture before you form the patties.
• Lastly, if necessary beat an egg and add only as much as needed to bring it all together.

Why do we stuff beef burgers in the center?

One of the many reasons people choose to stuff burgers so the center won’t need cooking. Often the edges tend to dry out while the center is cooking. This is often when you cook burger past medium.

Why do my homemade beef burgers stick to the grill?

• Always use a well seasoned cast-iron pan to grill. Wipe the grill pan with a paper towel that’s been moistened with oil. This helps the pan reach a nice smoking point.
• With full-fat ground meat, the burgers should not stick to the grill pan at all.
• But, if you use low-fat ground meat, it is a good idea to add some oil to the pan before adding the burgers.
• If your burgers are still sticking check to see if the girl pan is clean – perhaps burnt residue from your previous BBQ are still stuck the wires. Clean thoroughly.

Can I use olive oil for hamburgers?

Olive oil has a low smoke point and burgers are to be cooked on high. Therefore it is highly recommended to use cooking oils such as canola or grape seed.

What sauce works best for these kebab beef burgers?

Most people use ketchup and mayonnaise. Our family favorite is avocado. Sometimes I mash or slice it as you can see in the images. These kebab burgers go well with a good homemade tahini sauce.

Homemade Tahini Sauce aka Middle Eastern Tahina

This creamy, light and delicious homemade tahini sauce make a perfect accompaniment to any meal. This middle eastern Tahina sauce is heart healthy and works a treat served with meat dishes, as an ingredient in dishes like Hummus and Babaganoush or drizzled over your favorite falafel or shawarma. Try it as a salad dressing or drizzle over a bowl of steamed vegetables.

What buns are best for these kebab beef hamburgers?

You can buy readymade burger buns. And yet, if you are up to it, you must try my homemade soft burger buns. I also have whole wheat burger buns. Both are soft and wonderful. They are also very popular with the readers of this blog. Don’t forget to see the comments below for positive reviews.

Soft Burger Buns – The Best you will EVER make – Video Recipe

These soft burger buns are the best recipe you will ever make the next time you plan a burger feast. They are soft, fluffy and golden but most importantly they melt in the mouth. This simple, easy and effortless recipe will have you making homemade hamburger buns every time you decide to make homemade Burgers.

Homemade Soft Whole Wheat Burger Buns – Hamburger Buns

A step by step tutorial on how to make the best, softest whole wheat burger buns from scratch. These hamburger buns though made with whole wheat are soft, tender and melt in the mouth delicious just like your burgers. A simple and easy recipe even a novice can follow.

What do you serve on the side with these kebab beef burgers

The next best thing to burgers is of course what’s on the side. Here are a few options that we often use when we have a BBQ or when we are invited to a BBQ party.

• Oven baked potato wedges
• Baked Carrot sticks.
• Quick garlic sesame asparagus
• Garlic parmesan asparagus
• Spinach potato patties
• Roasted Eggplant salad – Lebanese style
• Carrot Zucchini Fritters
• Carrot salad with raisins, cranberries, and nuts
• Celery salad with cranberries
• Leek potato patties

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Spiced Homemade Beef Burger Recipe

Author: Veena Azmanov

5 from 14 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 15 mins

Calories: 226kcal

$35

Adjust Servings Here: 6 servings

Description

Give your homemade beef burgers a twist with these kebab beef burgers. They are packed with wonderful kebab spices, onions, fresh herbs and served alongside homemade tahini sauce. This will be a recipe you will make over and over again this summer.

Equipment /Tools

• Outdoor Grill
• Stovetop Grill
• Stainless steel mixing bowl
• Cutting boards
• Kitchen Knife
• Bread knife
• Grill Spatula

Ingredients

Makes 4 large or 6 medium Burgers

BASIC BURGER MIXTURE

• 500 grams Ground beef
• 1 tsp Mustard Dijon
• 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce optional
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Pepper to taste

KEBAB SPICE MIX

• 1 cup Onions finely chopped
• 1 tsp Garlic grated or minced
• 1/2 tsp Ginger grated
• 1/2 tsp Coriander powder
• 1/4 tsp Cumin powder
• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon powder
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1/2 cup Cilantro chopped

Metric – US customary

ADJUST SERVINGS HERE – 6 servings

Conversions – Switch between Metric & US for other measurement options

Instructions

BASIC BURGER

• In a bowl place the ground meat.
• Do not season with salt. Just add some pepper.
• Add mustard and Tabasco sauce.
• Leave to marinate for a few minutes.

ADD KEBAB SPICE MIX

• Sprinkle all kebab marinade ingredients over the ground meat mixture – onion, garlic, ginger, spices, herbs, and lemon juice.
• Mix just enough to combine. (do not overwork the mixture as it will make the burgers tough).

FORM THE BEEF BURGERS

• Divide your mixture into four large or six medium patties.
• (not too thick or thin).
• Just press lightly into a ball then flatten with the fingers.
• You can keep these wrapped with cling wrap in the fridge until you are ready to grill them.
• Thaw burgers to room temperature an hour before grilling.

OUTDOOR/ GRILLED BEEF BURGER

• Heat the grill on medium high.
• Generously season the burgers with salt on both sides.
• Place burger – let cook without touching – you will see the sides changing color from the bottom up.
• For medium well – cook about 4 minutes on the first side then 3 on the next.
• Medium – about 3 minutes on each side.
• Medium rare – about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes on each side.
• Rare – about 2 minutes should do.
• For the last minute – add the sliced cheese. (optional)

STOVETOP COOKED BEEF BURGER

• Place a grill or fry pan on medium high.
• Generously season the burgers with salt on both sides.
• Once hot – place the burgers and let cook for at least 2 to 3 minutes before you touch them.
• When grilled on one side – you will see the side changing color from the bottom up.
• Flip and cook on the other side for two more minutes.
• For the last minute place the cheese slices on top (optional).
• Remove from the pan. The heat in the burger will melt the cheese further.

HEAT BURGER BUNS AND SERVE

• Split the burger buns and heat them on the same hot pan.
• Serve burger with your choice of sides. We love our onion rings and oven-baked potato wedges or oven-fried potato chips.

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Nutrition Information

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 272mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1.7mg

The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you

Keywords – BBQ, beef, burgers, grilliing, kebabs, summer

Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear how it was.Mention @veenaazmanov or tag me on Instagram #veenaazmanov

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