Share on Social!

Need griddle burger recipes to make on the Blackstone griddle or other flat top grill? Get my best tips for cooking burgers on the griddle, like what griddle accessories you need and what griddle temp is best! Plus, try some of my favorite flat top grill burger recipes!

There are few things you can eat that are better than a juicy burger cooked on the griddle. And while the classic smash burger is definitely a favorite among flat top grill owners, it’s not the only hamburger deserving of a spot on your griddle.

Here are 8 different griddle burger recipes that can convert your burger-hater into a cheeseburger enthusiast, plus everything that you ever wanted to know about cooking burgers on the Blackstone or other griddle:

cooking burgers on the griddle

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click a link and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read my full terms of use for more info.

What tools do I need for cooking burgers on the griddle?

You only need a few basic griddle accessories to make burgers on the Blackstone, most of which you probably already have in your arsenal. Here are the tools that I recommend:

Griddle spatula

A long-bladed, flexible spatula (sometimes called a “turner”) is the best tool for flipping and removing your hamburgers on the griddle.

two white handled spatulas for the griddle

One of the best things about cooking burgers on the griddle, and the reason why griddle burgers are superior to charcoal grilled burgers in my opinion, is the crust that you get on the meat. You don’t want to leave all of the flavor on your griddle, so you’ll need a good griddle spatula to be able to scrape underneath the meat and keep the burger’s crust in tact.

You can see my favorite griddle spatulas here, and get tips for what to look for to choose the right spatulas for you.

Melting dome

If you’re making thick cheeseburgers on the griddle, then a melting dome is helpful to speed up the melting process.

Look for a larger dome so that you can fit up to 4 or 5 burgers underneath it at a time, if needed. You can also use a dome for other types of griddle recipes, or anytime that you want to trap the heat in and create more of an oven or steam effect when cooking on the flat top.

putting a melting dome over burgers on a griddle

My favorite melting dome here has a built-in vent that you can open to release steam, and it even comes with a wire rack to elevate your food off the griddle while doming it or keeping it warm.

Internal probe thermometer

For thick griddle burgers, you’ll probably want to invest in an internal probe thermometer to make sure the hamburgers are done to your likeness. You can also use this type of thermometer to check the internal temperature of other griddle items like chicken breasts or griddle steaks.

This is the instant read internal thermometer that I use and love.

Burger press (optional)

You definitely don’t need a weighted press to make awesome hamburgers on the Blackstone, but it does make the process easier, especially if you’re making smash burgers. This is the press that I have and recommend. It’s 9 inches long so you can use it to keep your griddle bacon from curling up, and the larger size means that you can weight down two smaller items at the same time.

using a press to smash a burger patty on a griddle

If you don’t have a weighted burger press, you can still make awesome smash burgers with a technique that I used for about a year, before I invested in a press. Just use two spatulas in an “x” shape like this to apply pressure to your beef balls to smash them on the griddle:

using two spatulas to press down on burgers on the Blackstone

What is the best beef for a griddle burger?

I recommend using 80/20 ground chuck for the best Blackstone burgers. Any leaner and your hamburgers may tend to get a bit dry. A fattier beef (like 75/25) may result in your burgers being too greasy since there is nowhere for the excess fat to go… not like grilled burgers where the fat can drip through the grill grates.

If you want to get fancy, you can grind your own chuck roast for fresh ground chuck, but the taste difference is barely noticeable compared to ground beef that you purchase from the grocery store, so I say save yourself some time and money.

Tips for Cooking Burgers on the Griddle

Here are some of my best tried and true tips for cooking the best griddle burgers on your flat top grill:

Mise en place, or prepare your ingredients in advance.

Griddle cooking goes very quickly, and if you’re a newbie to flat top cooking, then it may catch you off guard. That’s why it’s important to “mise en place” (French for preparing and organizing your ingredients in advance).

Before you put your hamburgers on the griddle, make sure that your other ingredients are standing by at the ready including:

  • cheese packages are open and ready to go
  • burger seasoning is nearby
  • buns are opened and ready to toast on the griddle
  • any other toppings that will be cooked (like onions or mushrooms) are sliced and ready

Use a measuring cup to portion out your beef.

This is one of my favorite tips for cooking burgers on the Blackstone. To ensure that all of your burger patties are evenly sized and cook at the same time on the griddle, portion out the raw ground beef in a measuring cup.

For larger burgers, loosely pack the ground beef in a 1/2 cup measuring cup. For the perfect smash burger size, use a 1/3 cup measuring cup like this, then roll the beef into a ball:

ground beef in a 1/3 cup measuring cup

Get the right griddle temp for burgers.

Make sure that you preheat your flat top grill or griddle before starting to cook your burgers. A good griddle temp for burgers is about 375 – 450 degrees F. I’ve found that in this temperature range, your burgers will develop a nice seared crust.

You can use an infrared thermometer like the one pictured below to make sure your griddle is dialed in to the correct temperature. Or, if you don’t have this type of thermometer, then I recommend preheating your griddle on medium low for about 10-15 minutes, depending on what type of griddle you have.

instant read temperature device showing 422 degree griddle temp

Be aware of your hot spots.

Most traditional rolled steel outdoor griddles have a fairly large temperature variance between different areas or “zones” on the griddle. For instance, my Blackstone griddle runs about 100 degrees hotter in the center of the griddle surface compared to the outer edges of the top.

Can you still cook awesome burgers on the Blackstone? Absolutely!

But it helps to be aware of where your hot spots and cooler zones are before you begin cooking. In most cases, you want to cook your burgers on the hottest area of your griddle top for the best sear. A good seared burger on a griddle top just has more flavor than a regular charcoal grilled burger.

Choose a good burger seasoning.

Don’t forget to season your meat, whether you use a good blend of salt, pepper, and garlic powder, or you try my favorite burger seasoning that was designed for and tested on the griddle.

For smash burgers, I prefer to season the meat after it has been smashed on the griddle like this:

seasoning a burger on the griddle

But for thick griddle burgers, I season the meat liberally with my Smash That Burger Seasoning before I put it on the griddle.

Watch out for splattering grease.

The flat, solid griddle surface means that the fat from the ground beef doesn’t have anywhere to escape to as your burgers are cooking. So often times, especially with thinner burger patties, the grease splatters upward off of the griddle. Here’s a perfect example of all of the grease splatters you may experience when cooking griddle hamburgers:

grease splattering on a Blackstone while cooking cheeseburgers

All of those little specs and lines in the photo above are actually grease that is splattering up off the griddle, and it is HOT! That’s when a longer handled spatula comes in handy!

Don’t forget about the bun.

The bun is one of the most important parts of a perfect griddle burger, besides of course the hamburger patty itself. A hard, dry bun can take an A+ hamburger and turn it into something that you would feed your dog. Okay, maybe I’m being a bit dramatic… but the perfect bun is crucial.

We personally use and recommend a good-quality brioche hamburger bun… and we also suggest that you toast it on the griddle while your burgers are cooking.

cooking burgers and toasting burger buns on a griddle

There’s a few reasons for this:

  1. When you toast your hamburger buns, the butter in the bread warms and softens, giving you a soft and pillowy texture.
  2. The toasted cut sides of the buns help to absorb some of the grease from your burgers so the buns don’t get soggy.

Clean the griddle immediately after cooking Blackstone burgers.

Cleaning a griddle is easier to do while the griddle is warm, because the fats are liquified and not yet dried to the griddle surface. That’s why I always recommend to “clean as you go” (during the cooking process) and to not put off cleaning your Blackstone until the following day.

In most cases, cleaning your Blackstone after making burgers can be done in a few simple steps:

  • Use your bench scraper to scrape the fond (food debris) and the excess grease into the grease trap.
  • While the griddle is warm, use your squirt bottle to squirt some water on to the griddle surface if needed. This creates steam which helps to release any stuck on bits. Then scrape the excess water and food debris into the grease trap.
  • Use a paper towel to wipe up any excess moisture from the griddle top.

8 Griddle Burger Recipes to Try on the Blackstone

Now that you’ve gotten a few good tips for cooking griddle burgers, here are some awesome Blackstone burger recipes to try on your flat top grill:

Smash Burgers

The most popular griddle burger by far, and for good reason! A properly cooked smash burger on the griddle can’t be beat… trust me, I recently did a head-to-head competition between the classic griddle burger vs. a charcoal grilled, flame-kissed burger.

Get all of my best tips and an easy (seriously, like 5 minutes!) smash burger recipe here!

smash burger with cheese

Juicy Lucy Burgers

A “Juicy Lucy” is basically just a hamburger with the cheese on the inside instead of on top. Think of it as a cheese-stuffed hamburger patty. Easy to make and a fantastic burger recipe to try on the flat top grill. Print out my easy Juicy Lucy cheese stuffed burger recipe here.

Juicy Lucy cheese stuffed burger

Onion Burgers

Whether you call them onion burgers or Oklahoma Onion Burgers, these easy griddle burgers are fantastic! Thinly sliced onions get smashed into the hamburger patties as they cook for extra flavor! Think of this popular griddle burger recipe as a smash burger with onions.

See how to make these Oklahoma Onion Burgers and print the recipe here!

close up view of oklahoma onion burger

Breakfast Burgers

Who says you can’t have burgers for breakfast?! This breakfast burger recipe combines two of the most notorious griddle food groups (burgers and breakfast) into one epic burger! No wonder some people call this the “hangover burger”:

breakfast burger with egg, bacon, cheese, hash browns, and burger patty

Pub Burgers

If you’re in the mood for a thick griddle burger, and you have a bit more time to spend cooking, then try these fantastic pub burgers with pretzel buns and homemade beer cheese! The saltiness of the pretzel bun and the robust flavors of the beer cheese make this thick Blackstone burger a winner!

And BONUS, you can use the leftover beer cheese as a dip for chips, carrots and celery, or pretzel bites!

pub burger with beer cheese on a pretzel bun

Chicken Smash Burgers

Need a break from all the beef? Try these chicken smash burgers with pepper jack cheese! A great choice if you’re looking for a leaner meat option:

chicken smash burger

Western Burger

If you’re a fan of barbecue sauce and bacon (who isn’t?!) then try this griddle Western burger with homemade fried onion strings. The crispy onions add a nice texture contrast to the beef, but this Western-style burger is also fantastic with regular caramelized onions.

Western burgers with barbecue sauce, onion rings, and bacon

Reuben Burger

This Reuben Burger on the Blackstone is fantastic… and fantastically simple! In fact, besides the classic smash burger, this griddle burger recipe was probably one of the easiest hamburgers that we’ve ever made on the flat top grill. And filming the entire YouTube video for this easy flat top grill burger took less than 15 minutes, and that includes pausing while I stumbled over my words (If you know, you know!).

Watch the full YouTube video for how to make this Reuben Burger here!

Reuben burgers

What are your favorite griddle burger recipes? Or do you have any tips for cooking burgers on the griddle? Leave me a comment down below!

And happy griddling!

Get More Griddle Recipes!

Follow The Flat Top King on YouTube for more recipes and tips for mastering your griddle!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

106 Comments

  1. BrianM5823 says:

    Smash burgers are the best! Congratulations on 100k!

    Good luck everyone.

  2. Mamarinejim1964 says:

    my wife has been bugging me for smash burgers and with your help I finally was able to make them right.

  3. Milton Brown says:

    I love the smashed burgers.. I tried your recipe after I got off with today… thanks.. and congrats on the 100,000 milestone

  4. Don Martin says:

    I just got my first griddle, the Traeger Flatrock, based largely on your content! Smashed burgers are at the top of my list and this article was EXTREMELY helpful! Thank you for everything you do and I look forward to being a part of this community!

  5. Brad West says:

    Man you make some delicious looking stuff

  6. Lamar Simmons says:

    Happy 100K Just did my first smash burger loved it thanks for teaching techniques for temp controal on flatops and thanks for the giveaway

    ROLL TIDE!!!

  7. Van Tomlinson says:

    These are my favorite burgers! I put bacon grease on my grill while I’m heating it up!
    Thanks again for a great cooking recipe!

  8. Scott Ramey says:

    Love a good smash burger ! Congratulations on 100K.

  9. Kris Langdon says:

    Burgers look amazing! Love your YouTube channel. Congrats on 100,000 subscribers!

  10. Eric Guymon says:

    Smash burgers are a must for all! These look amazing. I appreciate what you do, I am in the market for my first griddle and have been watching all the content to help me make a decision.

  11. Great recipe. Big fan. I have leukemia and other health problems and your recipes and videos help me have a little peace in my day.and let me laugh when you and your wife joke around. Keep up the great work!

  12. I have never been one to grill or cook in really any meaningful way… but by watching your videos I have gained the confidence to not only try but be happy with results. Thank you and keep the ideas coming

  13. Michele m says:

    looks good. I’m entering the contest please

  14. Justin Moore says:

    My wife bought me a flattop for Christmas and initially I was very limited on what I thought I could make. Then I found your YouTube channel and it’s been a game-changer! I appreciate the variety of recipes. I now have tons of options to cook. Also, as soon as Smoke That hits, make a three pack of one of each and I’m buying that immediately!

  15. Susan Boh says:

    I am new to the smash burgers I am and old lady learning to understand how to cook so my grandkids will eat the new way of the world. Why would you want to smash them? Are they dry? Thanks for being part of our family now. We are slowly making our way thru your video’s. You know old people fall asleep watching videos. lol No I am a young 60-year-old who really loves to cook, and I want to teach my grandkids the old school stuff and the new way of doing things. I am finding your videos so much fun to watch and I am learning a lot. But truly are the smash burgers dry?

  16. Jason Adams says:

    Looking forward to making some smash burgers once I get my flattop – hopefully soon! Y’all have a great channel and enjoy the videos! Congrats on 100k.

  17. Christopher Grecco says:

    These are some awesome burgers and look delicious you have a great channel and are really the flat top king thanks for everything you do

  18. Howard Barlow says:

    The onion, western, and Rueben burgers are on my short list. You’ve made me hungry!

  19. Shaun sparks says:

    This is why i come to this sight and watch your channel. Lets get to 1 million!!!!

  20. Jeff Grant says:

    going to try this weekend to decide if I like the smashed burgers better for the thick and juicy ones. we had

  21. Barbara Baker says:

    Love your channel. Your recipes, tips and tricks are the best.

  22. This is great! Love the Shake That seasoning! Go Vols!! Congrats on the 100k subs.

  23. Joey Warren says:

    You Guys are a big part of me becoming a “flattopper”. I average cooking on it about 5 days a week. Gon grads on 100,000

  24. Patrick Quinn says:

    Thanks for the great information.

  25. Frank Zabotsky says:

    have to try your smash burger recipe. congratulations on your 100000 mark.

  26. Jeff Peters says:

    Congratulations on the 100k subscribers. I found your channel over a month ago and love your content. You both are so much fun to watch and learn from. Plus watching you both is inspiring and great to see the team work. Thanks for all you do!

  27. We have learned SO MUCH from watching your videos! It has helped us be successful pretty quickly with our new Camp Chef griddle. Thank you and Amy for putting out such great content – we love watching the two of you!

    Happy to be subscribers and helping you hit that 100K mark. Congrats!

  28. Congrats on 100k subs. We added a few of our favorite mexican flavors to it and changed this to a smashed quesadilla.

  29. Kenneth Donald says:

    Congratulations on 100,000 subs!! Love y’all videos!!

  30. Tom Brown says:

    Congrats on 100K!!

  31. Tried these smashed burgers they were outstanding!!

  32. Drew Jaeger says:

    I can’t wait to get a griddle so I can try making all these great burgers for my family! I have 3 boys at home that will destroy them! Thanks for sharing!

  33. New to griddlin’. You taught me how to season my griddle that worked out flawlessly. Additionally, I have learned hibachi, smash burgers, and cheese steaks from your videos. Everyone has loved the cooking. Thanks for the assist.

  34. Dan Smilloff says:

    Congrats on 100,000 subs! Love your recipes

  35. Thomas Dildine says:

    You really can’t go wrong doing burgers on the griddle.

    Congrats on the 100k!

  36. David Burton says:

    I made my first smash burgers using your method,I must say they were not bad for a beginner.

  37. Doyle McCoy says:

    Congratulations on 100k. I still love my Camp Chef 600.

  38. Ron Seanor says:

    Really like your videos! Informative and entertaining!

  39. Sonja Holzhausen says:

    I have encouraged my friends to follow your process as this is the best burger for sure.

  40. Dennis Shipp says:

    I like your channel. You cooked in the Armed Services which is appreciated. The smash burger looks great. Thank you for helping all of us cooks!

  41. Rob O’Connell says:

    Great content.
    Fun to watch and fun getting better on my griddle!

  42. Jim McGee says:

    I love this article on cooking burgers. I’m gonna have to try them all. I have learned so much from your videos. Congratulations on 100k subscribers.

  43. Vanessa Strada says:

    Just tried smashburgers for the first time on my brand new griddle. Loved your recipe and your YT vid was a HUGE help!

    1. Robert Hastings says:

      congratulations on 100K! the recipe looks great!

  44. Deanna Longworth says:

    Love watching your channel. Y’all give us so much inspiration and your food always looks so good! Please keep doing what you do.

  45. Bryan Inkley says:

    I have been trying these burgers every weekend to try and get them right… thanks for a the tips and advice
    bryaninkley54

  46. Franklin Robertson says:

    Gratz on 100k subs. Let me get that prize!! 🙂

  47. Travis Faust says:

    I love this recipe use it every time never gets old

  48. Rich Montalbano says:

    Congrats on 100k you guys! Here’s to a million!

  49. Brent Moreland says:

    all of your food looks so good. im hopefully gonna be getting a blackstone for Father’s day and I will for sure be using your recipes to learn how to cook. all of your YouTube videos have been so helpful. and I learned today your from Tennessee and a vols fan. Go Vols baby. I was at the Bama game last year. Amazing. makes me supporting you so much better. and I will for sure be a subscriber and supporter for life now that I’m getting into this flattop world of cooking.

  50. Doug Scholl says:

    I ‘m an Oklahoma onion burger guy.

  51. Ryan English says:

    Some great tips for making smash burgers, will definitely be using this website for recipes all summer!!

  52. Dave Haddock says:

    Love all your recipes and videos! Keep up the good work and GO VOLS!

  53. These burgers look awesome. Also, congratulations on 100k!

  54. Jason Smoulcey says:

    Been looking at a griddles for sometime now, really enjoyed the in depth reviews of them and making my decision easier what to get. Congrats on 100k.

  55. awesome video… food looks so great

  56. I want to try all these burgers! Great videos, great info for a newbie griddler.

  57. Jeremy Simard says:

    I’ve only ever done smash and pub style on my Blackstone Griddle. The other 6 look fantastic and I’ll have to give them a go!

  58. Jonathan Heflin says:

    Found your youtube channel and website when I received a griddle for Christmas and we looking for seasoning and easy recipes for learning to cook on my griddle. Love you channel and your recipes. Look forward to your videos. Thanks, so much for sharing with us.

  59. John Pace says:

    Congrats! I just found you guys a couple months ago as I was researching griddles. I really like your delivery, facts and a bit of humor and great recipes. Your reviews do not seem skewed, just what you like or do not. I appreciate honesty. Glad you guys hit 100k! I purchased the Traeger Flatrock – my first cook will be Friday, smash burgers of course… I’m a retired logistics army dude – Go Navy!

    Your smash burger is what I will be cooking Friday!

  60. Your recipes and videos are outstanding.

  61. Aaron Snyder says:

    These all look amazing! I can’t wait to try them all and this has some great tips for beginners!

  62. Good stuff!! Congrats and cheers 🍻!!

  63. Ragequit42 says:

    burgers are the best part of having a griddle! thank for all the ideas!

  64. Bonnie Ambrose says:

    I have never been a hamburger person – until my husband made SMASH BURGERS! I’m so glad he found your channel and tried these! Simply the best. And of course, your seasoning is to die for. (Just received 2 more jars today)! Keep up the good work! Just a side note – we love your chicken stir fry, but couldn’t find the recipe on here to comment.

  65. Patrick Clarke says:

    The onion burger looks amazing!! I’m about to pull the trigger on a two burner Blackstone for the RV. That will be my first cook!

  66. I made smash burgers the other day using 85/15. They were perfect… So thin they only had one side! Lol I love your channel! Congrats!!

  67. Congratulations on 100000

  68. Congratulations on 100k!!! Been hooked on your videos and can’t wait to try the seasonings

  69. Charles Bynum says:

    I watched your smash burger videos about 17 times before I did mine but they turned out great!

  70. Victor Hernandez says:

    Congrats on 100K subscribers. I follow this recipe and they come out amazing every time. Thanks for doing what you and teaching g us to level up our cooking.

  71. Andrew Palya says:

    Can’t wait to try some of these with your seasoning!

  72. Adam Perkins says:

    Congratulations on 100k can’t wait for more recipes to come !

  73. Congrats on 100k, next up 1 MILLION! Dynamic Duo killing the grill game. Can’t wait to see more videos and posts!

  74. SCOTT LARKIN says:

    Great content. Love your channel

  75. Ramsey Kothmann says:

    You guys are awesome!!!!!

  76. I’ve only had my Blackstone 1 1/2 weeks and so far cooked burgers (twice) & chicken wings. I watch your channel everyday. Someday I hope to try all your recipes.

  77. Mike Dreyer says:

    Let’s go baby!!! 100k is sick.

  78. Congratulations on 100k

  79. Thanks for the variety, needed new ideas for smash burgers.

  80. Smash burgers on the griddle is where it’s at!!

  81. Braden Stuart says:

    Hey Flat Top King!! I have been a huge fan of the channel. The content is wholesome and helpful! Made smashed burger tacos the other night and wifey approved, so two good things happened there…one I had a delicious dinner and wifey is happy! All thanks to you! God bless, thank you for your service and love your Flat Top Recipes!!

  82. Richard Rosine says:

    Congratulations on 100,000 subscribers!

  83. Matthew Gaffney says:

    Thanks for the burger advice.

  84. Dave West says:

    Congrats on the 100k!

  85. being a newbie, your step by step instructions with visuals and videos are very helpful. Thank you!

  86. James W West says:

    Smash burgers is where it’s at! The Smash That seasoning is pretty good on them as well! I like mine with pepper and Lawry’s seasoning salt as well, it’s real tough to chose which is best!

  87. David Eiri says:

    Great burger smashing technique! I learned a lot. Thanks.

  88. Jeff Ketcherside says:

    Looks amazing!!!

  89. Clint Gilpin says:

    Can’t wait to try it!

  90. Thanks for the recipes and videos!

  91. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!

    Now I can feed my wife burgers at home instead of spending $1000’s at DOORDASH!!!!

    TYTYTY!!!!

  92. Alex Cordero says:

    Thanks for all the info. saving up for my first ever griddle. cant wait to try some smash burgers. Appreciate the time you take giving honest reviews!

  93. Hiran Arias says:

    This has been a game changer for me, I tried them first on a cast iron over the grill and decided I needed to move into a griddle, that got me hooked on a ton of new and old ideas. Thanks

  94. John Waugh says:

    Neal and Amy,

    Congratulations on reaching your amazing milestone of 100,000 subscribers.

    Your no BS style has broken the barrier for so many people who were intimidated or challenged by cooking on a flat top grill.

    The amazing and authentic chemistry that you both share with viewers each and every week, makes it fun to see what you will share next.

    Having been one of your original subscribers, I have enjoyed watching the channel grow and get better each week.

  95. Shawn R Wampler says:

    All those burgers look amazing! looking forward to trying the Smash ans Shake seasonings! love the videos and always look forward to watching them. Congrats on 100k!

  96. Pete Wehler says:

    Congratulations on your 100K subscribers and I love your seasonings and hats!!!

  97. Jeremy Aldridge says:

    can’t wait to try this… if I ever get a griddle. My wife and I love watching your content on YouTube.

  98. Bo Churchwell says:

    Congratulations on the 100k keep them coming

  99. Can’t wait to try this!

  100. Keith Brautigam says:

    Congrats on 100K on YouTube!!

Similar Posts