Instant Pot Hamburgers are juicy and delicious. You can get juicy, tasty hamburgers with a pressure cooker. Instant Pot Burgers are very easy to make.
Originally published 4/18/2018
Instant Pot Hamburgers
So, what in the world made me think to steam a hamburger in my Instant Pot? I was craving my husband's famous potato packets (recipe coming soon), and I was sad because it's still too cold to break out the grill. Then I thought hey, I can make those in my Instant Pot!
If you are from Connecticut, this may not seem the least bit strange. But to many people, a steamed burger sounds just plain weird.
In some parts of the country, anywhere with a "White Castle" restaurant, steaming is just another way to make a juicy hamburger or cheeseburger.
We usually have the potatoes with burgers. Hmmm, I wonder what burgers made in packets like the potatoes would taste like?
I could fry up a burger in my cast iron pan, and I do sometimes, but I needed to try this idea. I'm into trying new things. So, that's what I did!
It took a few tests as my first burgers were not as juicy as I wanted. You have to use a higher fat content to get that really juicy Instant Pot Hamburger (or any burger).
Instant Pot Hamburgers are pretty simple to make. Once you make your meat mixture, make the patties, wrap them up, and steam them in the pressure cooker.
When making Instant Pot Hamburgers, you can add any spices and flavorings you like, including onion, garlic, Worcestershire, etc. Just make them your own!
Some Tips for making hamburgers in the Instant Pot
- When making the burger patties, the thicker the patty, the longer the cook time. So if you like a very round patty, it will need to cook a couple minutes longer than a thinner patty.
Likewise, if you like a very thin patty, you may need to reduce the cook time a little. - Making a thumb sized indent in the center of one side of the burger patty helps reduce puffing up as well as shrinkage.
- You can make a "Juice Lucy" style of patty by making the patty into 2 thin patties and placing a thick slice of cheese in between them. Yum!
I like to make up a big batch of Instant Pot hamburger patties when the kids come to visit. I love how easy it is, and since the recipe can be doubled or tripled, I can feed the whole gang!
Stay tuned for Paul's famous potato packets, they are simple, and so tasty!
Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Barbecue Beef
Instant Pot Lasagna
Instant Pot Scalloped Potatoes
Instant Pot Hamburgers are so easy to make, and reminiscent of those famous burger chains that make steamed burger patties. These pressure cooker burger patties are simple and fast to make, and you can make a big batch at one time.
- 1 lb Ground Beef (I use 80% - 85% lean)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ cup Onion, finely chopped or grated (or 1 Tbsp dehydrated onion or ½ tsp onion Powder)
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika (optional)
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 lb Ground Beef (I use 80% - 85% lean)
- 1 1 oz Packet of Onion Soup Mix (mix with the meat)
- 4 Hamburger Buns
- Cheese Slices
- Tomato Slices
- Lettuce
- Mayo
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- 4 pieces Aluminum Foil or Parchment Squares
- 6 qt or 8 qt Pressure Cooker
- Trivet (metal rack for bottom of pot)
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Add 1 ½ cups of water to the inner stainless liner of the 6 qt pressure cooker (Use 2 ½ cups for the 8 qt).
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Place the trivet in the pot also.
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Mix all of the hamburger meat mixture ingredients together in a bowl with the meat.
If making Version #2, mix the soup packet with the ground meat.
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Divide the meat mixture into 4 equal (4 oz) patties, 3 (5 oz) patties, or 2 (8 oz patties). press your thumb into the center of each patty to make an indentation.
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Wrap patties in foil or parchment. The wrapping and cooking under pressure is what steams them.
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Stack the wrapped patties on the trivet in a staggered pattern. Then place the lid on the pot and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
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Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button, or dial and then the +/- button or dial to select:
12 minutes for 4 oz patties (7 minutes for a touch rare*)
14 minutes for 5 oz patties (9 minutes for a touch rare*)
16 minutes for 8 oz patties (11 minutes for a touch rare*)
Cook times may vary based on the thickness of the patties and how many are cooked at one time.
High pressure.
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When the cook cycle is finished, do a Quick Release of the pressure/steam (that means turn the steam release knob to the Venting position right after cooking is finished).
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Carefully remove the patties from the pot using tongs. Then let them rest for 5 minutes. Then unwrap them on a plate to catch the drippings, and make up your hamburger with all of your favorite fixin's!
*It is safest to cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F throughout. Ground beef can be pink inside after it is safely cooked, so a meat thermometer is a good tool to use. (I can't recommend eating ground beef rare, but some people do like it that way, which is why I give suggested times. See FDA guidelines on consuming ground beef.).
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.
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Stephie
Thank you for this how-to, worked great for me and perfect for those hot summer days when I don't want to heat up the kitchen with the toaster oven/oven. They came out great 🙂
Ken
Ok them are great burgers and can make them many different ways but now I want the potatoes pocket recipe
So I can do them with the burgers Please
Sandy
Okay Ken, I will post the recipe very soon! I sorta forgot about it. Please check back!
Jaymie
First time cooking hamburgers in the instant pot- Theses turned out great! My only real complaint was that I only had heavy duty foil so I couldnt wrap them well, ha! Thank you for the recipe!
Ashleigh
I made the number 2 mixture tonight using heavy duty foil... the burgers were done on the inside and cooked them for 15 minutes... made to eat for Tom since we will be out most of the day for the 4th of July... the outside almost looked a little pinkish but it looked done so hopefully I cooked them right lol... hope they taste as good as they smell. Thanks for the recipe
Kathy
I love this recipe! Honestly, I stink frying burgers & we don't own an outside grill because I'm disabled & can't be out in the sun much. I have to admit I was very skeptical after looking at this recipe & my husband looked horrified when I told him about it because burgers are sacred to him. The first time I tried them I used preformed frozen patties & they were awful (the dog didn't complain). The next time my husband got a huge 5+lb pack of ground beef & they turned out great! My husband asks for them all of the time. I just season mine with salt & pepper, but they come out so juicy & flavorful! I'm so happy you listed this super easy & cleaner way to make burgers! Thank you!
Sandy
Hi Kathy! This is such a great review! I love that your hubby was horrified! Lol! So happy that this recipe works well for you, and that your hubby has recovered! 😀
Shawn Burke
Not too sure why I can not click on the stars to give you all 5! I've tried several of your recipes, & once again, you've nailed it!!! I don't eat red meat so I not only made Hubs his burgers but also me a turkey burger. Used the same cooking time & it worked out just as well. He loved it & so did I!
Sandy
HI Shawn! Thank you so much! It looks like the stars worked, but lots of people are having trouble seeing them after they click. I'm trying to figure it out! I'm so glad you liked the burger recipe.
Jeanne
I just tried this recipe, but used 95 beef, that’s what I had. I made 4 oz patties and cooked them for 8 min with 1 min NPR and I didn’t let them rest,. The flavor was good, but they were a bit dry. Would less time, like the 7 min help that? Or could you suggest a possible solution when using 90 or 95 beef?
Sandy
Hi Jeanne, extra lean beef like that will cook a lot differently that 80% to 85% lean beef. I would cut the cook time down next time for sure (or maybe make larger patties). You could also mix in a little olive oil to the meat mixture, if you don't mind the extra little bit of (healthy) fat. I'm not certain if they will be very juicy, but hopefully they won't be dry!
Karen
When I use really lean meat for burgers, I add a Tbsp or 2 of beef broth. You can use water, a mixture of water and soy sauce, or whatever you like, but I think the broth add nice flavor.