This smoked burger recipe on the pellet grill makes the absolute best burgers. These smoked burgers are quick to prepare and even easier to cook. Let the pellet smoker do the work for one hour, and then do a quick sear on each side and... done! You will be enjoying the best-tasting burgers in no time! The smoke from the grill adds such a delicious flavor to the meat, and the smoked burgers are so juicy and tender.
See the step-by-step recipe in the recipe card below.
Outdoor grilling season is in full swing, and I am so lovin' it! It's the perfect time to be outside, especially with the hot weather we've had this year. I much prefer to be outside cooking on a hot summer day than inside.
I have been busy cooking up some amazing meals on my pellet grill. Some of our favorites are Best Smoked Salmon on Pellet Grill, Smoked Pork Loin, and Smoked Chuck Roast.
These juicy burgers also go well with Ultimate Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Extra Crispy Oven-Roasted Potatoes, Baked Beans, Carrot Salad, Balsamic Watermelon Salad, or a green salad. Plus, I serve them on my Old Fashioned Homemade Air Buns, so delicious!
We love this hamburger recipe because not only is it super quick and easy (you should know by now that's my motto), but the burgers are so juicy and delicious.
The best part is.... they don't shrink up...at all! They stay almost the same size that you make them. Amazing! No more hard little hockey pucks for burgers. Those days are over!
This is one of the best burger recipes I have made, and my entire family loves them. We serve them quite often when we have company. They have such amazing flavor, and turn out every time!
The first time I made these burgers, I was amazed at how well they turned out! The inside had a lovely pink color from the smoking process.
The second time I made these burgers, I used ground sirloin and they had even more flavor!
No matter what, these burgers will be a huge hit!
More favorite recipes
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- More favorite recipes
- Why this recipe works
- Ingredients
- Equipment needed
- How to make the burger patties
- How to smoke burgers
- Favorite smoked hamburger toppings
- Variations
- Storage
- What sides go well with smoked burgers?
- FAQs
- Top Tips
- Love this recipe? Try these recipes:
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- 💬 Comments
Why this recipe works
- The smoke flavor really elevates these burgers to the next level. This is really the best way to make hamburgers.
- These burgers are super juicy with a great smoky flavor.
- This is an easy recipe with very little prep time required.
- You don't have to worry about flare-ups on the electric smoker as you do on a gas grill.
- These burgers will be the star of the show at your backyard barbecue. Everyone will love them.
- Make these great burgers ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator until you are ready to put them on the smoker.
- This delicious recipe is easily scalable. You can half, double, or triple the recipe to feed a few people or a lot of people.
Ingredients
This is a really small ingredient list. All you need for this smoked burger recipe are:
- 2 pounds of ground beef. Beef with at least 15% fat makes for the juiciest burger. A higher fat content will give you a juicier burger. Ground chuck makes a tasty burger too. You can also use ground turkey or chicken. I have also used our own meat in the freezer (ground venison), and they tasted fantastic too!
- 2 eggs. They act as a binder to hold the burgers together.
- 3 teaspoon of hamburger seasoning. I used the Watkins brand, but the ClubHouse brand is really good too. Just use whichever one looks good at the grocery store. If you want to make your own seasoning try this recipe, it is made with black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper. You can also use your favorite dry rub you have on hand. You won't need much salt as their is already salt in the hamburger seasoning.
- 1 cup of Panko bread crumbs (or regular bread crumbs or rolled oats).
These burgers are so tasty and so delicious you don't need anything else. The smoke from the wood pellets adds all the flavor you need.
Equipment needed
- Pellet grill/smoker. I have used both a Traeger smoker and a Pit Boss smoker to make these burgers. Traeger burgers are just as good as Pit Boss burgers. 🙂
- Wood pellets. I recommend Hickory pellets (my favorite) to give the burgers a slight bacon flavor, or Competition Blend pellets. Mesquite pellets would also be a good choice. The type of wood does make a difference. A stronger wood will give the burgers a stronger flavor.
- Meat thermometer. This is a must for checking to see if the burgers are done. No one wants an undercooked burger.
How to make the burger patties
The first step is to add eggs, hamburger seasoning, and bread crumbs to a large bowl.
Stir ingredients together until well mixed.
Add in ground beef and mix well. You will have to get in there with your hands to get it mixed evenly.
Form burger mixture into ½-inch to 1-inch thick patties, just a little bit wider than the buns you will be using. I mistakenly made my patties much larger than the buns thinking they would have a lot of shrinkage in the burger size... but nope! There was hardly any shrinkage, and the burger buns looked so tiny.
The important part is to make the hamburger patties in equal portions so they cook evenly.
Next, place patties on a tray, and let's head to the grill!
HINT: Make smash burgers by rolling the meat into balls of equal portions, then smashing them down with the bottom of a frying pan.
How to smoke burgers
Preheat your grill to a temperature of 225 degrees F. Make sure you have topped it up with wood pellets of your choice.
Place hamburger patties in the preheated smoker directly on the grill grate.
Cook for about 1 hour at 225 degrees F until the internal temperature of the burgers, measured in the middle of the thickest part, reaches 165 degrees.
Once the hamburgers reach 165 degrees, turn up the grill to 400 degrees F. Slide open the flame broiler slider using tongs, and now you can sear your burgers over an open wood fire. This gives the burgers a lovely char on the outside with grill lines. Don't go anywhere! This step goes fast!
Sear burgers on high heat for 2 minutes, then flip burgers, add a cheese slice to the top of each patty (and BBQ sauce if you like), and cook for 2 minutes more.
Remove smoked burgers and serve them hot off the grill.
That's it. Serve on buns (toasted on the grill) or wrapped in lettuce if you are on the keto diet or a low-carb diet, and add your favorite condiments and sides. Now enjoy the best burgers you have ever tasted.
Favorite smoked hamburger toppings
- Cheese (of course). We prefer white cheddar, but feel free to mix it up with mozzarella, pepper jack, or swiss. (Or leave it off for dairy-free).
- Barbecue sauce. I found we don't even need the sauce; the burgers have plenty of flavor on their own from the smoke. But if you love it, feel free to use it.
- Bacon. It's bacon; need I say more?
- Sliced tomato
- Sliced onion
- Fresh lettuce or spinach
- Ketchup
- Mustard (we prefer Dijon).
- Avocado mayo.
- Slices of avocado.
- Onion rings.
Variations
You can easily change some of the ingredients to get a different flavor. Some great ones to try are:
- For a little bit of spice, add some cayenne pepper or chili powder.
- Add some barbecue sauce at the last minute of the cook time if desired.
- Add some finely chopped onion to the raw beef mixture for added flavor.
- You can also add finely chopped jalapenos to the burger mix for an added kick.
- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce for extra flavor.
Storage
FRIDGE: Store the burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they will keep for 3-4 days.
FREEZER: Wrap each burger individually in plastic wrap and place them in a Ziploc bag. Place the bag in the freezer, where the burgers will keep for up to 2 months. When you're ready to eat them, let them thaw in the fridge overnight, and reheat in the air fryer or microwave.
What sides go well with smoked burgers?
- Onion rings
- French fries
- Waffle fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Oven-roasted potatoes
- Air fryer potatoes
- Baked beans
- Coleslaw
- Carrot Salad
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Air Fryer Broccoli
FAQs
My favorite pellets are Hickory pellets as they give the burgers a slight bacon flavor, or Competition Blend pellets which are a combination of maple, hickory, and cherry wood.
When you smoke a burger on the grill, the smoke has a chemical reaction with the meat and turns it pink. That is why it is important to have a temperature probe when smoking meat to make sure it is cooked. The burgers are fully cooked as soon as the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Nope! No flipping is required until the end when it's time to sear the burgers.
Do not overhandle the meat when preparing the patties, and don't push down on the burgers with a spatula while cooking on the grill. In fact, don't flip them or do anything to the burgers until it's time to sear them at the end.
Top Tips
- For best results, make burgers roughly the same size, so they cook evenly. Remember that thin patties may cook quicker than thick patties.
- Do not overhandle the meat. When you overmix the ground beef, you'll end up with a tough and chewy burger, and no one wants that!
- Use a burger press to make beef patties quickly.
- Don't press down on the burgers while they are cooking. You don't want to squeeze that yummy burger juice out.
- If you make thicker burgers, you will have to allow extra time for smoke time.
- Serve these delicious burgers on homemade buns.
Smoked burgers are a great way to show off your grilling talents to your friends and family. So go ahead, get grilling!
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📋 Recipe
Smoked Burger Recipe on Pellet Grill
Equipment
- Pit Boss Pellet Grill
- Meat Thermometer
- Competition Blend wood pellets
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 3 teaspoon hamburger seasoning
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 pounds ground beef
Instructions
How to make the hamburger patties
- In a medium-size bowl, add eggs, hamburger seasoning, and bread crumbs. Stir until well mixed. Add in ground beef and mix well. You will have to get in there with your hands to get it mixed together evenly.
- Form patties that are about ½-inch to 1-inch thick and just a little bit wider than the buns you will be using. Place patties on a tray, and let's head to the grill!
How to smoke burgers
- Preheat your grill. Then, set the temperature to 225 degrees F. Make sure you have topped it up with wood pellets of your choice.
- When the grill has reached the correct temperature, place hamburger patties on the grill.
- Cook for about 1 hour at 225 degrees F until the internal temperature of the burgers, measured in the middle of the thickest part, reaches 165 degrees F.
- Once the hamburgers reach 165 degrees F, turn up the grill to 400 degrees F. Slide open the flame broiler slider using tongs, and now you can cook your burgers over an open wood fire. Don't go anywhere! This step goes fast!
- Sear burgers for 2 minutes, then flip burgers, add cheese (and BBQ sauce if you like), and cook for 2 minutes more. That's it!
- Serve on buns (toasted on the grill if you like, or wrapped in lettuce if you are on the keto diet or a low-carb diet), and add your favorite condiments and sides. Now enjoy the best burger you have ever tasted.
Notes
- Make burgers roughly the same size, so they cook evenly.
- Do not overhandle the meat. When you overmix the ground beef, you'll end up with a tough and chewy burger, and no one wants that!
- Don't press down on the burgers while they are cooking. You don't want to squeeze that yummy burger juice out.
- You can safely store leftover cooked burgers in the fridge in a container with a tight-fitting lid for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Amy Liu Dong
Such a good and tasty burger, seeing this makes my mouthwatering!
Yum!
Jules
A perfect amount of egg used, made them bind so well!
Linda Morris
While smoking at 225 for 1 hour do you close the grill grates so there is no open flame and only open while upping heat to 400?
Jeri
Hi, Linda. Yes, that is exactly what you do. Let me know how they turn out! 🙂
Lindsay
Ok this is seriously cool! I've never thought to smoke a burger but love this recipe!
Sondra Barker
These burgers are delicious! PErfect for summer get-togethers!
Adriana Lopez
Perfect for grilling season can't wait to try!
Jeri
Let me know how it turns out!
Lexa
This burger looks incredible. Can‘t wait to try it once the weather finally allows it here in Canada!
Jeri
Let me know how you like it!
Katie Youngs
I've never tried a smoked burger before! It's sounds like an easier way to make a burger. I can't wait to try it!
Jeri
It is so incredibly easy! I definitely recommend you try it if you have the chance!