Best Hamburger Seasoning
There’s nothing more iconic than a tasty, juicy grilled hamburger. Am I right? You just want to make sure you don’t forget the seasoning because nobody loves a bland burger.
A flavorful hamburger seasoning is the perfect blend of spices and seasonings to kick your burgers up a notch. When looking for the perfect seasoning, it’s truly a personal decision. Take into consideration what flavors you like. Do you enjoy some heat and a spicy kick with your burger? Or, do you enjoy a savory flavor, packed with delicious spices with a garlic blend?
Sometimes, the key is experimenting with different flavors and seasonings until you find the ones that you truly enjoy.
Some of the common ingredients that you’ll see in hamburger seasoning includes paprika, ground black pepper, Kosher salt, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and many others. There are also seasonings that include hints of your favorite alcoholic beverages such as one of our top picks, Historic Lynchburg Tennessee Whiskey Steak & Burger Seasoning.
You’ll also find that many seasonings include smoked and grill flavors to give you that famous fresh off the grill flavor. That’s perfect for the winter months, when it’s too cold to grill poolside with your friends and family.
One thing (besides the taste!) that we love about these hamburger seasonings is that they are multipurpose. You can also use them on other types of meats and they are super tasty for grilling vegetables. That’s why seasonings are such a must-have for any kitchen pantry.
When shopping for hamburger seasoning, you’ll want to consider the flavor, ingredients, size, and price.
We have compiled a list of the best hamburger seasonings available to make you the top grillmaster of all your cookouts. This list is inclusive of all types of flavors and ingredients, sure to satisfy your tastebuds.
Our Picks for the Best Hamburger Seasoning
We have narrowed down the six best hamburger seasonings that you can buy online. Read on to find the one that best suits you and your dinner guests.
1. Top Pick: McCormick Grill Mates Hamburger Seasoning
McCormick is a household name when it comes to seasonings of all kinds. They have been around since 1889 and is a name that you can trust.
If you want to grill a juicy burger packed with flavor, check out McCormick Grill Mates Hamburger Seasoning. This seasoning is perfect when you have a craving for a savory meal. This seasoning features a bold blend of coarsely ground peppers, toasted onion and savory garlic. It is Kosher and is made with no MSG.
This seasoning has been blended with chefs in mind, so it definitely provides a flavorful bang for your burgers!
The larger 24 ounce size bottle is perfect for those that will be grilling up lots of burgers and need a go-to hamburger seasoning.
Pros
- McCormick is a trusted, household name when it comes to spices.
- Multipurpose seasoning that can be used on different types of meat and vegetables.
- Comes in a large 24 ounce bottle and
- No MSG.
- Kosher.
Cons
- The flavor may be a bit too spicy for some tastes.
2. Best Local Flavor: Bolner’s Fiesta Hamburger Deluxe Seasoning
Beware! This hamburger seasoning by Bolner’s may have your party guests coming back for seconds or thirds so make sure you have enough burgers ready!
This premium quality seasoning features a rich, robust flavor. Fiesta brand is a well known Texas tradition.
Hamburger Deluxe is a blend of traditional spices flavored with garlic, salt and onion.
The secret to grilling hamburger with this seasoning is to season your meat thirty minutes prior to grilling or cooking. This gives the spices time to marinate into the meat. For the maximum flavor experience (and if you have the time), marinate and refrigerate meat for up to 24 hours.
If you want to grill up restaurant style burgers, this is your go-to seasoning!
Pros
- Rich and flavorful taste.
- Multipurpose seasoning that can be used on different types of meat and vegetables.
Cons
- Includes MSG.
3. Best Gourmet Pick: Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning
Weber isn’t just the name of the famous grill. They are also known for their line of delicious seasonings. Bland, boring frozen hamburger patties? Sprinkle some of the Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning to go from bland to wow.
If you want to take your grilled hamburgers to the next level, check out Weber Grill Creations Burger Seasoning.
Simply sprinkle about 2 teaspoons on to your hamburger patties for each pound of ground beef.
The larger 19 ounce Grillmaster size is perfect for those that plan on doing a lot of grilling. You can also order them in a smaller size if you prefer.
This blend includes salt, onion, garlic, sugar, chili pepper, red bell pepper, tomato powder, paprika, and smoke and grill flavors.
This seasoning is all natural and contains no MSG or preservatives. Plus, it is gluten free.
Pros
- All natural.
- No MSG.
- No preservatives.
- Gluten Free.
- Multipurpose seasoning that can be used on different types of meat.
- Comes in different size containers depending upon what you need.
Cons
- Some complaints that it is too spicy.
4. Best Restaurant Seasoning: Red Robin Original Blend Signature Seasoning
Who doesn’t think of “YUM” when they hear Red Robin? Bring that famous familiar restaurant taste home to your kitchen and grill! This signature blend seasoning is a staple in Red Robin restaurants. This seasoning is all natural and amplifies the flavor of your hamburger, meats, and seafood.
As with most hamburger seasonings, it’s a great accent to fries, vegetables, and even salads.
This seasoning includes salt, dried cane syrup, sea salt, salt , spices, garlic, onion, tomato, paprika, and natural smoked flavor.
Pros
- Gluten free.
- MSG free.
- A small amount goes a long way.
- Multipurpose seasoning that can be used on different types of meat and vegetables.
Cons
- Some reported that it didn’t taste just like the restaurant seasoning.
- Small bottle compared to other spices.
5. Best Chef Seasoning: Emeril’s BAM! Burger Seasoning
I’m sure you know the world famous chef, Emeril Lagasse. He is known not only for his cooking skills but his use of the world BAM!
Get ready to add a little BAM to your hamburgers. Bring the deliciousness of Emeril straight to your home with the Emeril BAM! Burger seasoning. This is a must have for grilling. If you don’t have this in your pantry, what are you waiting for?
The Emeril BAM! Burger seasoning includes a mix of granulated garlic, onion, sea salt, black pepper, red pepper, green pepper, celery flakes, crushed red pepper, onion powder, hydrolyzed soy protein, and liquid smoke paprika.
Pros
- Some reported that this is the best hamburger seasoning they’ve tried.
- Packaged very well.
- Multipurpose seasoning that can be used on different types of meat and vegetables.
Cons
- The ingredients appear to have changed from the previous formula.
6. Best Secret Ingredient: Historic Lynchburg Tennessee Whiskey Steak & Burger Seasoning
If you really want to wow the crowd with mouthwatering burgers, grab a bottle of Historic Lynchburg Tennessee Whiskey Steak & Burger Seasoning. The locals in Lynchburg, Tennessee have been using seasonings and rubs since the turn of the century to flavor their meats. They discovered that adding a bit of Tennessee whiskey was the secret ingredient. Who knew?!
This flavor packs a punch (thanks to Jack Daniel’s Black Label Whiskey), so sprinkle the seasoning on your hamburger meat hours before grilling or cooking. This gives the flavor more time to soak into the meat.
Really want to get creative? This seasoning is great for grilling directly over hot coals thanks to the sugar free mix.
Historic Lynchburg Tennessee Whiskey Steak & Burger Seasoning includes a mix of Kosher salt, black pepper, dill seed, coriander seed, red pepper, garlic, spices, soybean oil, natural flavors and Jack Daniel’s Black Label Whiskey.
Pros
- Sugar Free
- No MSG
- Lots of flavor.
- Some found it tastes best on smoked burgers.
- Multipurpose seasoning that can be used on different types of meat and vegetables.
Cons
- Some found it a bit too salty.
What To Look For in a Hamburger Seasoning
When shopping for the perfect hamburger seasoning, here are some of the top things to look for.
Price and Size
The price will mostly vary depending upon the size of the seasoning. As you’ve seen in our top picks, there are various sizes available. The larger bottles typically provide more value for your dollar as they go a lot further and last longer. Don’t sleep on the smaller bottles either, especially when they come in packs of two or more. Some of the more gourmet seasonings like Historic Lynchburg Tennessee Whiskey Steak & Burger Seasoning will cost more than a household name like McCormick or Weber.
If you are still experimenting with different flavors and spices, you may want to order the smaller size bottles in case you don’t like it. Once you are confident in your choices, investing in a larger size is a wise decision. Plus, take into consideration how many people you will typically be cooking for and how fast you’ll go through the seasoning as a result.
Also, keep in mind that when it comes to seasoning burgers, less is more. Herbs and spices really do go a long way. So, that bottle of seasoning may last you a long time. Again, consider all the factors such as how often you’ll be cooking and for how many people.
Flavor and Ingredients
The next consideration is the type of flavor you want. Are you looking for a savory burger with a garlic blend? What about a spicier blend with Chipotle or chili peppers? Do you want something simple with just a tad bit of flavor added to it? You may want to try something totally different and that’s the beauty of spices! The possibilities are endless.
When it comes to ingredients, how do you feel about preservatives? You may want to look for seasoning that states “all natural” or “no MSG.” If you’re watching your sodium intake, this is also something to look out for as there can sometimes be a lot of hidden sodium in store bought seasonings. The same goes for sugar. Always check the label and make sure that the seasoning aligns with your nutrition and dietary needs.
Bottom Line When Purchasing the Best Hamburger Seasoning
A good old fashioned hamburger is never going out of style, no matter what else is going on in the world. There is just something comforting and familiar about it. A hamburger doesn’t have to be and shouldn’t be boring! Experiment with different types of hamburger seasonings to try different flavors.
Whether you enjoy a spicy or savory burger, there’s a seasoning out there for just about every taste bud.
No matter which hamburger seasoning you use, the secret that all grillmasters know is that you need to marinate the meat. Marinating and seasoning the meat in advance allows those flavors to really seep into the meat. If time permits, add your spices ahead of time to get the best bang out of your seasoning.
Hamburger seasonings are a great investment and staple to have in your kitchen pantry. They are multipurpose. So, you can use them on other types of meats, vegetables, and even salads. They also taste great on french fries, which we all know are the perfect companion to a delicious burger.
Having ground beef in the freezer and seasoning in the pantry is a sure fire way to make sure there’s a quick dinner ready on any night of the week.
Choose from one (or all! ) of our recommended hamburger seasonings to get your grill game on point.
FAQ
How much seasoning should I use per pound of hamburger?
The rule of thumb for seasoning is one tablespoon per total pound of meat. If you’re working with just salt and pepper the rules are slightly different. Instead try to keep to between ¾ to 1 teaspoon of kosher salt mixed with twice as much freshly cracked pepper. The more you work with seasonings the better you’ll be able to eye-ball this process.
Is hamburger seasoning gluten free?
Hamburger seasoning is usually gluten-free, although it does depend on the brand. When in doubt make sure to check the ingredients list. Brands like McCormick’s and Weber are safe bets for gluten-free seasonings.
Should I rub the seasoning on the outside of the patties or mold it into the beef?
As a rule, hamburger seasoning should be treated the same way as salt and pepper. Most chefs agree that it’s best to season the outside of the patty rather than work the seasoning into the beef. When you mold seasoning into the beef you create more of a sausage-like texture. You also lose the distinction between the flavor of the seasoning, which forms a nice crust on the burger, and the tenderness of the beef. For this reason, Sous Vide Guy recommends always seasoning just the outside of your patties.
How long can hamburger seasoning last before it expires?
Technically seasonings never really expire. Rather, spice mixes of all stripes and sorts lose potency and flavor over time. This means that old spices taste milder, not to mention less complex, than their fresh counterparts. Naturally this also applies to hamburger seasoning. The “sell by date” that you may find on some packages is more about when a grocery store needs to cycle its stock, rather than anything to do with health and safety.