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If there is one thing I love keeping in my pantry, it’s a homemade version of something I would normally grab at the grocery store.

This homemade burger seasoning is exactly that.

I wanted a simple hamburger seasoning that tasted like the familiar seasoning blend we already liked from the store—not a completely different “gourmet” burger seasoning. After testing this one side-by-side with the store-bought version, the flavor was remarkably close.

And the ingredient list is simple: salt, dried onion, garlic, black pepper, paprika and just enough sugar to round everything out.

Mix up a jar once, then use 1 tablespoon of burger seasoning per pound of ground beef whenever burgers are on the menu.

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Why You’ll Love This Homemade Burger Seasoning

This is the kind of pantry recipe I actually use because it solves a very simple problem: instead of keeping another seasoning bottle on hand, I can make it from ingredients already in my pantry.

You’ll love it because it’s:

Made with basic pantry ingredients. Nothing unusual or hard to find.
Easy to make ahead. Mix everything together and keep it in a jar.
Familiar in flavor. If you already like a classic store-bought hamburger seasoning, this isn’t going to completely change the flavor of your burgers.
Easy to scale. Use about one tablespoon per pound of ground meat.
Good for more than burgers. Try it in meatloaf, meatballs, hamburger steaks or anywhere you want that classic savory burger flavor.

Cheeseburger with tomato and red onion, cut in half and held in two hands

Ingredients

You only need six ingredients for this hamburger seasoning recipe.

Redmond Real Salt

I tested this recipe using Redmond Real Salt Kosher Salt, so that is the salt measurement the recipe is based on.

Different brands and types of salt vary in crystal size and salinity by volume, so if you substitute another salt you may need to adjust the amount slightly.

Dried Onion Flakes

Dried onion is one of the main flavors in this blend. I like to crush the onion flakes before mixing so the pieces are small enough to distribute evenly throughout the seasoning.

You don’t need to turn them completely into powder. A little texture is a good thing here.

Coarsely Ground Black Pepper

The black pepper gives the seasoning its classic peppery bite without making the burgers spicy.

Sweet Paprika

Paprika adds mild pepper flavor and helps give the seasoning a little more depth.

Use regular sweet paprika rather than smoked paprika for this recipe. Smoked paprika will take the flavor in a noticeably different direction.

Dried Minced Garlic

Just like the onion, crush the dried minced garlic into smaller pieces before adding it to the blend.

Sugar

There isn’t enough sugar here to make your burger taste sweet. A small amount simply balances the salt, onion, garlic and pepper.

How to Make Burger Seasoning

This may be one of the easiest pantry staples you can make.

Add the dried onion flakes and dried minced garlic to a small bag or between two sheets of parchment.
Crush them with a rolling pin or the bottom of a measuring cup until the pieces are smaller, but not completely powdered.
Measure all of the ingredients into a bowl or jar.
Stir or shake very well to combine.
Transfer the burger seasoning to an airtight spice jar or container.

That’s it.

Because some of the ingredients are heavier than others, I like to give the jar a quick shake before measuring the seasoning.

How Much Burger Seasoning Per Pound of Meat?

Use 1 tablespoon burger seasoning per 1 pound of ground beef.

For smaller or larger batches:

½ pound ground beef: 1½ teaspoons seasoning
1 pound ground beef: 1 tablespoon seasoning
2 pounds ground beef: 2 tablespoons seasoning

You can mix the seasoning gently into the ground beef before forming your patties, or season the outside of the patties before cooking.

For the most tender burgers, avoid overworking the ground beef.

Placing a tomato slice on a cheeseburger with red onion and cheddar

The Side-by-Side Taste Test

My goal with this recipe wasn’t to create a fancy new burger flavor. I wanted to replace a seasoning we were already buying.

So I tested it the simplest way possible.

I divided the ground beef into two batches and seasoned one with the familiar store-bought hamburger seasoning and the other with this homemade version. Both were cooked and tasted without cheese, sauces or toppings so we could actually compare the seasoning.

The homemade version tasted almost exactly like the store-bought blend we were trying to replace.

That’s when a recipe earns a permanent spot in my pantry.

Ways to Use Homemade Hamburger Seasoning

Burgers are the obvious choice, but don’t stop there.

Try this seasoning in:

Smash burgers
Turkey burgers
Hamburger steaks
Meatballs
Meatloaf
Ground beef for sandwiches
Ground beef bowls
Beef patties cooked in a cast-iron skillet

It’s also an easy seasoning to keep near the stove when you want something more flavorful than plain salt and pepper.

How to Store Homemade Burger Seasoning

Store the seasoning in an airtight jar or spice container in a cool, dry pantry.

For the best flavor, keep dried spices away from heat, direct sunlight and moisture.

Always use a dry measuring spoon when scooping seasoning from the jar.

Labeling a jar of layered burger seasoning ingredients with a marker

Can I Use Garlic Powder and Onion Powder Instead?

You can make burger seasoning with powdered garlic and onion, but it won’t have quite the same texture as this version.

The dried onion flakes and minced garlic give this blend the coarse texture and little bursts of onion and garlic that I was looking for when recreating our usual store-bought seasoning.

If you only have powders available, the quantities would need to be adjusted rather than substituted one-for-one.

Is This a McCormick Hamburger Seasoning Copycat?

McCormick Grill Mates Hamburger Seasoning was the familiar store-bought flavor I had in mind while testing this recipe.

Rather than trying to make a completely different burger seasoning, I wanted something that could actually replace the bottle we were used to buying.

We tested the two on plain burgers side-by-side, and this homemade version came extremely close in flavor.

It is not affiliated with or produced by McCormick. It is simply my homemade pantry version of that familiar style of hamburger seasoning.

Can I Make a Bigger Batch?

Absolutely.

This recipe makes approximately ½ cup of burger seasoning and is enough to season roughly 8 pounds of ground meat when using one tablespoon per pound.

If burgers are on your menu often, you can double the recipe and keep a larger jar in the pantry.

Just remember to shake the jar before measuring so the ingredients stay evenly distributed.

A Few Things I Use

Redmond Real Salt Kosher Salt – the salt this recipe was tested with.
Spice jars – what I keep this burger seasoning in.
Measuring spoons – for measuring the blend and scooping it from the jar.
Canning funnel – for getting the seasoning into the jar without spilling.

Homemade Burger Seasoning

This easy homemade burger seasoning combines dried onion, garlic, black pepper and pantry spices for a classic hamburger seasoning that tastes remarkably similar to a familiar store-bought blend.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings: 8 tablespoons (approximately ½ cup)

Course: Seasoning Mix

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Video Notes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Redmond Real Salt Kosher Salt
3 tablespoons dried onion flakes crushed
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 tablespoon dried minced garlic crushed
1½ teaspoons granulated sugar

Method

Crush the dried onion flakes and dried minced garlic into smaller pieces using a rolling pin, the bottom of a measuring cup or a mortar and pestle. Leave a little texture rather than grinding them completely into powder.
Add the onion, garlic, Redmond Real Salt, black pepper, paprika and sugar to a small bowl.
Stir thoroughly until evenly combined.
Transfer to an airtight spice jar or container.
Shake before each use.
Use 1 tablespoon of seasoning per pound of ground beef or other ground meat.

Video

Notes

How much to use: Use 1 tablespoon seasoning per pound of ground meat.

For ½ pound of meat: Use 1½ teaspoons seasoning.

Salt: This recipe was tested with Redmond Real Salt Kosher Salt. Other salts can vary in saltiness by volume and may need to be adjusted.

Paprika: Use regular sweet paprika rather than smoked paprika if you want the classic store-bought hamburger seasoning flavor.

Texture: Crushing the dried onion and garlic helps them distribute throughout the blend while keeping the seasoning slightly coarse.

Storage: Store in a tightly sealed jar in a cool, dry pantry and always use a dry spoon.

Tip: Shake the jar before measuring because the finer ingredients can settle during storage.

Homemade Burger Seasoning

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Burger Seasoning