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Home » Recipes » Main Dish

Last Updated: Sep 27, 2023 by Angela Latimer · Leave a Comment

Smoked Hamburgers

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Smoked hamburgers pin with text header.

Smoked hamburgers are the best, quickest, and easiest way to satisfy any of your bold and flavorful burger cravings! Seasoned with my delicious, savory burger seasoning and dressed with BBQ sauce and loads of toppings, these burgers are truly next level! Not to mention, using a smoker makes them practically effortless!

Traeger Smoked Hamburgers

Just because summer is coming to an end doesn’t mean that you can’t keep using your grill or smoker! These smoked hamburgers are the perfect way to get that summertime flavor all year long.

I love using a good quality smoker like a Traeger smoker for this recipe because it cooks the patties low and slow to infuse them with smoky deliciousness without drying them out!

Smoked hamburger on toasted bun with condiments and a tray of burger patties in background.
Incredibly tasty smoked hamburgers are irresistible and flavor-packed!

These incredible Smoked Burgers are savory, saucy, and juicy treats that are going to be a new favorite!

Jump to:
  • Traeger Smoked Hamburgers
  • 🥘 Smoked Hamburgers Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutions
  • 🔪 How To Make Smoked Hamburgers
  • 🍽️ What To Serve With Hamburgers
  • 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
  • 🥄 Make Ahead Options
  • 🥡 Storing & Reheating
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

🥘 Smoked Hamburgers Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutions

Shake up the humble hamburger with this smoked version! It’s such a unique way to make a tasty burger!

Burger Ingredients

  • Ground Beef – 2 pounds of ground beef. I like to use ground chuck, around 80% lean and 20% fat, to keep the burgers juicy!
  • Bacon (optional) – Who doesn’t love a bacon cheeseburger? Fry up a couple of strips of your preferred bacon to top these delicious burgers.
  • BBQ Sauce (optional) – 6 tablespoons of BBQ sauce. you can use whatever your favorite condiment is, like ketchup or mustard. I like to use a sweet & spicy style BBQ sauce.
  • Red Onion – ½ of a red onion. You’ll want to thinly slice the onions for this recipe. Red onions have crunch and a fresh, bold bite!
  • Dill Pickles – 4 dill pickles, sliced. I love crunchy, zippy dill pickle slices for this burger to add some extra flavor!
  • Cheddar Cheese – 6 slices of cheddar cheese. You can use your preferred cheddar cheese here, but I love sharp cheddar for these burgers.
  • Burger Buns – 6 burger buns. Use whatever buns you like! Brioche, potato, or classic sesame are perfect options. (Optionally, you can try my pretzel buns or Kaiser rolls; they are fantastic and better than store-bought.)

Burger Seasoning

  • Paprika – 1 tablespoon of paprika or a paprika substitute. Paprika is a perfect base for this seasoning. It adds a subtle, sweet flavor and beautiful color to the seasoning.
  • Kosher Salt – 1¼ teaspoons of Kosher salt. Kosher salt is perfect for this recipe because the flakes of salt evenly cover the meat.
  • Black Pepper – 1 teaspoon of black pepper. I love freshly ground black pepper for this recipe, but use whatever you have on hand.
  • Brown Sugar – ½ teaspoon of brown sugar or a brown sugar substitute. Brown sugar gives a touch of sweetness to the seasoning. You can use light or dark brown sugar –whatever you prefer!
  • Garlic Powder – ½ teaspoon of garlic powder for an awesome savory flavor to the seasoning.
  • Onion Powder – ½ teaspoon of onion powder or an onion powder substitute.
  • Cayenne Pepper – ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper adds a touch of spice! There isn’t much in this recipe, but you can skip it if you are intolerant to this spice.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Smoked Hamburgers

Smoking these delicious burgers really elevates them to something new and exciting for dinner! Make sure to preheat your smoker so the burgers don’t take any extra time to cook.

You will need your smoker, measuring spoons, a small bowl, and a knife.

This recipe will make 6 burgers.

Process photo 1 portion and shape the burger patties.
1. Form hamburger patties.
Process photo 2 with the burger seasoning ingredients measured out.
2. Mix seasoning.
Process photo 3 of the seasoned hamburger patties.
3. Season patties.
Process photo 4 of the burger patties transferred onto the smoker grill.
4. Smoke em'.

Step 1: Mix the burger seasoning. In a small bowl add 1 tablespoon (7 grams) of paprika, 1¼ teaspoon (7.5 grams) of Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon (2 grams) of black pepper, ½ teaspoon (2 grams) of brown sugar, ½ teaspoon (1.5 grams) of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon (1 gram) of onion powder, and ¼ teaspoon (0.5 grams) of cayenne pepper. Mix well.

Step 2: Preheat the smoker. Preheat the smoker to 180°F (82°C). You can use any smoker here or even a grill with a smoking function.

Step 3: Form the patties. Using 2 pounds (907 grams) of ground beef, form nice ⅓-pound burger patties, about ½ inch bigger than your burger buns (burgers will shrink a little while smoking). Sprinkle generously with the burger seasoning.

Step 4: Smoke the burgers. Place patties on the smoker or grill and smoke at 180°F (82°C) for approximately 2 hours or until the desired level of doneness.

Step 5: Finish the burgers and toppings. (Optional) While burgers are smoking, fry enough bacon to top your burgers. If a sear is desired, sear the burgers in the smoker or on a frying pan. (See notes below.)

Step 6: Melt cheese. (Optional) Then, if you wish, add 6 cheese slices to the burgers in the last 15 minutes of cooking time or after searing.

Step 7: Rest the burgers. Remove burgers and allow them to rest for at least 10 minutes prior to serving.

Step 8: Finish. While the burgers are resting, add BBQ sauce or desired condiments to the buns. Then, add the burgers, sliced red onions, bacon, and pickles. Add the top buns, and serve!

🍽️ What To Serve With Hamburgers

These amazing smoked hamburgers are perfect with my air fryer French fries, air-fried pickles, or onion rings! You can also serve these with potato salad, pasta salad, or any other classic barbecue side.

Pin image with text of cheeseburger with lettuce.

Check out my post on what to serve with burgers for more recipes and ideas! Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

  • When looking for burger meat, look for the fat content of at least 15%. Having a fat content of 15 to 20% in your burger meat keeps the burgers moist and juicy while still having a good amount of lean protein!
  • You can give your burgers an optional sear at the end of cooking! Reverse sear the burgers by increasing the temperature of your smoker to 400°F (204°C) when the burgers are within 10°F (-12°C) of your desired temperature. When the burgers have reached the desired temp, they’re done!
  • You can also remove the burgers when they’re within 10°F (-12°C) of your desired temperature and then sear quickly in a frying pan.
  • While the FDA recommends burgers be cooked to 165°F (74°C), some might prefer their burgers cooked to medium or medium-rare.
    • For medium-rare, cook to 130°F (54°C) to 135°F (57°C), and for medium or medium-well, cook to 150°F (65°C) to 155°F (68°C).

🥄 Make Ahead Options

You can always prepare your burger seasoning ahead of time and store it for when you're ready. After combining the seasonings, it can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months in a dark, cool place.

Freezing Hamburgers

You can also keep the smoked patties wrapped tightly in plastic cling film, then place them in an airtight container or in a freezer Ziploc bag for about 4 months! The more well-wrapped they are, the better the quality will be.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

These juicy beauties can be kept as leftovers if you have extra! Store the cooled patties in an airtight container, and they’ll keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Reheating Hamburgers

To reheat these wonderful burgers to keep them juicy, I recommend using the stovetop or an air fryer. Let the burgers come up to room temp for 20 minutes for the best results.

For the stovetop, fry the burgers for about 3 minutes on each side over medium heat until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

If you have an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Place the burgers in the air fryer basket and air fry for about 5-10 minutes or until the burgers reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ Recipe FAQs

Can I Substitute Something Else For The Beef?

Absolutely! You can make these burgers with turkey, pork, or chicken. But note that with turkey and chicken, there will be a lower fat content, which may produce a drier result. I would start temping the burgers after 1 hour and make sure they don’t go too much over 165°F (74°C) so they don’t dry out.

What’s Your Preferred Wood To Use For Smoking Burgers?

I love to use hickory, mesquite, or oak to smoke these burgers! These woods all give that incredible earthy, smoky sweetness, and the flavors penetrate the burgers well.

Why Are My Burgers Still Pink Inside?

During the smoking process, the smoke turns the meat a bit pink (think the pink ring you see on smoked brisket). If you’re using a thermometer, once they’re cooked to the recommended temperature, they’ll be safe to eat!

Tall image of smoked hamburger on bun.

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📖 Recipe Card

Smoked hamburger on toasted bun with condiments and a tray of burger patties in background.
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5 from 13 reviews

Smoked Hamburgers

Smoked hamburgers are the best, quickest, and easiest way to satisfy any of your bold and flavorful burger cravings! Seasoned with my delicious, savory burger seasoning and dressed with BBQ sauce and loads of toppings, these burgers are truly next level! Not to mention, using a smoker makes them practically effortless!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 6 burgers
Calories: 408kcal
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cooking 2 hours hours
Total Time 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
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Ingredients
 

The Burger

  • 2 lbs ground beef (I prefer a ground chuck 80% °lean)
  • 6 tablespoon barbecue sauce (optional, or ketchup & mustard)
  • ½ red onion (sliced)
  • 4 dill pickles (sliced)
  • 6 slices cheddar cheese
  • 6 burger buns

The Burger Seasoning

  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

Mix The Burger Seasoning

  • Add all seasonings into a small bowl mix well. *Makes enough for 6 to 8 burgers, store in an airtight container for up to 3 months in a dark cool place.

Smoking The Burger

  • Preheat your smoker to 180°F (82°C).
  • Form evenly portioned ⅓ lb burger patties about ½ inch bigger than your buns (burgers will shrink a little while smoking). Sprinkle both sides of the patties generously with the burger seasoning.
  • Place patties on smoker grill and smoke at 180°F (82°C) for approximately 2 hours or until desired level of doneness.
  • (Optional) While burger is smoking cook a few strips of bacon to add later.
  • (Optional) Add cheese in the last 15 minutes of cooking time.
  • Allow burgers to rest for at least 10 minutes prior to serving.
  • While burger is resting add condiments to the buns, place the burger, onions, and bacon on the bun. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Burger meat should have at least 15% fat content to prevent your smoked burgers from super-dry results.
  • No need to flip the burgers while smoking.
  • Smoke with hickory, mesquite, or oak.
  • Allow burgers to rest 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 408kcal (20%) | Carbohydrates: 30g (10%) | Protein: 40g (80%) | Fat: 13g (20%) | Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 106mg (35%) | Sodium: 1370mg (60%) | Potassium: 707mg (20%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 8g (9%) | Vitamin A: 831IU (17%) | Vitamin C: 2mg (2%) | Calcium: 200mg (20%) | Iron: 6mg (33%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course BBQ, Beef Dishes, Main Dish, Smoked Meats
Cuisine American
« Traeger Smoked Turkey
Mary Berry Chocolate Cupcakes »

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Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

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