How to Reheat a Burger So It Tastes Like It's Fresh Off the Grill

With grilling season in full swing, you’ve probably been cooking up juicy and meaty burgers on the grill. If this family favorite tops your list of weeknight meals — or if you have a whole bunch of burgers leftover from your July 4th weekend BBQ — you may be wondering how to reheat a burger without drying it out. Luckily, we have chef’s tips for reheating burgers that taste like they’re freshly cooked. Read on as these expert pointers will ensure your leftover burger is moist and tasty the next day!

Why the oven works best for reheating burgers

When it comes to a reheating method, the oven is your answer as it evenly warms up the inside and outside of the patty. “This is the favorite method for burger aficionados like myself, so you can rest assured that you’ll be enjoying a burger as delicious as one that’s fresh off the grill,” chef and TV host Courtney Rada says. It’s best to reheat plain patties as any condiments or toppings may melt in the oven. Since the oven is the preferred choice for a patty, it makes sense to also go with this method when toasting your burger bun.

How to reheat a burger in the oven

A burger that’s stored in an airtight container in the fridge is fine to enjoy within 3 to 4 days. Here, Rada shares six easy steps to reheat a burger (along with the bun) in your oven.

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Place the patty directly onto a wire rack inside of a baking sheet.
Place patty in the oven for about 3 minutes, depending on oven strength.
After 3 minutes, lay the bun on a metal rack and flip the patty to its other side.
Cook for an additional 2 minutes, or until the bun is golden brown and the patty is heated thoroughly.
Doctor up the burger with toppings or condiments of your choice and enjoy! (Bonus: Read our story on how to reheat fries to serve them with the classic crunchy side.)

A mouthwatering burger recipe

And there you have it! A simple method for reheating burgers that makes them juicy and tender a second time around. You can use it for our recipes for Stuffed Burgers, Beef Mushroom Burgers, or Greek Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce. Additionally, it’s perfect for these flavor-packed Fire Roasted Salsa Burgers!

Fire Roasted Salsa Burgers

These smoky patties are packed with Tex-Mex flavors.

Ingredients:

½ cup sour cream
1 Tbs. lime juice
1¼ lbs. ground beef
⅓ cup fire-roasted salsa
1 tsp. ground cumin
4 oz. Monterey Jack, sliced
4 sesame seed hamburger buns, split
¼ cup ketchup
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, sliced

Directions:

Active: 20 mins
Total time: 25 mins + grill prep
Yield: 4 servings

In bowl, mix sour cream and juice. In separate bowl, mix beef, salsa, ground cumin and ¼ tsp. salt. Shape into 4 patties.
Prepare grill for medium-high direct-heat cooking. Grill burgers, flipping once, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare or until desired doneness. Top with cheese and half of sour cream mixture. Grill until cheese is melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Grill rolls until toasted, 1 minutes. Spread roll bottoms with remaining cream mixture. Top with ketchup, burgers and avocado.