Listen, I’ve got to tell you about these burgers my Aunt Kathy taught me to make. They’re not your typical grilled burgers – these babies are baked in the oven, and oh my goodness, they are absolutely LIFE-CHANGING.

I remember the first time she made them for our family get-together. Everyone was skeptical (oven burgers? really?), but the moment that pan hit the table, the smell alone had us all drooling. By the time we finished eating, we were all begging for the recipe.

What makes these so special?

Here’s the thing – these burgers stay ridiculously juicy. The magic happens when they bake all snug in their buns with that melty cheese on top. The buns soak up all those savory beef juices and get this amazing soft-yet-toasty texture that you just can’t get from regular burgers.

My husband calls them “messy heaven” because you definitely need a napkin (or three), but trust me, you won’t care how messy you get once you take that first bite.

What you’ll need

For the kitchen:

Just grab a skillet, a mixing bowl, and a 9×13 baking dish

For the burgers:

About 1½ pounds of lean ground beef (I go for 90% lean)
1 medium onion, chopped up pretty fine
2 tablespoons of melted butter
A tablespoon of yellow mustard
8 soft hamburger buns (nothing fancy – the regular sandwich kind work best)
8 slices of cheese (we use cheddar but American works great too)
Whatever toppings you love – pickles, ketchup, you name it

The how-to

Crank your oven to 350°F (175°C). Nothing fancy here.
Get your skillet hot and cook that chopped onion until it’s soft and smelling amazing (about 5 minutes). Toss in the ground beef and cook it until it’s no longer pink. Drain off the extra fat – nobody wants soggy burgers!
Mix the melted butter and mustard in a little bowl. This is Aunt Kathy’s secret touch – it makes the tops golden and adds this subtle flavor that’s just chef’s kiss.
Now for the fun part – assembly! Open up all those buns and arrange the bottom halves in your baking dish. Scoop the beef mixture evenly over them, top each with a slice of cheese, and crown them with the top buns.
Brush that butter-mustard mix over the tops of the buns. Don’t skimp here!
Cover the dish with foil and pop it in the oven for about 20-25 minutes.
When they come out, the cheese will be all melty and the tops golden. Let them cool for a hot minute so you don’t burn your mouth (I’ve made that mistake more than once in my eagerness).

Pro tips from a frequent maker

These are PERFECT for feeding a crowd. I make them for my kids’ birthday parties and there are never leftovers.
If you’re feeling fancy, sauté some mushrooms with the onions – game changer!
We’ve tried these with turkey and plant-based meat too – both worked great for my vegetarian sister-in-law.
For the ultimate comfort food experience, serve them with some crispy baked potato wedges and a simple side salad to pretend you’re being healthy.

Look, I’m not saying these burgers will change your life… but my neighbor Jen asked for the recipe three times and now makes them every Sunday for her family. So don’t blame me when your family starts requesting “Aunt Kathy’s burgers” every week!