Oven Burgers

The following “Chew This!” column has been reprinted from “The Courier-Times”, Sunday, January 3rd 2016 edition. By: Blaise Doubman 

Sheet-Pan Supper offers more than better food, faster…
Blaise Doubman

My Grandpa Max would always make hamburgers in the oven, and I never quite understood the whole concept. Why not just fry the hamburgers or grill them? Growing up, I would always shrug away the “oven burgers” he would call them, and go for something else. Over the years, my fascination got the best of me, because I decided to try one. Let me tell you, it was a marvelous thing! Immediately I started trying all kinds of combinations for the “oven burger”. I would put a little piece of butter on the inside of each hamburger before rolling and patting them down into patties to make the meat a little juicer. I would take a small cube of cheese and try the same thing – fabulous! I would also try pickled peppers, different types of onion and all kinds of combinations. I even tried a mozzarella, tomato sauce and pepperoni version – pizza burger, anyone?

Over the years though, I found myself coming back time and time again to my Grandpa Max’s reliable combination of ground beef, onions, salt and black pepper. It was (and still is) a simple taste from my childhood. After my Grandpa Max passed away, my Mom, Darla, started making these, and has been making them ever since. She too, enjoys the simple flavors of the ground beef, onions, salt and black pepper. One day though, it dawned on me – there’s so much space left on the sheet pan, why add not add french fries? With the addition of the french fries, this makes a complete and easy meal, on just one sheet pan! Try this recipe method, experiment and see what you come up with!

Sheet-Pan Hamburgers and Fries in the Oven

This is a very versatile recipe. You can use different types of beef, different types of onion and even add cheese inside the hamburgers if you wish. Also, feel free to substitute tater tots or onion rings for the french fries. Serving these can be fun too, topping each burger with different condiments and different types of bread. Use Hawaiian style bread and a slice of pineapple on each for a “Hawaiian” themed version, or pickled jalapeños and hot sauce for those who like things a little more spicy. The different flavor combinations are endless! Experiment and have fun with it…

2 pounds ground beef
1 cup chopped white onion
1 bag of frozen french fries
Salt and black pepper, for seasoning

Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees F.

Prepare six squares of aluminum foil by laying them out on a counter, and spraying each sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

Divide the two pounds of hamburger into six equal parts, forming them each gently into a ball, and placing each one in the middle of one of the six aluminum foil squares.

Sprinkle evenly the chopped white onion on each hamburger.

Salt and pepper the hamburgers for seasoning.

Next, take each hamburger and its aluminum foil square, and wrap the hamburger tightly. Once wrapped, press down hard on top of each hamburger, to form a patty.

Place these on a large sheet pan, leaving space between each.

Sprinkle the bag of frozen french fries onto the sheet pan, making sure the fries are in-between and surrounding the hamburger patties.

Place this into the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes depending on how well you like your hamburger meat to be done.

Remove from oven, sprinkle salt on french fries, and carefully remove hamburgers from the foil pouches. Place hamburgers on buns and serve alongside the fries.