How to Brown Ground Beef
Updated Nov 30, 2025
Learn how to brown ground beef properly so it’s flavorful, browned, and never gray or soggy. Simple steps for perfect texture every time.
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Learning How To Brown Ground Beef is so Easy!
Browning ground beef is one of those essential cooking skills that’s handy for so many meals. Whether you’re making tacos, preparing chili, or adding it to your favorite pasta sauce, knowing how to brown ground beef is key. In this guide, I’ll walk you through a foolproof method to brown hamburger meat on the stovetop, making sure it’s flavorful and cooked.
Cooking ground beef might seem like a basic task, but getting that perfect sear, without drying it out or leaving it undercooked, can be a challenge, plus learning to brown meat is one of those simple recipes I think is important for every home cook to learn. It’s a pretty easy technique, and once you master it, you can use it as a blank canvas for so many recipes. And the best part is, it’s simpler than you think.
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Browned Ground Beef Ingredients
- Ground beef: When you buy ground beef in most grocery stores, you’ll find options with a variety of different fat contents. My go-to is the most common: 80/20 (80% lean and 20% fat), but if you want a leaner cut, go with 95/5, which contains very little fat.
- Olive oil: I prefer the taste of olive oil, but you can sub in a different cooking oil if you like.
- Seasoning: Feel free to get creative with your spice blends, but I like to keep mine simple with salt and pepper.
How to Brown Ground Beef
How to Brown Ground Beef
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a medium size pan over medium heat.
- Add the beef and allow it to cook undisturbed until it starts to brown at the bottom, about 5 minutes.
- Use a spatula or wooden spoon to break up the beef while stirring occasionally, being careful not to overmix the beef. Continue cooking until the beef has no more pink color and is browned all over, about 5 more minutes.
- Use a strainer to pour off any excess grease or fat from the beef that you don’t want into a heat-proof container. You can also use a paper towel to remove the excess fat.
- Season with salt and pepper and use as desired in a recipe.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Tutorial Tips
- Preheat your pan before adding ground meat. A hot pan helps the beef brown quickly (and seals in all the juices).
- Don’t stir your meat too often. After adding your ground beef to the pan, let it cook undisturbed so the bottom can brown properly. Break up the meat and stir as needed but keep it to a minimum to ensure even browning.
- Use a flat wooden spatula for cooking. This helps to break up the ground beef in the skillet into smaller pieces so that there are more browned edges and the spices are more evenly distributed.
- Save the seasoning for last. Salt draws out moisture, drying the meat and creating steam while it cooks, preventing it from browning properly. Wait to season your meat until the end!
- Don’t overcook your meat. For tender and moist ground hamburger meat, cook until no pink remains, and promptly remove from heat once it’s done. Avoid overcooking to prevent dryness and a rubbery texture!
Recipes to Make with Browned Hamburger Beef
- Ground Beef Casserole
- Sheet Pan Nachos
- Easy Eggplant Moussaka
- Unstuffed Peppers
- Easy Ground Beef Tacos
- Hummus with Ground Beef
- Mediterranean Ground Beef and Rice
FAQs
Yes, you can use ground turkey, chicken or other ground meat following the same browning technique.
If your ground beef has high fat content, you can drain excess fat using a strainer, spoon, or paper towel. But this step is totally optional as it depends on your personal preferences. Leaner cuts like 95/5 won’t give you much fat to worry about.
