Gather ground beef, salt, pepper, hamburger buns, and desired toppings
Form the ground beef into patties
Season both sides of the patties with salt and pepper
Heat a skillet, grill, or pan over medium-high heat
Cook the patties until browned and cooked through
Toast the hamburger buns if desired
Place the cooked patties on the bottom buns
Add toppings such as cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and condiments
Cover with the top buns
Serve immediately