Gather ground beef, salt, pepper, burger buns, and desired toppings
Preheat a skillet, grill, or pan over medium-high heat
Divide the ground beef into equal portions
Gently form each portion into a patty
Make a small indentation in the center of each patty
Season both sides of the patties with salt and pepper
Place the patties on the hot cooking surface
Cook until browned on the bottom
Flip the patties once
Cook until the desired doneness is reached
Add cheese during the last minute if desired
Toast the burger buns if desired
Assemble the burgers with the patties and toppings
Serve immediately