Gather ground beef, salt, pepper, and burger buns
Preheat a skillet, grill, or pan over medium-high heat
Form the ground beef into patties
Season both sides of the patties with salt and pepper
Place the patties on the hot cooking surface
Cook until browned on the first side
Flip the patties
Cook until the desired doneness is reached
Add cheese near the end if desired
Toast the buns if desired
Remove the patties from heat
Assemble the hamburger on the buns with desired toppings
Serve immediately