Choose ground beef with about 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio
Place the ground beef in a bowl
Add salt and pepper
Mix gently without overworking the meat
Divide the meat into equal portions
Shape each portion into a round patty
Make the patties slightly wider than the bun
Press a small dimple in the center of each patty
Keep the patties chilled until cooking
Cook on a hot skillet, grill, or pan
Flip once during cooking
Cook until the desired doneness is reached
Let the patties rest briefly before serving