Use ground beef with enough fat, ideally 80/20
Keep the meat cold before seasoning
Add salt just before cooking
Use black pepper for basic seasoning
Add garlic powder for extra flavor
Add onion powder for extra flavor
Add a little smoked paprika if desired
Mix seasonings gently without overworking the meat
Form patties lightly and evenly
Season both sides of each patty
Press a small dimple in the center of each patty
Season the outside only if you want a looser texture
Avoid adding too much seasoning to keep the beef flavor strong
Cook immediately after seasoning
Taste and adjust seasoning on future batches if needed