50 Best Burger Recipes

If you love a good burger, we've got 50 you have to try.

There's nothing like a classic. 

There's nothing like a good old-fashioned hamburger — so juicy and full of flavor that you don't even need to add cheese. If you're a fan of this classic cookout fare, this recipe is for you. It's simple and delicious. 

This recipe seems simple in nature, but when you look closer you'll see there are extra steps taken to make sure that the classic Cheddar cheeseburger is treated well and tastes good. Tender shallots are cooked down and braised in white-wine vinegar to create a topping to a tender patty mixed with minced garlic. A little bit of mayonnaise and peppery arugula are all that are needed to complete this unassuming yet delicious burger. 

The authors of Wicked Good Burgers are very clearly barbecue experts, and this recipe incorporates all of their skills into a brisket burger. Seasoned with a unique barbecue rub and topped with a pit sauce for the finish, this concoction had us wanting to make a lot more burgers out of brisket. 

If you love chicken parmesan, then you'll love this burger. It's topped with melted mozzarella cheese and chunky tomato sauce and served on a toasty bun. 

We've heard of mushroom burgers as a vegetarian alternative, but had never thought of adding mushrooms to the beef of a burger. Cooking mushrooms with garlic, thyme, and red wine will make you feel as if you're creating a luxurious French dish, but what results is a flavorful burger topped with a fried egg and a truffle, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and arugula mixture. Oh, and, the mayonnaise-mustard-ketchup condiment is not to be overlooked, either. 

This recipe brings together the key elements of a Jewish deli — in a burger. Homemade Russian dressing and a unique pastrami patty turn one of our favorite deli sandwiches into a juicy, mouth-watering burger.

There's nothing better than tangy pickled jalapeños — except maybe a burger topped with them. This burger gets extra heat from the jalapeños mixed into the beef and the pepper jack cheese melted on top. Make the pickled jalapeños at least a day in advance for the best flavor. 

This burger includes a tender sirloin patty made with shallots and spicy chili powder topped with all of the trimmings — and then some. We like to think of this as a beef burrito slammed inside a hamburger bun, with salsa, jalapeños, and Monterey Jack cheese. 

This recipe gives an Italian twist to an American classic. Pork and beef burgers are seasoned with a basil, oregano, and a garlic spice blend, and then topped with fresh mozzarella and salty pancetta. 

There's a reason Americans are obsessed with these onion-y sliders: They're delicious! We're certainly not the first to try to replicate this recipe, but we think we've come pretty close — closer than others — to nailing it.

A burger's best friend? Bacon.

This hamburger is anything but basic. It's simple to make, but it's also so juicy and flavorful that you don't even need to top it with cheese. What's the secret ingredient in the best burger recipe ever? Bacon!

Authors Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen of The Fire Island Cookbook got their inspiration for these sliders from the miniature appeal of a White Castle Slider, another burger we love. Their cooking technique is a little different from the fast food chain's (they grill theirs), but they more than make up for it by topping them with crispy onion rings, bacon, and rich blue cheese. 

There's no better way to keep a beef burger juicy than sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. Top yours with Cheddar cheese and crispy bacon for the ultimate grilled burger.

The top-selling menu item at Laurent Tourondel's New York City restaurant, the Arlington Club, this butcher burger gets its name from the decadent short rib meat used to create the patty. Extra steps are necessary to create the caramelized onions and pepper-crusted bacon, but they're worth it. 

Here's a little trivia for you: Did you know that the WBCB (yes, it has a nickname) comes in three sizes (single, double, and the $6 version)? And that about 32 million combined were sold last year? Zac Efron and Padma Lakshmi just might — Efron said he "absolutely loves" them, and Lakshmi starred in a commercial for Carl's Jr. back in 2009. Here's the recipe for the $6 version.  

Sometimes it's the simple things in life that make all the difference, like with these basic bacon cheeseburgers that use Swiss cheese rather than American or Cheddar. It's just the right amount of flair to make these burgers unique and memorable in our books. 

If you haven't heard of Island Creek Oyster Company, it's about time you did, and this burger is the perfect way to discover it. To pay homage to the Duxbury, Massachusetts, oyster farm, the authors of Wicked Good Burgers devised this tasty burger recipe that's topped with perfectly fried oysters and a tartar sauce. We like it so much because of the way the authors time the recipe — they even tell you when to start heating your oil for the oysters while you're creating the burger. 

Become a grillmaster with one simple trick: top burgers with simple homemade pimiento cheese for a cheeseburger that has no competition. The only thing that could make this burger better? Bacon. Recipe courtesy of Grill Nation: 200 Surefire Recipes, Tips, and Techniques to Grill Like a Pro by David Guas.

The "Luther" Donut Burger is one of the unhealthiest burgers around, averaging around 1,000 calories per burger. Although the origins of the donut burger are mostly speculative — its name is often attributed to R&B singer Luther Vandross — many restaurants have incorporated the trend into their menus. They're classically made with two donuts (or one cut lengthwise) instead of buns, and comprised of a hamburger patty, cheese, and bacon. To make your own version at home, simply choose your favorite brand of donuts and build your personalized burger between them.

Here you have it, ladies and gentlemen: the ultimate bacon-wrapped burger. This isn't just some burger with one slice of bacon wrapped around its sides —it's a perfectly weaved and wrapped bacon burger, cooked to perfection both inside and out. 

Ooey, gooey, cheese-stuffed burger patties? Yes, please!

When you load toppings onto a burger, they often fall off. These inside-out stuffed burgers mix the toppings into the meat, giving you a whole new experience of smoky turkey bacon, Cheddar, and meaty portobello mushrooms in every bite. 

As much as we hate to insult "the healthy white meat," sometimes a turkey burger needs a little help in the taste department, which is exactly what Gaby Dalkins, author of Absolutely Avocados, did with this recipe. Her bacon-cotija guacamole is the perfect flavorful complement to juicy turkey burgers, and we're convinced that we'll be using it for a lot more than our burgers.

Tangy feta cheese is the surprise filling inside these juicy grilled beef burgers served on toasted Kaiser rolls.

This burger recipe offers an elegant twist on the classic juicy Lucy, stuffing the ground beef with gorgonzola cheese and seasoning it with A-1 steak sauce, Cajun seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce. 

This classic inside-out burger is filled with sharp Cheddar cheese. The twist? It's topped with red wine-caramelized onions.

Take two things you love, combine them in a unique way, and end up with something better than the sum of its parts. In this case, we have two crowd-pleasing favorites — the burger and mac and cheese — both made using simple ingredients and techniques. If you just smothered a burger with a big scoop of mac and cheese, it would be fun, but it would still be a burger with mac and cheese. Putting the pasta into the center of the burger is what really makes this dish special.

This tasty turkey burger is anything but boring. With parsley, onion, and garlic in the meat, feta cheese stuffed inside, and a tangy yogurt sauce for serving, it will quickly become your go-to turkey burger this summer.

Sautéed mushrooms and onion, along with a little Swiss cheese, are stuffed in hamburger patties to create an exciting twist on a classic flavor combination.

An easy way to reinvent the stuffed burger? QVC's David Venable stuffs his burgers with Cheddar and cream cheese and tops it all with corn chips and a smoky salsa for a Tex-Mex spin on the classic burger.

Winner of the New York State Beef Council's Best Burger in New York City award in 2012 and 2013, this variation of a Juicy Lucy is the real deal. 

Keep your healthy eating goals on track with these delicious burgers. 

These delicious vegetarian black bean burger patties get a nice smoky flavor (even if you can't cook them outdoors on a charcoal grill) thanks to the ground chipotle powder.

Ground chicken can taste bland and often has a texture that's tough to work with, but with the addition of curry powder, onions, and peas, plus some bread crumbs, you have a unique, hearty burger with the health benefits of lean protein. Chutneys are usually made with a fruit like mango or pineapple, but the sweetness and acidity of cherry tomatoes (which, hey, are also fruits) are perfect in a mixture in which sweet and sour are necessary — and refreshing.

These turkey burgers are based on a fabulous recipe from Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint Cookbook. His recipe is actually called Fried Eggs Over Green Chili Burgers, and is yet another high-protein entrée from the king of primal that my entire family enjoyed.

This burger recipe is tweaked to lighten up this sometimes greasy and calorie-laden meal. We've put another healthy spin on burgers with Greek-inspired toppings.

Shrimp is low in fat, which makes for a healthy burger protein. When using shrimp, however, it's important to add the right seasonings. This recipe is packed with flavorful spices like Old Bay, making the burger not only nourishing, but delicious, too.

Here's a delightful twist on the average turkey burger — it's chicken instead, and stuffed with feta! It's perfect for entertaining or a quick and easy weeknight meal.

Looking for healthy and delicious burger recipe? Why not grill up some good-for-you salmon burgers. They're loaded with fresh flavor thanks to the dill and mustard.

This turkey burger is a healthy version of the American classic that's simple and quick to make. Grated vegetables add even more flavor and juiciness to the patty.

These healthy turkey burgers are anything but boring. Topped with sliced red onion, ribbons of crisp cucumber, and fresh cilantro, this tasty turkey burger  is sure to be a hit at any cookout.

This veggie burger recipe packs some major protein. The patties are made with quinoa (a plant-based source of complete protein), making them a healthy and delicious alternative to meat-based burgers.

Here are some of our favorite non-beef burgers. 

Bison makes a delicious and meaty burger. It has more iron and less fat than beef and pairs well with a burger's best friend — bacon!

The inspiration for this recipe came from soft pretzels and cheese sauce, because hey, what goes better with those things a juicy, fat brat? The authors of Wicked Good Burgers created their own brat recipe by using ground pork and veal and seasoning it with ginger, nutmeg, and beer for an authentic version. 

These tasty chicken patties are anything but boring. Breaded and pan-fried for a satisfying crunch, this chicken burger is sure to be a hit any night of the week.

Take a trip to the Mediterranean with this Greek-inspired lamb burger. A combination of dried parsley, oregano, and dill lends pleasant herbal flavors to the lamb patties, and a well-dressed salad with feta tops the patty.

Lamb is more expensive than other types of ground meat, but take one bite of these juicy burgers and you'll see why. We don't add much to the ground meat — just some onion, garlic, and spices — so that the flavor of the lamb can shine. Skip the cheese on these burgers and opt for a flavorful yogurt-based sauce instead.

Themed burgers can be dangerous. Use too many gimmicks, make things too complicated, and you run the risk of being all concept. This Greek-themed lamb burger has a couple of unusual touches, but when it comes down to it, it's still a burger. A spicy, tangy, salty, juicy burger.

Quick, easy, and naturally gluten-free, these salmon burgers are nutritious and delicious. Sesame oil and plum vinegar give this version lots of delicious flavor.

The inspiration for these smoky lamb burgers came out of wanting to create a kicked-up burger that was no-fuss and would taste delicious with an ice-cold beer. The secret to making them smoky and delicious? Black cardamom and and pimentón de la Vera.

Ever make a vegetarian burger, only to have the patty crumble and fall apart? That won't be the case with this flavorful black bean burger; creamy sweet potatoes help hold everything in place.

A flavorful, texture-filled vegetarian creation made with wild rice, mushrooms, and navy beans, these patties are easy to make and hearty enough to win over even the most stubborn meat-eaters. They're perfect when served on a toasted whole-wheat bun with a slice of juicy tomato and melted cheese.