Juicy burgers are quite possibly the most classic grilling food out there. To help you make the perfect burger, I’ve got a roundup of my favorite burger recipes!
A simple hamburger recipe can be incredibly satisfying during summer BBQs (or in those colder months when you want to feel like you’re at a summer BBQ). Sometimes, though, to get the best burger recipe, you have to go all out. Our homemade burgers are piled high with my favorite toppings, which translates to seriously epic flavors.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Each Burger Recipe
These burger recipes set you up for success with juicy hamburger patties and a range of freakin’ delicious toppings. We’ve got everything from melted cheese and BBQ sauce to chimichurri (a sauce I’m putting on everything these days) and a fried egg. I love homemade hamburgers because you can start with a great burger patty and literally build a flavor masterpiece from there. I’ve also got recipes for other proteins you can try something besides a classic beef burger. Give those a whirl too!
These burger recipes are pub-style burgers. Want to try smash burgers? They’re all the rage these days! Check out my roundup of my favorite smash burger recipes!
Best Tips for Great Burger Recipes
- Choose quality meat: I’m a firm believer in starting with a great foundation, which is why I’m choosy about the hamburger meat in these burger recipes. A pound of ground beef can make about two or three of our beautiful thicc burgers. I’d recommend using 80/20 ground beef. While lean beef is a popular choice (specifically for smash burgers), the 80/20 blend strikes the perfect balance between fat and meat for a thicker burger, ensuring your burgers stay as juicy and tasty as possible. A lot of these burger recipes go next level by adding steak, so double-check your cuts for proper cooking times.
- Get in shape: Since we want to ensure even cooking, make sure you divide the beef into equal-sized tight meatballs.
- Leave time for prep: Because we’ve got some epic toppings to create the best burgers, give yourself extra time to prep your accompanying ingredients. Components like beer-battered onion rings and jalapeño poppers take a little more effort, but they’re so worth it when you sit down to a freakin’ delicious dinner.
- All about the buns: Since the right choice of burger buns can make all the difference. Brioche buns, pretzel buns or potato buns are my personal favorites, since they hold up well with juicy burger patties.
How do I tell if my burger is done?
Great question! Your best friend is an instant-read thermometer — I really do swear by my meat thermometer. To get the temp, insert the tip of your thermometer into the center of each patty.
A medium-rare burger is about 130-135 degrees F, a medium burger is 140-145 degrees, a medium-well burger is 150-155 degrees and a well done burger is 160-165 degrees. But if you don’t have a meat thermometer (you should get one, seriously!), you can do the hand trick. A rare burger will feel soft, like the area between your thumb and palm when your hand is flat. Medium is what that same part of your hand feels like when you press your thumb to your ring finger. The more cooked the burger, the firmer it’s going to be.
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My Favorite Burger Recipes
Without further ado, let’s dive into some of my favorite burger recipes!
Beef Burger Recipes
Cowboy Butter Burgers
Smoked Birria Burgers
Bacon Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Burgers
The Ultimate Smoked Bologna Cheeseburger
Charred BBQ Burger
Red, White & Bleu Cheese Bacon Burger
Smoked Pizza Burger
California Burrito Style Burger
Mega Bacon Cheeseburger
Other Burger Recipes
Not your typical ground beef burger, but just as good.
Garlic Gochujang Shrimp Burgers
BBQ Bison Burger
Smoked Venison Burgers with Beer Cheese
Filet Mignon Burger
What to Serve with Burgers
Every one of these flavorful burger recipes is a meal in itself, so an easy recipe for a BBQ side is the way to go here. Burgers and French fries — regular, sweet potato, waffle and more — are a match made in heaven. You could also serve these burger recipes with onion rings, potato salad, broccoli slaw or mac and cheese.
Leftovers and Reheating
If you have leftovers from these burger recipes, store your leftover cooked patties, buns and toppings separately in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days. When you’re ready to reheat them, preheat a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat, add a small amount of oil and then reheat the patties for about 2-3 minutes on each side.
For more of my Favorite Recipes
FAQs
For the best burgers, use a mix of ground beef that is about 80/20. While lean beef is a popular choice, the 80/20 blend strikes the perfect balance between fat and meat, ensuring the juiciest burgers.
There’s a range, but I like to go with 375-400 degrees F (medium-high heat) and a two-zone fire for indirect cooking. Depending on the thickness of your burger and your cooking process, it’ll take 3-5 minutes per side on your outdoor grill to cook. In some cases, like my smoked birria burger, I smoke the burger at a lower heat for a longer time.
Easy — a slice of cheese, a slice of tomato, red onions, a pickle and your favorite condiments. Because you can’t go wrong with a classic.
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