Our Very Best Burger Recipes

Chili-Pie Burgers
Photo: Frank Frances

From classic diner-style patties to meatless masterpieces and bunless beauties, here are more than two dozen of our best burger recipes.

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cheeseburger with grilled bun tomatoes pickles lettuce
Kate Mathis

Looking back on your favorite summer memories, a few things probably come to mind: a splash in the pool, a lazy day at the beach, a family adventure, or the first bite of a juicy, char-grilled burger. Burgers are synonymous with grilling, and we probably eat more burgers in the summer than at any other time of year. Still, these tasty bites shouldn't be reserved just for grilling season; we've got plenty of burger recipes here that can be enjoyed all year long. With a stovetop and a grill pan, any night can be a burger night.

If you're looking for a burger recipes with tried-and-true flavors, start with classic combos like grilled peppers and onions or pickles, lettuce, and tomato. When creating a beef burger, it's important to use a cut of beef that's leaner: Try finding ground chuck that's 80 percent lean, and 20 percent fat. You'll enjoy a juicy profile without too much grease. Your patties should be about four inches wide—remember that burgers will shrink significantly when cooked.

Don't stop at beef, either. Some of our favorite burgers feature tender patties of lamb, chicken, turkey, salmon, and pork. Our go-to lamb burgers are topped with a serious punch of parsley and bathed in yogurt-feta sauce; they're are a perfect example of how other meats can inspire a fresh take on burger night. And don't forget plant-based recipes! Hearty vegetables, grains, and beans can all make for amazing burgers that sing with healthy flavor.

Here, we're sharing our favorite burgers—from vegetarian options to beefy classics—that will keep you coming back for more all year long.

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Chili-Pie Burgers

Chili-Pie Burgers
Frank Frances

A comfort food dream, this beefy burger is a mashup of Frito pie and hamburger. A beef patty is topped with chili-spiked sautéed onions, pickled jalapeños, melty American cheese, and crunchy Frito chips.

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Salmon-Spinach Burgers

Salmon-Spinach Burgers
Frank Frances

Simple, healthy, and delicious, there's a lot to like about these easy salmon patties made by mixing salmon fillet with goat cheese, fresh spinach, lemon juice, and olive oil. We serve them with flatbreads and a crunchy salad.

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Turkey-Mushroom Patty Melts

Chili-Pie Burgers
Frank Frances

Here's a tasty burger that's served without a bun, but not without bread! Adding sautéed mushrooms to ground turkey amps up the delicious umami of these patties. We serve them on toasted rye bread with Havarti cheese.

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Carrot-Chickpea Burgers

Carrot-Chickpea Burgers
Frank Frances

Have you been looking for the ultimate veggie burger? The search is over! These easy-to-make patties lean on canned chickpeas and grated carrot with egg, panko, and cooked white rice bringing it all together. Give them a try.

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Grilled Lamb Burgers with Yogurt-Feta Sauce

grilled lamb burger yogurt feta sauce
Christopher Testani

A generous dash of fresh parsley adds new layers of flavor to each component of these Greek-inspired lamb burgers: the patties, the yogurt-feta sauce, and the chopped tomato salad.

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California-Style Veggie Burgers

california style veggie burger
Louise Hagger

Bulgur plays two integral roles in these vegetarian burgers: It's used to bolster the shiitake mushroom-and-pinto bean patties, and to create a crunchy crust on the outside.

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Classic Burger-Joint Cheeseburger

burger lettuce tomato pickle cheese
Armando Rafael

The key to mastering these diner-style patties is not overworking the meat. For extra tang, add a thin spread of mayo to the buns before toasting them on the grill.

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Aged-Cheddar-and-Swiss Cheeseburgers

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Linda Pugliese

One of Martha's favorites! Aged cheeses, fresh horseradish, and smoky bacon take ordinary beef burgers to new heights. Serve with bread-and-butter pickles, onion rings, and cold beer.

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Greek Turkey Burgers

greek turkey burgers recipe plate
Sidney Bensimon

Ground turkey patties flavored with parsley, Worcestershire, and Dijon are steamed, then seared for these Mediterranean-inspired pita burgers.

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Steak-House Burger

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Marcus Nilsson

From the drive thru lane to the steak house! This lavish burger calls for grinding your own meat—we used a mix of short ribs and sirloin.

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Green-Chile Chicken Burgers

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Courtesy of Bryan Gardner

Lean, mean, and green! These chicken burgers get added oomph from canned green chiles and fresh cilantro. Serve on sour cream- and Dijon-slathered buns with more cilantro, grilled tomatoes, and lettuce.

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Green-Pea Burgers with Harissa Mayo

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Johnny Miller

Fresh peas are the star of these bright-green patties. Chickpeas, onion, parsley, egg, and breadcrumbs play important supporting roles.

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Sausage-and-Mushroom Burgers with Broccoli Rabe

sausage-burgers-123-d112221.jpg
Bryan Gardner

Here's a hearty dinner that everyone will love—umami-rich mushroom-and-sausage patties, melted provolone, and spicy broccoli rabe are sandwiched in toasted ciabatta rolls.

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Thin Burger

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Sang An

Beefy burgers don't have to weigh you down. Opt for our griddled slender patties topped with American cheese. Bonus: They freeze beautifully.

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Mini Cheeseburgers

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Sometimes a slider is all you need! These diminutive burgers have all the traditional fixings and are the perfect excuse to serve diner food at your next party.

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Gingery Salmon Burgers

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Burger buns do double duty here: They're turned into breadcrumbs to bind the salmon patties, and they're used to serve the cooked burgers.

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Chimichurri Burger

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Andrew Purcell

Homemade chimichurri—a garlicky, herb-packed sauce typically used for grilled meats in Argentina—sets this beefy burger apart.

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Bean-and-Veggie Sliders

bean and veggie sliders

Inspired by Vietnamese banh mi, our mini meatless sliders team beans and rice with grated carrots, ginger, and spices. Garnish with sliced mango, fresh cilantro, and homemade chili mayonnaise.

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Cheeseburger Potato

cheeseburger baked potato
Johnny Miller

We like to think of this dish as a deconstructed cheeseburger that swaps the buns for baked potatoes.

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Turkey Sliders

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Kids will love making and eating these mini turkey burgers. Let them form the patties, wash and tear the lettuce, and lay on the toppings. Trust us, there's no way they won't eat their own creation!

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Pimiento-Cheese Burgers

pimiento-cheeseburger-4-med108678.jpg
JOHNNY MILER

Treat your guests to beef burgers topped with the "caviar of the South," also known as the holy trinity of pimientos, cheddar, and mayonnaise.

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Red-Bean Burgers with Avocado and Lime

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Alpha Smoot

You don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy these red bean-and-carrot burgers flavored with chili powder and oregano. Give the dish a Southwestern feel by serving with avocado, red onion, lettuce, sour cream, and lime.

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Turkey-Meatloaf Burgers

turkey-burger-001-d113019.jpg
Linda Pugliese

Consider these burgers to be two comfort foods rolled into one dish! Store-bought red-pepper relish and chili sauce are the MVP ingredients in these ground turkey patties. Switch things up by topping with kale instead of the usual lettuce.

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Double-Portobello Burgers with Roasted Tomatoes

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andrew parcell

Ketchup goes au naturel here with fresh roasted plum tomatoes standing in for the usual bottled condiment. Broiled portobellos get covered in melted sharp provolone cheese and are sandwiched between toasted whole-wheat buns.

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Easy Veggie Burgers

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Absolutely scrumptious, these meatless patties are made with bulgur, pinto beans, Swiss cheese, carrots, and scallions. Try them because they're a total winner.

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Lamb Burgers

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Rich and savory, these lamb patties are spiced with cumin and coriander and topped with grilled eggplant and tangy goat cheese.

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Smoky Salmon Burgers with Grainy Mustard

salmonbeauty-0611mld107161.jpg
andrew parcell

Proof that burgers can be elegant! Fresh dill and crisp watercress are the perfect foils for these tender salmon patties.

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Pork Burgers with Peppers

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We've transformed the classic Italian pairing of sausage and peppers into these delectable burgers and added some fresh mozzarella for good measure.

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Charred-Eggplant and Beef Burgers

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andrew parcell

Grilled eggplant is the secret ingredient behind these better-for-you burgers. It's mixed with lean ground chuck, giving each patty an extra fiber boost.

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Chicken-Cutlet Burgers

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Quick-cooking chicken cutlets mean these burgers are ready in a flash. Team them with grilled zucchini and onions, juicy tomatoes, and peppery arugula.

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Tuna Burgers

deconstructed tuna burger
James Wojcik

Grinding your tuna is essential to shaping these burgers; otherwise they'll fall apart while cooking. Flavor them with ginger and lemon, and serve with a crisp Napa Cabbage Slaw for balance.

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Turkey-Club Burger

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Marcus Nilsson

Yes, you can use English muffins as hamburger buns! They're the ideal vehicles for serving these turkey patties enriched with ground bacon and topped with Swiss cheese, tomatoes, avocado, and lettuce.

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Quinoa-Feta Burgers

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Bryan Gardner

Mashed kidney beans are combined with quinoa, feta, and parsley to make these delicious protein-packed veggie burgers. Gussy them up with grainy mustard, tender grilled onions, and pleasantly bitter radicchio.

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Bistro Sliders with Pickled Onions

sliders

They may be small, but these mini beef burgers pack a punch, thanks to the quick-pickled red onions and garlicky mayonnaise.

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