Top-Rated Gourmet Burger Recipes for 2026

It's durable enough to stand up to even the juiciest burger but still soft enough for a satisfying squish. Some individuals hate it, but I sort of love it when a bun starts breaking down simply a little as I consume it resembles it's becoming one with the hamburger. I can't stand when toppings slip out of the bun.

( Putting them on the bottom bun, like Burger Center does above, can assist). The very best burger-makers out there understand how to include them. Shredded lettuce assists, and a melty blanket of American cheese (yes, I said "American cheese," you snobs!) can work marvels at locking them down, too. Recently, I was impressed by the easy ingenuity of the Birch hamburger, which has actually diced onions put on top of the patty initially, then traps them there with a piece of cheese laid over top.

Congratulations, Birch group. Now that we're on the subject of onions: provide them to me each time. I'll usually go for griddled or caramelized onions over raw. Their faint sweetness includes a lot to the overall taste. Though I do enjoy the bite of a raw onion (diced, preferably) from time to time.

I'm very sorry to admit that. I'll typically pluck them off my hamburger and hand them over to a trusty dining companion. I confess that a pickle-less hamburger can fall a bit flat. It requires that acid. That's why I enjoy a house-made quick pickle: You know, the kind that taste like the chef whispered the word "vinegar" at a cucumber from a mile away, then lightly brushed it with a sprig of dill.

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The condiments: Equal parts mustard, ketchup and mayo, please. I need some tang, I need some sweetness. I need some zip. I will not balk at an aioli or other expensive spread, however I'm rarely searching for anything elegant under my bun. That's it. That's the best hamburger. Many on my list tick every box above, however honestly, a few of them do not.

Like I stated in my piece: A lot of burgers are great burgers, but some hamburgers are great. And I'm constantly on the hunt for more. I welcome hearing about your favorite hamburgers. Although I just put out this list, I'm constantly thinking about upgrading it when something really special comes my way.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

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With summer season and warm weather condition comes an cravings for grilled food especially burgers. Sure, you can consume hamburgers year-round, however there's nothing quite like a juicy patty hot off the grill, specifically if you can enjoy it in your own yard. Plus, when you're turning hamburgers at home, you're in control.

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And the alternatives are almost unlimited. In addition to the classic American beef and cheese on a bun combination, you can make burgers with different meat, poultry, or seafood, sandwich them between all sort of bread and rolls, and go insane with toppings. To kick off a summer season we hope is filled with burgers and yard time, we've collected dishes and recommendations from chefs and food experts, consisting of Andrew Zimmern, Giada De Laurentiis, Adam Richman, Serena Wolf, Martha Stewart and Jamie Purviance.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Banh Mi BurgerEvan SungAs the star of "Guy vs. Food" and "Adam Richman's The Best Sandwich in America" on Discovery, Adam Richman knows a thing or 2 about sandwiches and travel-inspired consuming. This pork burger, adapted from his cookbook, "Straight Up Tasty; Meals, Memories and Mouthfuls from My Journeys," blends 2 of Richman's favorites, the timeless American hamburger and the Vietnamese banh mi.

Pork pt is simple to discover in high end supermarkets or online, however if you can't find it or just don't like it Richman insists this burger has a lot big flavor, you can skip it. Giadzy"Absolutely nothing states summertime like ripe tomatoes in a caprese salad or a burger right off the grill, so why not have the finest of both worlds?" asks TV character, cookbook author and restaurateur Giada DeLaurentiis.

Serving the patties on lightly grilled focaccia emphasizes the Italian style, but regular hamburger buns likewise work. You truly can't fail. As DeLaurentiis states, "These burgers are always a crowd pleaser." Grilled Turkey Kofta Burgers With Harissa Yogurt SauceSerena Wolf/ Serena Wolf"Turkey burgers get a bum rap for being dry and tasteless," explains Serena Wolf, the blog writer behind Domesticate Me and author of "The Guy Diet Plan: Clean(ish) Food for People Who Like to Eat Dirty" and the upcoming "The Man Diet Plan Dinnertime: 125 Tidy(ish) Recipes for Weeknight Winners and Fancypants Dinners.