Our 7 Favorite Burger Recipes

Wow at your next cookout with our best homemade beef patties, black bean burgers, salmon burgers, and more.

Updated on June 19, 2024

Southern Living Smashburgers With Secret Sauce on a plate to serve with chips — Photo:
Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Fire up the grill, it's burger night. These grilled burger recipes show you how to add zip to your burgers and jazz up your condiments. Transform ground beef, turkey, or chicken into a great-tasting dinner the whole family will love. While you are cooking outdoors, go ahead and serve dinner alfresco as well. Make every dinner feel like a celebration with these inventive and delicious burger recipes.

01 of 07

Salmon Burgers With Creamy Tartar Sauce

The classic fish sandwich meets burger in this mashup that incorporates everything we love about both dishes. The salmon is blended with lemon, dill, tarragon, and capers, the same flavors that are repeated in the tartar sauce. Keep it authentic with a very soft, buttered bun.

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02 of 07

Oklahoma Onion Burgers

Lot and lots of onions griddled with each beef patty are the true star of the show here. The secret to this smash-burger-style recipe is topping each off with a slice of classic American cheese and using the steam escaping off the meat in the skillet to soften the buns.

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03 of 07

Cheeseburgers

Classic cheeseburgers are a foolproof way to enjoy a grilled meal in the summer. This recipe uses both ground chuck and flank steak, along with a special sauce made with various condiments for a kick. It's the perfect ratio of meat, cheese, and toppings that makes for a delicious experience.

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04 of 07

New England Lobster Salad Burger

Classic burger joint meets New England-style seafood shack in this recipe. Creamy lobster salad is piled high on top of a juicy burger for a true taste of summer. Pair this with a light, citrusy cold brew.

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05 of 07

Cast-Iron Skillet Burgers

You don't need to fire up the grill for this burger recipe that uses your trusty cast-iron skillet. Our testing editor praised the use of mustard and Worcestershire sauce to add depth to the ground beef. Even better, the caramelized onions are seared in the skillet with bacon grease.

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06 of 07

Mississippi Slugburgers

Originating during the Great Depression in North Mississippi, the slugburger came about when restaurant owners stretched scarce burger meat with filler, deep-fried them to crispy perfection, and sold them for a slug. In our version, we opt for crispy cornmeal and oatmeal mixed with ground chuck and pork. Pan fry and top with lots of onion, pickle chips, and mustard.

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07 of 07

Smashburgers

Simple, juicy, and delicious: instead of forming patties, you make meatballs, which you then smash onto a hot skillet using a spatula. The result are crispy burgers that cook fast with a flavorful secret sauce.

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