Delicious Summer Dinner Inspiration for 2026

It's strong enough to stand up to even the juiciest burger but still soft enough for a gratifying squish. Some people dislike it, but I sort of love it when a bun starts breaking down just a tad as I eat it's like it's becoming one with the burger. I can't stand when garnishes slip out of the bun.

( Putting them on the bottom bun, like Hamburger Center does above, can help). The very best burger-makers out there know how to contain them. Shredded lettuce assists, and a melty blanket of American cheese (yes, I stated "American cheese," you snobs!) can work wonders at locking them down, too. Just recently, I was impressed by the basic resourcefulness of the Birch burger, which has diced onions put on top of the patty first, then traps them there with a piece of cheese laid over top.

Congratulations, Birch team. Now that we're on the subject of onions: provide to me each time. I'll often go for griddled or caramelized onions over raw. Their faint sweetness adds so much to the general flavor. Though I do enjoy the bite of a raw onion (diced, preferably) from time to time.

I'm extremely sorry to confess that. I'll usually pluck them off my hamburger and hand them over to a dependable dining buddy. I admit that a pickle-less hamburger can fall a bit flat. It needs that acid. That's why I love a house-made fast pickle: You understand, the kind that taste like the chef whispered the word "vinegar" at a cucumber from a mile away, then gently brushed it with a sprig of dill.

Expert Outdoor Grilling Tips

I require some tang, I need some sweetness. I will not balk at an aioli or other elegant spread, however I'm hardly ever looking for anything fancy under my bun. That's the ideal hamburger.

Like I said in my piece: A lot of burgers are great hamburgers, but some hamburgers are fantastic. And I'm always on the hunt for more. I welcome finding out about your favorite burgers. Despite the fact that I simply put out this list, I'm constantly thinking about updating it when something really unique comes my method.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

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With summertime and warm weather comes an appetite for grilled food specifically burgers. Sure, you can eat hamburgers year-round, however there's absolutely nothing rather like a juicy patty hot off the grill, specifically if you can enjoy it in your own yard. Plus, when you're turning burgers in the house, you remain 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 hamburgers with various meat, poultry, or seafood, sandwich them between all sort of bread and rolls, and go bananas with toppings. To kick off a summertime we hope is filled with hamburgers and yard time, we've gathered recipes and guidance from chefs and food specialists, including 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 "Male vs. Food" and "Adam Richman's The very best Sandwich in America" on Discovery, Adam Richman knows a thing or 2 about sandwiches and travel-inspired consuming. This pork hamburger, adjusted from his cookbook, "Directly 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 find in high end supermarkets or online, however if you can't find it or just don't like it Richman insists this hamburger has a lot huge flavor, you can avoid it. Giadzy"Absolutely nothing says summertime like ripe tomatoes in a caprese salad or a hamburger straight off the grill, so why not have the best of both worlds?" asks TV character, cookbook author and restaurateur Giada DeLaurentiis.

Serving the patties on gently grilled focaccia stresses the Italian style, but routine hamburger buns also work. You really can't go incorrect. As DeLaurentiis states, "These hamburgers are constantly a crowd pleaser." Grilled Turkey Kofta Burgers With Harissa Yogurt SauceSerena Wolf/ Serena Wolf"Turkey hamburgers get a bum rap for being dry and tasteless," describes Serena Wolf, the blogger behind Domesticate Me and author of "The Man Diet: Clean(ish) Food for People Who Like to Consume Dirty" and the upcoming "The Guy Diet Dinnertime: 125 Clean(ish) Dishes for Weeknight Winners and Fancypants Dinners.