5 Mouthwatering Burger Recipes

Be it Beyond Meat or Korean BBQ, burgers have become more popular than ever. Served everywhere from food trucks to fine dining establishments, it’s safe to say that there’s a burger for every occasion, lifestyle, and even budget. 

However the human tendency to stick to what we know means that many of us unfortunately opt for our usual burger orders and recipes time and time again. In turn, we forget the many alternative options that exist, that may even taste better. 

Venturing out is a must, but it can be difficult to know where to start. To nudge you in the right direction, we've shared five delectable burger recipes below. 

Photo by Once Upon A Chef

With its incorporation of tzatziki and feta cheese, this lamb burger recipe pays a perfect homage to Greek cuisine. 

Source: Once Upon A Chef

Ingredients | Serves 6 

Lamb Burgers

• 1 slice white bread cut into  ¼-inch pieces with the  crust removed
• 2 tbsp. milk
• ¼ cup finely chopped shallots
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp. finely chopped fresh mint
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• ¾ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1½ pounds ground lamb 
• 6 pita breads or traditional burger buns 

Toppings: 

• 1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
• 2 thinly sliced tomatoes
• 1 thinly sliced red onion
• 6 oz crumbled feta cheese
• Tzatziki sauce 

Method 

• Start by preheating the grill to high heat.
• Mash the bread and milk together in a bowl with a fork until a paste forms. Add the shallots, garlic, mint, oregano, salt, and pepper and mix well. 
• Add the lamb and mix well until all ingredients are combined. We recommended using your hands to mix.  
• Form 6 oval-shaped patties about 0.5 inches thick.
• Grill the patties, keeping them covered for between 2-4 minutes. When nicely browned on one side, flip them and cook them for a few more minutes.
• Remove the burgers from the grill and allow them to cool slightly, covered with foil. 
• Warm the pittas (or burger buns) on the grill and when warm, begin assembling the burgers using the toppings and tzatziki sauce. 

Lobster Burger

Photo by Half-baked Harvest

If you can get your hands on good quality lobster, we highly recommend this burger. The recipe features an interesting combination of brown buttered aioli and bacon, amongst many other ingredients. The end result is nothing short of mouthwatering goodness.

Source: Half-baked Harvest

Ingredients | Serves 6 

Burgers

• 1 pound fresh lobster meat 
• 1/2 pound raw shrimp, peeled + deveined
• 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/4 shredded gruyere cheese
• 1 tsp. lemon zest
• 1/4-1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
• pinch of salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 6 burger buns. We recommend brioche or pretzel burger buns.
• 6-8 slices cooked thick cut bacon
• 1 avocado sliced

Browned Butter Lemon Aioli

• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise 
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice 
• 1-2 tbsp. Sweet Thai chilli sauce
• 1 clove of garlic, minced or grated
• Pinch of cayenne, salt and pepper

Basil Corn + Peach Salsa

• 2 ears of grilled corn
• 1 finely chopped peach 
• 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
• 1 jalapeno seeded + chopped 
• 1 lemon juiced 
• Pinch of salt

Method 

• Pulse the lobster and shrimp in a food processor until the mix is ground. 
• Add the lobster and shrimp mix to a bowl with the bread crumbs, gruyere cheese, lemon zest, cayenne, salt and pepper. Mix with a spoon. 
• Form the lobster mix into six equally sized patties and refrigerate them for around 30 minutes.
• Begin making the aioli. First, melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat until it browns along the bottom. Then, set it aside to cool.
• Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, sweet Thai chilli sauce, garlic, pinch of cayenne, salt and pepper to a bowl and stir in the butter until it’s well combined. Place the mix in the fridge until serving. 
• Begin making the salsa by cutting the kernels off the grilled corn and adding them to a bowl along with the peach, basil, jalapeño, lemon juice, and pinch of salt. Toss the mix well and store it in the fridge until serving. 
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add in a tbsp of butter. Once it’s melted, place the patties into the pan and cook them for up to 8 minutes on each side.
• Meanwhile, toast your chosen burger buns and spread aioli over the bottom of each of them. Add in the patties, avocado and bacon, and top the concoction with the salsa before adding the top bun.  

Bacon Rarebit Burger 

Photo by Jamie Oliver

Whilst this burger recipe features a short list of ingredients, it's bursting with a tremendous amount of flavour. If you're aiming to whip up a simple but effective dish, this could very well be the one for you. 

Source: Jamie Oliver

Ingredients

• 3 chestnut mushrooms
• 125 g beef mince
• 2 rashers of smoked streaky bacon
• 1 soft bun
• 2 tsp. sour cream, heaped 
• 1 gherkin
• 25 g Cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp.  Worcestershire sauce

Method 

• Trim the stalk and base off each mushroom and place them cut side down on a pan over a high heat for five minutes. 
• Meanwhile, work the mince using your before dividing the mix into two equal sized balls, flattening them to just under ½cm thick, and then pushing a rasher of bacon on to each one.
• Flip the mushrooms over and simultaneously place the burgers into the pan with the bacon side down. Sprinkle the patties with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, and fry them for 2 minutes on one side, and one minute on the other side. 
• Use the same pan to toast the bun. 
• Once toasted, remove the bun from the pan and spread the sour cream over the bottom bun. Add in the burger, mushrooms, and sliced gherkins. 
• Remove the pan from the heat, grate the cheese into it, and pour Worcestershire sauce on top. Stir until the mix reaches an oozy consistency. Pour the rarebit mixture over your burger stack and place the top bun on top. 

Korean BBQ Burger 

Photo by Country Cleaver

This special recipe features a plethora of tantalising flavours, namely miso-candied bacon, and is perfect for a special occasion. Do be mindful that whilst the cooking method is fairly simple, you’ll need to set aside around 1.5 hours to get it all done. Rest assured, it will be worth the wait. 

Source: Country Cleaver

Ingredients | Serves 4 

Miso-candied bacon

• 1/2 pound bacon
• 1/2 cup white miso paste
• 1/4 cup maple syrup 
• 1 cup rice wine vinegar 
• 3/4 cup mirin 

Patties 

• 1 1/2 pound lean ground beef
• 1 1/2 tbsp. freshly grated ginger
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions/green onions
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp. sesame oil
• 3 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground pepper
• 3 tbsp. ghee
• 1/4 cup Gochujang (Korean BBQ Sauce)
• 4 Slices Cheese
• 4 Brioche Buns
• Lettuce
• Tomato

Method

• Start with the miso-candied bacon. Preheat your oven to 375 Degrees and place the bacon on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake it for 7 minutes, and then flip it and bake it for an additional 2 minutes.
• Add the miso paste, maple syrup, mirin, and rice wine vinegar to a saucepan over a medium high heat. Stir the ingredients together until combined. 
• Reduce the heat to a simmering state and allow the miso sauce to reduce for around 15 minutes until it has thickened.
• Brush the sauce on top of the bacon and return it to the oven to crisp up. This should take two or three minutes. After this, drain the bacon on a paper towel. 
• Next, move on to the patties and combine the beef, ginger, scallions, garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, kosher salt and pepper in a bowl. 
• Form four even patties, each around 1 inch thick. 
• Preheat a cast iron skillet over a medium high heat and add in the ghee. When the ghee has melted, place the burgers in the skillet and cook them for about 4 minutes until the side facing down is well browned. 
• Flip the burgers and glaze them with the gochujang.
• Continue to cook the burgers for another 4 minutes until they have reached your desired doneness. 
• Add the cheese to the top of the burger whilst it’s still on the pan, allowing it to melt well. 
• Stack the lettuce and tomato onto the burger and then place it on the bun along with the miso-candied bacon. Top with the other half of the bun, and serve.

Southern BBQ Pork Burger

Photo by Country Living

Finally, these Southern pork burgers make a fantastic addition to any menu, and they're easy to make too! The buttermilk coleslaw and barbecue sauce ensure that the flavors of the South effortlessly shine through, deeming the burger a huge crowd pleaser. 

Source: Country Living

Ingredients

• 1 cup light mayonnaise
• 3 tbsp. buttermilk, milk or sour cream
• 1 tbsp. cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp. sugar
• Kosher salt and pepper
• 4 cups coleslaw mix
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh chives
• 2 lb. ground pork
• 1 small onion
• 1 cup. barbecue sauce
• 6 burger buns with sesame seeds

Method 

• Whisk the mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, and 1/4 tsp of salt and pepper in a bowl. Once combined, add the coleslaw and chives and toss to fully combine. Refrigerate the mix for around an hour, checking in to toss it from time to time. 
• Meanwhile, combine the pork, onion, barbecue sauce, and 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper in a large bowl. Form the mixture into six even 1-inch thick patties.
• Cook the patties on a grill preheated to medium until they cook through (circa five minutes on each side).
• Once cooked, stack the coleslaw on the patties and place within the buns. Devour! 

Summary

Above, we’ve shortlisted five exciting recipes entailing the likes of lobster, pork, beef, and lamb. Each burger features a completely different flavour profile to the next, and the shortlist is a mere microcosm of the many many recipes out there.

If you try one of the above recipes, we're sure that your tastebuds will thank you. Plus, we’d love to hear your feedback. Feel free to share it with us in the Comments box below!