17 Summer Burger Ideas to Make Your Cookout a Culinary Experience

Bacon Cheeseburgers with Kentucky Bourbon Sauce

These splurge-worthy grilled bacon cheeseburgers give new life to the classic combo. Top your ground chuck patty with crispy bacon and coat your bun in a rich bourbon-spiked ketchup, but be sure to stock up on plenty of the saucy ingredients. You're definitely going to want extra to use for dipping fries!

Mini Gyro Burgers with Watermelon-Feta Salad

These mini burgers are great for when you need a quick meal. Mix ground lamb and turkey with mint and oregano for slider burgers that taste like your favorite Greek gyros. A couple of the petite patties fit right inside a pita pocket or flatbread and pair nicely with a fresh watermelon-feta salad.

Peanut Butter Burgers

A burger fit for the king! Inspired by Elvis's famous flavor combo of peanut butter and bacon, this is our best grilled burger recipe for peanut butter lovers. It puts peanut butter both on and in the juicy burgers to create the perfect mixture of sweet and savory in every bite. Top with bacon and serve on toasted ciabatta buns slathered with leftover peanut butter to complete this succulent sandwich.

Roasted Garlic-Mozzarella Burger

Elevate your average cookout with this roasted garlic burger filled with a hidden pocket of melty mozzarella cheese. Simply sandwich mozzarella slices between beef patties and grill for 10 minutes on each side for the ultimate savory surprise. Top your burger off with our three-ingredient olive mayonnaise for a truly gourmet taste.

Chicken Apple Burgers

Switch up your usual burger meat with this grilled chicken burger that's packed with flavor. A basic patty of ground poultry can be bland, so we made sure this one stands out by including an apple mixture that features bacon, garlic, onion, chopped apple, a little apple brandy for good measure, and fresh herbs. Top with grilled apple slices and/or other grilled fruits and veggies for a super-stacked grilled burger.

Lentil Veggie Burgers

Whether you're a dedicated vegetarian or simply trying out meatless Monday, whip up these lentil veggie burgers the next time you find yourself in a recipe rut. Mushrooms, lentils, and sweet potatoes give these vegetarian burgers their hearty, meat-like texture. Try them on a flatbread, sandwiched inside a hamburger bun, or on top of a salad.

Taco Burger Sliders

You only need a few ingredients to create these taco-inspired burgers. Spoonfuls of salsa and taco seasoning give lean beef a flavor fit for a fiesta. Be sure to have all of your favorite taco toppings on deck (guacamole, anyone?) and you'll be set to tackle your next taco night.

Roasted Pepper-Stuffed Burgers

Add a taste of Italy to your barbecue with these balsamic-tinged beef burgers. With a mozzarella and red pepper filling and a pesto mayo, this is a flavorful and fuss-free sandwich recipe you'll return to again and again. Freeze these burger patties for up to one month for a quick and easy bite any night of the week.

Smoky Cedar-Planked Burger

This Smoky Cedar-Planked Burger will have you running to fire up the grill. Layers of cilantro-jalapeño sauce, Gouda cheese, pickle ribbons, and tortilla-crusted onion rings take this simple burger to a whole new level. One bite, and you just might think you're in burger heaven.

Buy It: Char-Broil Portable Charcoal Grill ($37, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Blue Cheese-Stuffed Burger with Red Onion and Spinach

Satisfy your blue cheese craving with this sharp and salty grilled burger recipe oozing with melted blue cheese in the centers. Topped with fresh spinach, red onion, and even more cheese, these stuffed burgers are sure to be a hit at your next backyard barbecue.

Apple-Bacon Burger

In a time crunch? This 30 minute apple-bacon burger has your back! A half sausage and half beef patty pair nicely with green apple slices. Add crisp bacon and a honey-infused Dijon dressing to this sandwich for an unexpectedly delicious grilled burger recipe.

Cuban Burgers

Take your taste buds abroad with our juicy Cuban-inspired burger recipe that's piled high with pickles, Fontina cheese, and onion. For an unforgettable finish, slather your sandwich with our homemade mojo sauce, a traditional Cuban spread that adds a kick of tangy garlic and citrus flavor.

Chorizo-Chile Burger

Chorizo pork sausage and our homemade poblano and avocado spread bring the heat to this easy burger recipe. Quick pickled onions are the perfect tangy topper to level up this spicy sandwich.

Mushroom-Topped Burgers with Slow-Roasted Tomato Ketchup

Calling all ketchup lovers! Homemade slow-roasted tomato ketchup takes center stage in this recipe and perfectly complements this burger's crispy Gouda strips, thyme-infused mushrooms, and garlicky patties. Save some time and make the ketchup in advance—it can chill for up to a week.

Peppercorn-Blue Cheese Burger with Tangy Cherry Compote

Temper the bold flavors of blue cheese and cracked black peppercorns with a burst of unexpected sweetness from a cherry compote. Made with a mix of dried and fresh cherries, it's the perfect condiment for balancing out this delicious summer classic.

Turkey Burger with Peaches and Blueberries

The colorful seasonal toppings shine when you serve this sandwich open-faced. The sweet fruit is balanced out by Monterey Jack cheese and a dash of chili powder. But here's a little secret you can't tell from the picture: There's one chopped peach mixed in with the grilled turkey burger recipe, too.

Bacon-Wrapped Burger with Fried Pickles and Slaw

Upgrade your burger from simple to indulgent with our restaurant-style recipe. Wrap these patties in slices of brown sugar bacon and nestle under homemade coleslaw and fried pickles for a standout grilled burger recipe that will wow any guest.