Last updated: July 9th, 2024
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These out of the box burger ideas are some of our most creative, unique recipes. You won’t be able to resist these delicious combinations!
It’s almost Labor Day weekend, and you know what that means – cookouts, grilling, and burgers! There’s no better way to celebrate the last days of summer than with a juicy, mouth-watering patty topped with all your favorite fixings. In case you need a little inspiration, we’ve rounded up our top 10 out of the box burger ideas, each with its own creative toppings and irresistible flavors.
1. Blueberry Lemon Goat Cheese Burger
This blueberry lemon goat cheese burger may be one of the most out of the box burger ideas you’ve seen, but we guarantee it’ll be a hit at any summer cookout. Fresh lemon zest and arugula paired with sweet blueberry preserves and tangy goat cheese, all piled on top of a savory beef patty and a brioche bun? Yes please. This gourmet burger just screams summer – so try it before the season’s over and experience these unique flavors for yourself! Get the recipe here.
2. Brunch Burger
If you’re a big fan of breakfast food, you’ll love this brunch burger recipe! Piled high with bacon, hash browns, mashed avocado, hot sauce, cheese, and a fried egg, it’s everything you love about a savory brunch stuffed onto a toasty English muffin. Better yet, if you have a cast iron pan you can cook the burger and all the toppings right on the grill – so you don’t even have to leave the backyard. Get the recipe here!
3. Guinness Glaze Burger
This Guinness glaze burger was originally made as a Saint Patrick’s Day special, but was loved so much it had to become a year round staple. The sweet and sticky Guinness glaze is the star of the show, but beautifully complimented by some crispy onion rings and sharp white cheddar cheese. Serve it all on a soft potato bun, and you’ll be feeling a little Irish no matter what time of year it is. You can find the recipe here at the end of the rainbow.
4. Pretzel Pub Burger
Let’s bring the fan favorite pub burger from your local watering hole straight to your grill. Why go out when you make this pretzel pub burger at home? Now you just need to grab the beer and tell the gang to come on over. This pretzel bun burger is smothered with white cheddar pub cheese, crispy bacon, and caramelized onions for a mouth-watering combination. Whip up a batch of these for your next game day feast! Get the recipe here.
5. Grilled Cheese Patty Melt
Somewhere between a burger and a sandwich, this grilled cheese patty melt is one of the best burger recipes for when you’re craving comfort food. Here’s how it works: you grill up a burger patty, you make a grilled cheese, and then you open up the grilled cheese and use it as the “bun” for your patty. And you top the patty with sliced red onion and chipotle mayo. We can’t imagine anything more comforting than a gooey grilled cheese stuffed with a juicy burger, crunchy red onions, and creamy chipotle mayo – can you? Get the recipe here.
6. Bruschetta Burger
If you’re looking for a lighter burger than this Italian style burger topped with creamy garlic & herb cheese and fresh bruschetta is for you! The combination of fresh bruschetta, light and airy Aloutte cheese, and an Italian seasoned burger patty, create the perfect summer lunch burger or light dinner. Add in a lightly toasted brioche bun, and you’ll be making these all summer long. Complete the meal with a side salad or roasted potatoes for an Italian take on burger night! Get the recipe here.
7. Maple Bourbon Burger
Calling all breakfast lovers, again! But this time, there’s a sweet and salty twist. Homemade honey butter, crispy maple bacon, and a maple bourbon syrup drizzled over a savory burger patty – all stuffed between two Eggo waffles – create the most unique flavors in this maple bourbon burger. It’s the perfect marriage of decadent breakfast sweets and indulgent nighttime treats (read: juicy burgers and bourbon). Serve it with some tater tots and you’ve got a tasty breakfast for dinner. Or dinner for breakfast, if that’s your thing. Get the recipe here.
8. Quesadilla Smash Burger
This quesadilla smash burger is the ultimate quick and easy comfort food dinner. A cheesy quesadilla, a greasy smash burger, and some chipotle mayo? No matter the occasion, this burger will have you feeling better in no time. And even better? It comes together in just 20 minutes. Just enough time to whip up a batch of fries for a side. Or go super simple with some good old fashioned chips and salsa. Get the recipe here so you have it next time you need the perfect comfort food dinner.
9. The “Firecracker” Burger
We bet you can guess what’s unique about this burger recipe from the name. Of all the creative ideas on this list, the firecracker burger is definitely the spiciest! Topped with habanero jack cheese, jalapeno bottle caps, ghost pepper hot sauce, and a cheddar-stuffed roasted jalapeno pepper, there’s no escaping the heat with this burger. There’s not even any lettuce or tomato to cool your mouth down – only a mild English muffin bun to tame the flames from all those hot peppers. If the thought of eating this burger is more appetizing to you than it is frightening, get the recipe here. (But if you’re not one for spicy food, we suggest you skip ahead!)
10. The “Big Pig” Burger
Last but not at all least, the big pig burger is every meat lover’s idea of the perfect grilled sandwich! A 50/50 patty of ground beef and pork topped with cheddar cheese, barbecue pulled pork, and crispy bacon packs a punch of salty, juicy, meaty flavor. The soft and sweet brioche bun balances it all out, making this one of the best burger recipes with all kinds of meat. No doubt your mouth will be watering as soon as you smell this burger cooking on the grill – get the recipe here.
What do you think of these unique burger ideas? Would you try any of these creative toppings or wild flavor combinations? Let us know which of these burger ideas you think is the best in the comments below!
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I’m going to ask you the question I want to ask all restaurants that serve burgers: How do you eat these things? They look beautiful, but I am not a snake to be able to get my mouth around any of them. Mashing them down to mouth-dimensions doesn’t seem any more attractive than attempting to take a bite and having all that goodness spill out the other side. I can’t make the knife-and-fork solution work, either. What’s your secret?
LOL! Every time we make one of these burgers I ask “how am I going to eat this??” I have not found the perfect solution to eating these yet, but sometimes it helps to cut the burger in half and then eat it sideways (like a taco with no bottom) so you still get all the layers in one bite 🙂
Great idea, thanks! I’ll try it next time I get the opportunity. If I can manage to cut it without making a mess, of course.