10 Best Burgers for Your Next BBQ

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Want the best burgers for your holiday BBQ or summer cookout? You’ll flip for these drool-worthy, gourmet favorites!! These aren’t just average hamburgers – they’re our favorite, cream-of-the-crop, over-the-top creations! 

The end of May truly signifies the beginning of grilling season.  Memorial Day weekend is the kick-off for most people, which means it’s almost time to take the cover off of your barbecue grill and fire it up!

titled (shown: juicy gourmet burger): 10 best burgers for your next bbq


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    Our Best Burgers

    In honor of grilling season, we have put together our top 10 all-time faves. These are the very best burgers, sure to kick off your barbecue party in a delicious way!!

    Scroll down and find a new favorite to make, or if you can’t decide, make all 10! I promise that an amazing, drool-worthy gourmet burger will impress everyone at the cookout. 

    Any of them will be the star of the show, sitting pretty on the table next to the scrumptious Hawaiian tortellini salad and slow cooked baked beans with bacon!!

    The Ingredients

    For me, the word “gourmet” means “extra special”, and for extra special hamburgers, only the freshest and highest quality ingredients will do!

    • The Ground Beef – For patties that are perfectly juicy and jam-packed with flavor, the meat needs to include some fat. For the very best burgers, use a ground beef blend that has between 12 and 15 percent fat. 

      When you’re shopping for ingredients, look for packages of ground sirloin labeled as 85/15. We get ours at Sam’s Club, and it’s actually an 88/12 blend.

      Could you use a fattier blend and still have the best tasting patties? Maybe, but I don’t recommend it. With an 80/20 blend, the meat tends to be too greasy, and if you use meat that’s TOO lean, you could end up with a dry, bland hamburger.

      The same thing goes for using ground chicken and turkey. Both are very lean meats, so if you plan to use them, I recommend adding some wet ingredients to pack in moisture. 

      Another option is to use lower heat so they don’t become too dry. The Char-Broil website has a helpful article on how to grill using indirect heat.
    • The Bun – It doesn’t matter if you serve them on a white, wheat, rye, brioche or pretzel bun. Just be sure that no matter what, the bread is sturdy and flavorful.

      To add flavor, brush the inside of your buns with soft butter and toss them on the grill for a minute or two. There’s nothing better in my mind than a crispy, golden brown hamburger bun!!
    • Toppings – The recipe and your taste preferences will ultimately decide what condiments and toppings you’ll use. The important thing is, keep those toppings fresh and cold, especially produce like lettuce and tomatoes.

    Gourmet Burger Ideas

    Okay, your gourmet burger awaits!!! But first, you need to choose one to make. So, take a peek at our collection of best burgers below.

    When you see something drool-worthy, click on the title and you’ll be taken to the recipe post.

    Enjoy!

    plated gourmet burger with bbq sauce and beer caramelized onions

    Steakhouse BBQ Burgers with Beer Caramelized Onions

    These burgers are absolutely bursting with smoky flavor, and you’ll beg for more beer-caramelized onions!!. The best part? This gourmet goodness is on the table in just 30 minutes!

    plated barbecue bacon smokehouse cheeseburger

    Barbecue Bacon Smokehouse Cheeseburger

    Can you feel love for a burger? Well, if you can, you’ll fall hard for this one!

    gourmet burger stuffed with spicy cheese, topped with salsa and guacamole

    Cheesy Stuffed Tex Mex Burgers

    The reason this recipe makes our top 10 list of best burgers is simple… The southwestern flavor and kick of spice in these gourmet burgers will knock your boots off!

    buffalo chicken burger on white plate

    Spicy Buffalo Chicken Burgers

    Everything you love about hot buffalo wings in one fabulously tasty gourmet burger. This one is a must-make on your summer grilling menu!

    gourmet burger with hawaiian pineapple, onion, lettuce and cheese

    Big Kahuna Hawaiian Burger

    This a monster of a gourmet burger, with a Hawaiian inspired flavor from the bottom bun to the top, and every layer in between!

    hamburger slider with bbq sauce and pickle

    Lil Texas Barbeque Sliders
    This gourmet burger may be small in size, but it packs a COLOSSAL punch! The juicy ground beef is basted in homemade Kansas City BBQ sauce – one of the best burgers for a game day party!

    plated 50/50 burger with cheese, red onion slice, and toasted bun

    The 50/50 Burger 
    This one is a carnivorous gourmet treat! There’s a whopping quarter pound of ground beef and quarter pound of ground bacon in every juicy patty!!

    gourmet burger topped with bbq sauce, crispy bacon and slice of cheddar cheese

    Peppercorn BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger

    When you’re in a hurry, but you have a major craving for the best bacon cheeseburger, this is the recipe to make! It’s a quick-cooking gourmet burger with unbelievably scrumptious, smoky and peppery flavors!!

    one of the best burgers ever, jalapeno jack cheeseburger

    Spicy Jalapeno Jack Burger

    Smoky flavor, spice and everything nice – That’s what this mouthful of delicious is made of!

    best burger topped with sun dried tomatoes and pesto genovese on toasted ciabatta bun

    Italian Sun Dried Tomato Burgers

    One bite of this gourmet delight and you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away to Tuscany! The fresh pesto leaves other hamburger condiments in the dust!

    We hope this collection of best burgers gives you plenty of delicious meals to come!

    Happy Grilling!

    With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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    Originally published May 2013; last updated May 2022

    3 Comments

    1. Oh man, it's 7am and I'm already craving a burger! That last one has my name on it…

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