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20 Best Hamburger Recipes – Easy and Healthy Homemade Burgers!
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I’m sharing my Best Burger Recipes for grilling season and beyond. From juicy turkey burgers to satisfying veggie burgers, beef burgers, salmon burgers, and more, these healthy homemade burgers are ready for all your cookouts!
My Favorite Easy Burger Recipes
Nothing says summer like a nice, juicy hamburger. There are so many ways to prepare hamburgers at home that are easy to make and, yes, healthy for you! Whether you’re grilling at the weekend cookout, frying up your hamburgers in a skillet, or baking them in the oven, rest assured that there’s a recipe here that you can tuck into, guilt-free.
I’ve rounded up my favorite recipes for the juiciest hamburgers below. From lean turkey burgers to beef burgers to veggie burgers that win over the staunchest meat-lovers, and some fun twists that I just know you’re going to want to make on repeat.
Why You’ll Love These Burger Ideas
There’s no shortage of love for homemade burgers in our house. Here are just a few reasons why:
- Homemade. There’s nothing like making your own hamburgers at home. The freshness, the customization, the different burger options: everything is at your fingertips. I have plenty of easy recipes, from meat-filled to meat-free.
- Healthier. I love biting into a big, juicy hamburger knowing that it’s good for me, too! These recipes use healthy ingredients, and they even include some sneaky veggies.
- Perfect for summer. Grilling season is here, and these homemade hamburger recipes are ready for it. There’s a recipe here to satisfy everyone at the cookout, all summer long.
Are Hamburgers Healthy?
That depends on the hamburger. The classic beef hamburgers you’ll find in restaurants, while delicious, aren’t exactly made with nutrition and carbs in mind. That being said, as long as you’re living a balanced lifestyle, it’s perfectly fine to indulge in the odd steakhouse burger without having much of an impact.
I love making hamburger patties at home, though. Not only can I better control what goes into them, but I can also make easy swaps with leaner alternatives that are just as tasty, like ground turkey, veggie burgers, and even salmon burgers.
You might be wondering, are turkey burgers healthier than beef? In fact, both types of ground meat are excellent sources of protein, minerals, and vitamins whether you’re making turkey meatloaf or beef chili. According to Healthline, if they share the same fat percentage, both turkey and beef are about the same in the calorie department. However, turkey is lower in saturated fat, which makes it better for heart health and weight loss. You’ll notice that ground turkey is my go-to in many of the healthy hamburger recipes below!
What Is the Secret to the Best Burger?
I’ve made a lot of hamburger recipes and veggie burgers over the years. One thing I’ve noticed is that it doesn’t take much to make a good burger! But there are a few key components that make a great hamburger recipe:
- Moisture – Ground meat cooks quickly, so amping up moisture is key. Mixing diced veggies like onions, carrots, and even zucchini (my personal hack) into the burger meat can go a long way toward a juicy burger.
- Flavor – Seasoning is key! Make sure your patties, whether they’re meaty or meatless, are well-seasoned as this plays a big role in making the perfect hamburger. And you don’t need anything fancy, even seasoning the burger liberally with salt and pepper does the trick.
- Binding Ingredients – Take a page from homemade meatballs and use an egg plus breadcrumbs to bind your burgers and help them keep their shape. This is especially handy if you’re using leaner meats, like turkey, or if you’re including add-ins like onions.
- Heat – High heat is a must when cooking burgers. Getting a good sear on the outside locks in moisture and flavor. The best way to cook burgers is always the grill, but if you’re using a pan, make sure it’s cast iron.
What Can I Add to My Hamburger Recipes?
Many of the hamburger recipes below come with their own add-in suggestions, but here are a few ideas to get you inspired in the meantime:
- Veggies – Top your patties with leafy lettuce, spinach, tomato slices, onions, and pickles.
- Cheese – For the best cheeseburger, choose a melty cheese like American cheddar or Swiss cheese.
- Sauces and Dressings – We love DIY hamburger condiments like this homemade spicy chipotle ketchup or homemade blue cheese dressing.
- Salsa – Give your burgers a Tex-Mex twist topped with salsa verde.
What to Serve with Burgers
Looking to turn your homemade hamburgers into a meal? Try these healthy sides to eat with burgers:
20 Homemade Burgers to Try Tonight
Ready for some delicious homemade hamburger ideas? Just wait until you sink your teeth into these easy, healthy hamburger recipes.
1. Inside Out Turkey Cheeseburgers
Why top your burgers with cheese when you can stuff them with it? These “inside out” turkey burgers are filled with melty, gooey low-fat cheddar, for a lighter hamburger that tastes just as indulgent!
2. Greek Turkey Burgers
This easy turkey burger recipe puts a Mediterranean twist on a healthy meal idea. Kalamata olives, spinach, and feta get mixed into the juicy ground turkey patty.
3. Salsa Verde Burgers
These zesty salsa verde burgers are a fun and easy meal idea, filled with mouthwatering Tex-Mex flavors, topped with pepper jack cheese, store-bought or homemade salsa verde, and creamy avocado.
4. Houston’s Veggie Burger
I recreated my favorite veggie burger from Houston’s Restaurant, and it couldn’t be easier or more satisfying. This burger patty recipe uses hearty black beans, oats, brown rice, and beets as a base. Toss in a bunch of spices and you have one delicious meatless burger.
5. Turkey Burgers with Zucchini
Whenever anyone asks me what my secret is for the juiciest turkey burgers, I’m more than happy to share: it’s grated zucchini! Fresh zucchini barely impacts the flavor, is low in calories, and brings loads of moisture plus bonus veggies (perfect for picky eaters!). Trust me, you’ll never want to make a patty without it.
7. Naked Salmon Burgers with Sriracha Mayo
Try these salmon burgers served minus the bun and drizzled with spicy homemade sriracha mayo. The salmon patties are easy to make from scratch in a food processor, sprinkled with sweet bell peppers, garlic, and soy sauce. We top ours with avocado slices and arugula for an easy low-carb dinner!
8. Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Burger
Say aloha to this amazing beef burger topped with grilled fresh pineapple and smothered in flavorful pineapple teriyaki sauce. We love the combination of sweet, salty, and savory! This is the ultimate protein-packed dinner that has summer written all over it.
9. Cheeseburger Crunch Wrap
These Taco Bell-inspired crunch wraps swap taco fillings for a juicy homemade burger patty with all the fixings. Lean ground turkey meat makes this a healthier variation of a cheeseburger, wrapped in a flour tortilla and toasted on a hot skillet until golden and crispy.
10. Buffalo Turkey Cheeseburger
These spicy buffalo turkey burgers pack a zesty kick, balanced with cooling, tangy blue cheese. It’s totally irresistible, and the best part is: these burgers are healthy! I top them with melted cheese and broccoli slaw dressed in my homemade blue cheese dressing.
11. Naked Turkey Bruschetta Burgers
I love dressing up my best turkey burgers with fresh homemade tomato bruschetta in the summertime. Dish up your naked burger over garden arugula for a light lunch that’s easy to make and full of flavor.
12. Air Fryer Bacon-Burger Bites
If you’re a fan of sliders, just wait until you try burgers on a stick! These mini burger bites cook up juicy in the air fryer, skewered with all your favorite burger toppings, pickle included. They’re the best low-carb appetizer for game day and potlucks, perfect for dipping.
13. Naked Greek Feta-Zucchini Turkey Burgers
These stripped-down, low-carb turkey burgers trade their buns for Greek salad! I love this recipe for bun-less burgers topped with crispy tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and crumbly feta cheese. The burger patties themselves are ultra-moist thanks to grated zucchini.
14. Spicy Black Bean Burgers
Black beans are filling and high in protein, which makes them the perfect candidates for the best veggie burgers. These spicy black bean burger patties are a breeze to make. Top them with spicy mayo and cooling avocado, and you won’t even miss the meat!
15. Salmon Quinoa Burgers
These juicy hamburger patties made from wild salmon, quinoa, and kale are an absolute omega bomb and totally delicious. Serve your flavorful fish burgers between whole wheat buns or over a salad for a high-protein, healthy lunch or dinner.
16. Broccoli Rabe Turkey Burgers
This recipe takes my favorite turkey burger recipe and tops it with sauteed broccoli rabe (another favorite!). Skip the bun and enjoy these healthy burger patties served over fresh lettuce instead for a light, easy lunch.
17. The Best Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger
This vegetarian portobello mushroom burger has simple ingredients but packs loads of flavor that even meat eaters will love. I marinate my mushrooms, grill them, and then top my portobello burger with creamy avocado, grilled onion, spinach, and Swiss cheese.
18. Aloha Teriyaki Shrimp Burgers
Another take on my grilled teriyaki burgers, this time made from succulent shrimp. These aloha shrimp burgers are Hawaiian-inspired, topped with juicy grilled pineapple with just the right amount of char. Give those tongs a double-click and get grilling!
19. Chicken Parmesan Burgers
Transform a classic Italian dish into a juicy, flavor-packed chicken burger. Chicken parm burgers are exactly as delicious as they sound, made from your favorite lean chicken burger patties smothered in savory pomodoro sauce with melted cheese. Ready in 10 minutes!
20. Swordfish Burgers
Swordfish might sound like a foreign ingredient, but I promise you, these fish burgers are worth it! These swordfish burgers are super juicy and ready in 20 minutes. Drizzle them with an easy homemade lemon vinaigrette and dig in!
More Easy Summer Meals
Looking for more summer recipes, grilling ideas, and healthy dinners to try this season? My recipe finder is choc-full of inspiration.
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