21 Copycat Recipes for Restaurant Burgers (2024)

Home Recipes Burgers

ByKatie Bandurski

Taste of Home's Editorial Process

Updated: Apr. 17, 2023

These burger copycat recipes taste better than the real deal!

1/21

Jalapeno Burgers with Gorgonzola Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Inspired by: Red Robin’s Burnin’ Love Burger

On a whim, we mixed homemade jalapeno jam into ground beef patties, then topped the burgers with caramelized onions and tangy Gorgonzola cheese. Fabulous! —Becky Mollenkamp, St. Louis, Missouri

Get Our Recipe for Jalapeno Burgers with Gorgonzola

You can’t have a burger without fries! Try one of our fries copycat recipes.

2/21

Bacon Cheeseburgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Inspired by: SONIC’s Bacon Cheeseburger

Where can you get a juicy burger that is so superior to drive-thru fare? Right in your backyard with this delicious bacon cheeseburger recipe. —Jackie Burns, Silverdale, Washington

Get Our Recipe for All-American Bacon Cheeseburgers

3/21

BBQ Bacon Burger Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Inspired by: Rock Bottom’s Bacon Cheddar Burger

Every family has a burger of choice, and this is ours. It's stacked tall with bacon and crunchy onion rings. —Paula Homer, Nampa, Idaho

Get Our Recipe for BBQ Bacon Burger

4/21

All-American Hamburgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Inspired by: Shake Shack’s SmokeShack Burger

We do a lot of camping and outdoor cooking. Hamburgers are on our menu more than any other food. —Diane Hixon, Niceville, Florida

Get Our Recipe for All-American Hamburgers

5/21

Inspired by: Red Robin’s Chili Chili Cheeseburger

Big, bold chili and french-fried onions are a fun alternative to the classic burger fixings of ketchup and mustard. The patties are easy to assemble, making this a great weeknight sandwich. —Sue Ross, Casa Grande, Arizona

Get Our Recipe for Cheddar Chili Burgers

6/21

Taste of Home

Inspired by: McDonald’s Cheeseburger

A crispy coating mix is the secret ingredient that dresses up these baked hamburgers. You bake them in the oven instead of grilling or frying. I like to use a sweet and spicy steak sauce for the best flavor. —Mike Goldman, Arden Hills, Minnesota

Get Our Recipe for Oven-Baked Burgers

7/21

Inspired by: Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger

This combo gives you a tender burger, crisp veggies and a crunchy shell, plus fajita flavor. Kids love it. —Antonio Smith, Canal Winchester, Ohio

Get Our Recipe for Fajita Burger Wraps

8/21

Inspired by: Red Robin’s Royal Red Robin Burger

These burgers were a huge hit with our friends during football season. Regular mayo can easily be substituted for the garlic aioli if desired. —Melissa Pelkey Hass, Waleska, Georgia

Get Our Recipe for Gruyere and Egg Burgers

9/21

These juicy veggie patties have major flavor with cumin, garlic and a little chili powder. They hold their own against any veggie burger you‘d buy at the supermarket. —Marguerite Shaeffer, Sewell, New Jersey

Get Our Recipe for Grilled Bean Burgers

10/21

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Inspired by: Culver’s Butterburger “The Original”

It’s no secret that Wisconsinites love their dairy—so much that they sometimes top their burgers with a generous pat of butter. My recipe is a lot like the butter burgers you’ll find in popular restaurants all over the state. —Becky Carver, North Royalton, Ohio

Get Our Recipe for Wisconsin Butter-Basted Burgers

11/21

Inspired by: Texas Roadhouse’s Smokehouse Burger

No need to call my family twice when these burgers are on the menu. Get ahead of the game and stuff them ahead of time, then grill later. — Joyce Guth, Mohnton, Pennsylvania

Get Our Recipe for Mushroom-Stuffed Cheeseburgers

12/21

Burger Americana Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Inspired by: Rock Bottom’s Classic Burger

Go on a burger road trip in your own backyard. Grill the patties and load them sky-high with your favorite toppings. For instance, peanut butter and bacon make them southern style; coleslaw and tomatoes, a northern version. —Susan Mahaney, New Hartford, New York

Get Our Recipe for Burger Americana

13/21

Steak House Burgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Inspired by: Red Robin’s Prime Chophouse Burger

When I asked my brothers to come over for barbecue, they laughed. So I came up with this. They don’t laugh anymore. —Bonnie Geavaras-Bootz, Scottsdale, Arizona

Get Our Recipe for Steak House Burgers

14/21

Inspired by: Dairy Queen’s FlameThrower GrillBurger

15/21

Inspired by: Applebee’s All-Day Brunch Burger

To feed my daughter’s hungry cowboy friends after a rodeo, I created these with leftover burgers, hollandaise and bacon. They were a huge hit! —Bonnie Geavaras-Bootz, Scottsdale, Arizona

Get Our Recipe for Eggs Benedict Burgers

16/21

Taste of Home

Inspired by: SONIC’s Jr. Burger

For an easy weeknight dinner, try these juicy burgers. A dollop of chili sauce on top makes them extra flavorful. —Ron Treadaway, Acworth, Georgia

Get Our Recipe for Good Ol’ Burger

17/21

Inspired by: Red Robin’s Grilled Turkey Burger

18/21

Taste of Home

Inspired by: Hard Rock Cafe’s Hickory Barbecue Bacon Cheeseburger

I can't take all the credit for these winning burgers. My husband's uncle passed down the special barbecue sauce recipe. We love it on everything...it was only natural to try it on, and in, burgers. Add cheese and bacon to take them over the top. —Rhoda Troyer, Glenford, Ohio

Get Our Recipe for Barbecued Burgers

19/21

Grilled Portobello Burgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Inspired by: Shake Shack’s Shroom Burger

You don't miss the meat on this hearty burger. The veggies, mayo and cheese fill you up with plenty of flavor. —Mary Haas, Hewitt, New Jersey

Get Our Recipe for Grilled Portobello Burgers

20/21

Whiskey Cheddar Burgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Inspired by: Red Robin’s Whiskey River® BBQ Burger

This juicy cheeseburger has big flavors to satisfy even the heartiest appetites. It always impresses at our cookouts. —Amber Nicholson, Winooski, Vermont. If you like this, then you must check out these cheeseburger-inspired recipes.

Get Our Recipe for Whiskey Cheddar Burgers

21/21

Great Grain Burgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Inspired by: Rock Bottom’s Veggie Burger

I've experimented with many combinations of ingredients to make a good meatless burger and this is our favorite. These patties cook up golden brown and crispy and make delicious sandwiches. —Pat Whitaker, Alsea, Oregon

Get Our Recipe for Great Grain Burgers

Originally Published: August 17, 2018

Author

Katie Bandurski

As Taste of Home's senior shopping editor, Katie connects readers with the best gifts, kitchen gear and home items on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments. Before joining the shopping team, Katie worked as a digital staff writer at Better Homes & Gardens and on the Taste of Ho...

21 Copycat Recipes for Restaurant Burgers (2024)

FAQs

What do restaurants use to season their burgers? ›

Restaurants tend to use a lot more salt than home cooks because they know salt brings out flavor in food. I expect they use freshly ground pepper also. Many are likely to mix their burgers lightly with Worcestershire or garlic powder. Use what tastes good to you.

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What can you put in a hamburger to make it taste better? ›

Egg: An egg lends moisture and helps bind the patties together. Seasonings, herbs, and sauces: These hamburgers are flavored with an envelope of dry onion soup mix, fresh garlic, garlic powder, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, dried parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, crushed dried rosemary, salt, and pepper.

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How does Guy Fieri cook his burgers? ›

Heat a flat-top grill or cast iron pan over very high heat. Form the ground beef into a tight ball and season with salt. Place hamburger ball on grill to sear for 45 seconds, then flatten with a heavy spatula to about ⅓ inch thickness. Cook for 90 seconds to develop a crust on the first side of the bottom.

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What ingredient makes burgers stick together? ›

The most commonly used binding agent for hamburger patties is eggs. They work well with ground meat and are easy to incorporate into the rest of your ingredients.

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What does Gordon Ramsay season his burgers with? ›

Season the burgers on both sides with plenty of salt and pepper. Pan fry in hot vegetable oil or barbecue for 2 minutes on each side for medium or 5 minutes for well done. Place two slices of Monterey Jack cheese on top of each burger and put under a hot grill to melt.

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What is the secret to juicy hamburgers? ›

A little extra moisture helps even well-done burgers stay juicy and tender, even if they're made from 90% lean ground beef. Mix in 1/4-1/2 cup water per pound of ground beef before forming your patties to reap the tenderizing benefit of H20. Some chefs tuck an ice cube into the middle of the patty for the same effect.

Why put ice cube on hamburger patty when grilling? ›

The ice cube slowly melts and the water from the cube enters into the meat to keep it from drying out. Also, while the cube is in the patty, you should monitor it and when the cube is 3/4 melted, that is when you flip the patty and resume cooking the process on the opposite side.

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What is the perfect burger ingredient order? ›

To assemble the burger, spread some mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard on the bottom half of each bun. Add a few lettuce leaves and a slice of tomato. Place the burger patty with the melted cheese on top of the tomato, then add a few pickles. Cover with the top half of the bun.

What makes a great tasting burger? ›

You want a burger that's thick enough to be juicy and flavorful, but not so thick that it feels like you're eating a meatloaf. You must also consider your burger-to-condiments and toppings ratio. If you want a lot of toppings on your burger, you probably want a slightly heartier patty than your typical home-griller.

What is the best blend for burgers? ›

A good basic mixture would be to use 50% chuck (the cheap and lean), 25% rib plate (the fatty parts) and 25% brisket (the fatty and beef flavor). Alternative cuts that make a damn good burger without emptying your wallet are round (lean) and navel (the fatty beef belly).

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How does Bobby Flay season his burgers? ›

According to grill master Bobby Flay, there are only two ingredients you need to season your burgers: Salt and pepper. Adding other spices, garlic, or onion is a no-no. "That is meatloaf," he told Today Food. For what it's worth, Flay isn't the only famous chef who sticks to just salt and pepper.

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How does Wendy's cook burgers? ›

To keep our patties fresh, we closely monitor temperatures during shipping and work with the most technologically advanced companies in the business. In our restaurants, square patties are prepared fresh on the grill for the hot, juicy hamburger our fans know and love.

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What should you season burgers with? ›

A juicy burger is always a welcome dish, but one that is seasoned properly is even better. This basic burger seasoning is made with a blend of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Feel free to add a little minced dried onion for added flavor and a bit of texture if you like.

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What does burger King use to season their burgers? ›

WHOPPER^® Patty: 100% USDA inspected Ground Beef (Fire-Grilled). Salt & Pepper Seasoning Blend: Salt, Black Pepper, Canola Oil (anti-dusting agent), and Silicon Dioxide (anti-caking agent).

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How to season premade burger patties? ›

While premade burger patties come pre-seasoned, you can always add your own seasonings to enhance the flavor. Some popular seasoning options include salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Simply sprinkle your preferred seasoning on both sides of the patty before cooking.

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