13 Gourmet Burgers That Beat Any Restaurant, Right From Your Own Kitchen

A great burger is one of life’s simple joys, but restaurant prices keep climbing. Here is the secret: the best burger in town can come out of your own kitchen. With good ground beef, a hot pan and a few fun toppings, you can make gourmet burgers that rival any steakhouse or burger joint. This list has something for everyone, from crispy smash burgers to lamb, salmon and black bean patties. Get the buns ready and let us find your new favorite..

Double Bacon Cheeseburger, the Gourmet Burger Classic

This is the burger that kicks off every great list of gourmet burgers. Two juicy beef patties, melted American cheese in between, crispy bacon and a toasted bun. The key is good beef with enough fat, a very hot pan and seasoning right before cooking. Simple, but when it is done right, nothing beats it. Pair it with fries and a cold drink for the perfect night in. What is the one topping you can never skip?

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb ground beef 80/20, 8 slices American cheese, 8 slices bacon, 4 brioche buns, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, 1/4 cup mayo, 2 tbsp ketchup, salt, pepper.

How to make it: Steps: Cook bacon until crispy. Divide beef into 8 thin patties and season just before cooking. Sear in a hot pan 2 to 3 minutes per side and top with cheese. Toast the buns. Stack sauce, lettuce, two patties, bacon, tomato, onion and pickles.

Crispy Smash Burgers, Gourmet Burgers Made Simple

Smash burgers are taking over, and for good reason. A ball of cold ground beef is smashed thin onto a screaming hot skillet, which creates a lacy, crispy, deeply browned crust. They cook in about 3 minutes. Add a slice of American cheese, pickles and a quick burger sauce on a soft potato bun. Once you try them, you might never go back. Single, double or triple stack?

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb ground beef 80/20 in 8 balls, salt, pepper, 8 slices American cheese, 4 potato buns, pickles, thin sliced onion, 1/4 cup mayo, 2 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp mustard, 1 tbsp pickle juice.

How to make it: Steps: Heat a cast iron pan until very hot. Add a beef ball and smash it flat with a sturdy spatula. Season. Cook 2 minutes until crispy, flip, add cheese and cook 1 minute. Stack two patties on a toasted bun with sauce, pickles and onion.

Mushroom Swiss Burger

Juicy beef, a pile of buttery garlic mushrooms and melted Swiss cheese make this a true diner legend. The mushrooms add a deep, savory flavor that makes every bite feel rich. A toasted brioche bun soaks up all the juices. This is one of those gourmet burgers that tastes like a steakhouse treat. Would you add crispy fried onions on top too?

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb ground beef, 4 slices Swiss cheese, 8 oz mushrooms sliced, 2 tbsp butter, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tsp Worcestershire, 4 brioche buns, mayo, salt, pepper.

How to make it: Steps: Cook mushrooms in butter until browned, add garlic and Worcestershire and season. Form 4 patties and season well. Grill or pan cook 4 minutes per side. Add Swiss cheese and cover to melt. Pile mushrooms on top and serve on toasted buns with mayo.

Sky High Triple Cheeseburger

Sometimes you just want to go big. This tower of three thin beef patties with melted cheddar in between is the ultimate weekend challenge. Thin patties cook fast and get crispy, so the whole stack comes together in minutes. Hold it together with a skewer and serve with plenty of napkins. Be honest: could you finish one of these, or would you need to share?

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb ground beef in 6 thin patties, 6 slices cheddar, 2 buns, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, burger sauce, salt, pepper, wooden skewers.

How to make it: Steps: Season the thin patties. Cook in a hot pan 2 minutes per side and top each with cheddar to melt. Toast the buns. Stack sauce, lettuce, three patties, tomato, onion and pickles. Secure with a skewer and serve right away.

Greek Lamb Burgers, Gourmet Burgers With Feta

Ground lamb is rich and full of flavor, and it pairs perfectly with Greek ingredients. Mix in garlic, oregano and a little mint, then top the burger with feta, cucumber, red onion and a cool tzatziki sauce. It is a fresh twist on burger night that feels like a summer holiday. Serve it on a bun or in a warm pita. Have you ever tried lamb in a burger?

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb ground lamb, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tbsp chopped mint, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup crumbled feta, cucumber, red onion, lettuce, 1/2 cup tzatziki, 4 buns or pitas.

How to make it: Steps: Mix lamb, garlic, oregano, mint, salt and pepper and form 4 patties. Grill 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium. Toast the buns. Spread tzatziki, add lettuce, the patty, feta, cucumber and red onion.

Bacon Cheeseburger With Cheese Sauce

The bacon cheeseburger is an all time classic, and this version goes all in with a silky homemade cheese sauce poured right over the top. Crispy bacon adds smoky crunch, and a soft bun holds it all together. It is messy, cheesy and completely worth it. Serve with fries for a full diner style night at home. Quick poll: A) Crispy bacon B) Chewy bacon C) Extra bacon.

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb ground beef, 8 slices bacon, 4 buns, 1 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp flour, 3/4 cup milk, 1 cup shredded cheddar, pickles, onion, salt, pepper.

How to make it: Steps: Cook bacon until crisp. Melt butter, whisk in flour, then milk, and stir until thick. Add cheddar until smooth. Form 4 patties, season, and cook 4 minutes per side. Place on toasted buns with bacon and pour cheese sauce over the top.

Crispy Salmon Patties, Healthy Gourmet Burgers

Salmon burgers are a great way to sneak more fish into your week. Fresh salmon is chopped and mixed with breadcrumbs, lemon, dill and a little mustard, then pan fried until golden. They are light, full of healthy fats and taste amazing with a lemon dill yogurt sauce. Serve them on buns or with roasted potatoes and a salad. Would your family give fish burgers a try?

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb skinless salmon chopped finely, 1/2 cup panko, 1 egg, 1 tbsp Dijon, 1 lemon zest, 2 tbsp dill, 2 green onions, salt, pepper, oil, 1/2 cup Greek yogurt.

How to make it: Steps: Mix salmon, panko, egg, Dijon, lemon zest, dill and onions. Form 4 patties and chill 20 minutes. Cook in oil over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes per side. Mix yogurt with lemon juice and dill for the sauce.

Smoky Black Bean Burgers

These black bean burgers are hearty enough to please meat lovers. Beans are partly mashed with breadcrumbs, corn, peppers, cumin and smoked paprika, then cooked until crispy outside. The trick is drying the beans well so the patties hold together. Top with avocado, tomato and pepper jack. They are cheap, full of fiber and a great meatless option among gourmet burgers. Would you swap beef for beans one night a week?

You will need: Need: 2 cans black beans rinsed and patted dry, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1 egg, 1/2 cup corn, 1/4 cup diced red pepper, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, salt, oil, buns, avocado, tomato.

How to make it: Steps: Bake beans on a tray at 350F for 10 minutes to dry. Mash most of them, then mix with breadcrumbs, egg, corn, pepper, garlic and spices. Form 4 patties and chill. Pan fry in oil 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve with toppings.

Blue Cheese Burger With Red Cabbage Slaw

Bold blue cheese melts into a hot beef patty and makes every bite tangy and rich. A crunchy red cabbage slaw on top adds freshness and color. A swipe of garlic mayo on a toasted bun finishes it off. If you love big flavors, this is one of the best gourmet burgers you can make at home. Do you love blue cheese, or is it too strong for you?

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb ground beef, 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, 2 cups shredded red cabbage, 1 carrot grated, 2 tbsp mayo, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tsp honey, 4 buns, garlic mayo, salt, pepper.

How to make it: Steps: Toss cabbage and carrot with mayo, vinegar, honey and salt. Form 4 patties and season. Cook 4 minutes per side, adding blue cheese in the last minute and covering to melt. Serve on toasted buns with garlic mayo and slaw.

Jalapeno Popper Burger

This burger tastes like your favorite game day snack. A creamy mix of cream cheese, cheddar and jalapenos goes on top of a juicy beef patty, along with crispy bacon if you like. Pickles and red onion add crunch and tang. It is spicy, cheesy and so fun to eat. Quick poll: how hot do you want it? A) Mild, seeds out B) Medium C) Keep every seed!

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb ground beef, 4 oz cream cheese, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar, 2 jalapenos diced, 4 slices bacon cooked, 4 buns, pickles, red onion, salt, pepper.

How to make it: Steps: Mix cream cheese, cheddar and jalapenos. Form 4 patties, season and cook 4 minutes per side. Spoon the jalapeno cheese on top and cover for 1 minute to soften. Serve on buns with bacon, pickles and red onion.

BBQ Burger With Onion Rings

Think of this as a rodeo on a bun. A juicy beef patty gets brushed with smoky barbecue sauce, topped with cheddar and crowned with crispy onion rings. Store bought frozen onion rings work perfectly and save time. Serve with fries and extra sauce for dipping. It is the kind of burger that makes a regular Friday feel like a party. Onion rings inside the burger or on the side?

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb ground beef, 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, 4 slices cheddar, 12 frozen onion rings baked, 4 buns, pickles, salt, pepper.

How to make it: Steps: Bake onion rings as the package says. Form 4 patties and season. Grill or pan cook 4 minutes per side, brushing with barbecue sauce. Add cheddar to melt. Build burgers with sauce, patty, onion rings and pickles on toasted buns.

Sunny Side Up Egg Topped Gourmet Burgers

Putting a fried egg on a burger sounds strange until you try it. The runny yolk becomes a rich, golden sauce that drips over the beef and cheese. Add crispy bacon and you have breakfast and dinner in one bite. It is popular in Australia, Hawaii and diners all over America. Have you ever tried an egg on your burger? Yes, no, or not yet but now I want to?

You will need: Need: 1.5 lb ground beef, 4 eggs, 4 slices cheddar, 4 slices bacon cooked, 4 buns, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, butter, salt, pepper.

How to make it: Steps: Form and season 4 patties. Cook 4 minutes per side and melt cheddar on top. Fry eggs in butter until the whites are set and yolks are runny. Build burgers with lettuce, tomato, patty, bacon and a fried egg on top.

Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Burger

Not every great burger is beef. Chicken thighs or breasts soak in buttermilk, get a crunchy seasoned coating and are fried until golden. Stack them high with lettuce, tomato, pickles and a spicy mayo. It is juicy, crunchy and every bit as good as a fast food chicken sandwich. Want more crispy chicken ideas? Try these juicy chicken thigh dinners.

You will need: Need: 4 boneless chicken thighs or small breasts, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 cup flour, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne, salt, oil for frying, 4 buns, lettuce, tomato, pickles, 1/3 cup mayo, 1 tbsp hot sauce.

How to make it: Steps: Soak chicken in buttermilk 1 hour or more. Mix flour and spices. Dredge chicken, dip back in buttermilk and dredge again. Fry at 350F for 6 to 8 minutes until 165F inside. Mix mayo and hot sauce and build the burgers.