Recipes + Meal Planning

11 Summertime Burgers That Will Make Your Mouth Water

Fire up the grill for meaty mealtime goodness

burgers on grill

Updated on: June 5, 2026

Estimated reading time:

5 minutes

Time to fire up the grill!

There’s nothing like a burger fresh off the grill. Whether you like classic beef, a salmon patty or a vegetarian option, read on for our roundup of best summer recipes. Burgers of all kinds await!

Scroll through using the arrows above the image or the link below to see the recipes.

Up first: Finger-lickin’ BBQ chicken

Finger-lickin’ BBQ chicken

bbq chicken summer burger recipe
Credit: How Sweet It Is

Jessica of How Sweet It Is offers up these BBQ chicken burgers with caramelized onions and a thick slab of melted gouda, paired with sweet potato fries. Needless to say, her non-foodie husband went crazy for this healthier summer option (and it’s easy to see why!). For the full recipe (and for some fun foodie musings), be sure to check out the rest of Jessica’s full post.

Up next: Portobello perfection

Portobello perfection

portobello summer burger recipe
Credit: How Sweet It Is

Planning for some veggie-lovin’ party guests this summer? This portobello mushroom burger featured on How Sweet It Is is sure to leave everyone feeling completely satisfied and begging for your grilling secrets. Though this burger might be meat-free, it packs plenty of flavorful goodness to go around, with roasted garlic, creamy avocado, thick slabs of creamy gouda, portobello mushroom caps marinated in syrupy balsamic and more — sounds heavenly, we know!

Up next: Just peachy

Just peachy

peach salsa summer burger recipe
Credit: Pinch of Yum

Fantastic foodie Lindsay of Pinch of Yum offers up this fun recipe for making chipotle turkey burgers with peach, nectarine and basil salsa — this is one dish that’s sure to have your biggest red-meat-lovin’ critics begging for seconds. Just look at that gorgeous burger! Overall, it is a healthy option packed with plenty of sweet and spicy flavors, and a for-sure must-try in our book. Who says turkey has to be boring?

Up next: Wild whiskey

Wild whiskey

whiskey summer burger recipe
Credit: The Pioneer Woman

Go-to food favorite Ree of The Pioneer Woman shares this mouthwatering recipe for her spicy whiskey BBQ sliders — and these sweet little mouthfuls are sure to leave the guests at this year’s picnic grinning from ear to ear! Ree chose to make her minis with buffalo meat, though she admits that turkey or beef would be equally tasty options. Check out her full post for the complete walkthrough and pictorial. And prepare to have a new family summer favorite on your hands.

Up next: Delightful salmon burgers

Delightful salmon burgers

salmon burger on a plate with a slice of tomato and lettuce on a bun summer burger recipe
Credit: Steamy Kitchen

Looking to keep it light and healthy this summer? Jaden of Steamy Kitchen features the perfect solution with these scrummy salmon burgers. In addition to linking to her delicious salmon burger recipe, Jaden also includes a walkthrough tutorial video on creating the perfect fish patties, along with six (!) links to other equally scrumptious takes on the heart-healthy salmon burger. You’ll not only feel good about eating one of these omega-packed patties, but you’ve also got plenty of options to choose from, along with a handy guide on getting started. Talk about a complete package!

Up next: Buffalo burger

Buffalo burger

buffalo summer burger recipe
Credit: Seasaltwithfood

Buffalo chicken is a long-standing favorite among big and small, and these homemade buffalo chicken burgers included on Seasaltwithfood take those tangy-spicy memorable flavors to a whole new level! Mom Angie not only packs a punch in her chicken burgers by using hot sauce and red chili flakes, but she tops each patty off with a sweet and sour slaw to create an all-around bold blend. Check out the rest of Angie’s post to get the full scoop on creating your own perfect mix of healthy, spicy, tangy goodness.

Up next: Eggy Aussie burger

Eggy Aussie burger

aussie summer burger recipe
Credit: Manu’s Menu

It’s easy to see why this burger is simply referred to as “the Aussie burger with the lot.” Manuela of Manu’s Menu puts it best when she says, “It is made up of A LOT of goodies! And it is irresistible!” Featuring plenty of delicious extras such as fried onions, bacon, pineapple and a fried egg topper, this burger is the perfect meal for when you’re in need of some stick-to-your-ribs BBQ.

Up next: Lean, mean black bean

Lean, mean black bean

black bean summer burger recipe
Credit: Baked Bree

Here’s another fun veggie-lovin’ idea to add to your “Meatless Monday” file — black bean sliders, via the ever-fabulous Baked Bree. Having a longtime love for Morningstar Farms’ black bean burgers, Mama Bree decided to recreate these healthy patties — and to make them mini. Bite-sized foods are always a hit! Though Bree topped her minis with guacamole, salsa, cilantro, Monterey Jack cheese and sour cream, she counsels that the topping options are endless when it comes to these delicious vegetarian sliders. Healthy with creative options, just the way we like it.

Up next: The taco burger

The taco burger

taco summer burger recipe
Credit: Noble Pig

A summer treat that’s sure to get plenty of oohs and aahs from your littles, we cannot get enough of this taco burger featured on Noble Pig — it certainly puts a fun twist on the usual “Taco Tuesday” dinner! Mama Cathy says that her oldest son was completely intrigued by the idea of combining these two favorite dishes after seeing it on the cover of a magazine. Cushioned on a bed of zesty homemade guacamole, this must-try burger features salsa, sour cream, shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese, and it’s rightfully finished off with some crunched tortilla chips. Overall, you can’t go wrong with blending these two all-star meals — and we’re sure your adult diners will agree.

Up next: Fajita fun

Fajita fun

fajita summer burger recipe
Credit: Good Life Eats

Much like the jazzy taco burger shown earlier, here’s another neat idea for spicing up your usual summer grilling: the fajita burger, compliments of Mama Kate on Good Life Eats. After trying a less-than-delicious version at a local fast-food joint with her kiddos, Kate was determined to do this burger concept justice — and that she did! Topped with pepper jack cheese, fresh peppers and grilled onions, this Tex-Mex classic is rounded off with some roasted salsa verde guacamole, and paired with cilantro-lime corn on the cob and a glass of fresh limeade to wash it all down. As we said, justice was rightfully served and then some.

Up next: Totally tuna

Totally tuna!

tuna summer burger recipe
Credit: Can You Stay for Dinner

For the fish lovers out there, it doesn’t get much better than this lemon-garlic tuna burger featured on Can You Stay for Dinner. Healthy, light and perfect for those hot summer evenings spent outdoors, this simple yet delicious meal is very low-cost. Using canned tuna, an egg for binding, and fresh minced green onions and parsley, home cook Andie even includes the nutritional info along with the recipe. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published a few years ago, and was updated in 2023.