Ordering a burger at your favorite fast food or fine dining chain can be a gamble. Sometimes it’s immensely satisfying — you know that hit-the-spot feel, no fries required — while other times it just doesn’t quite meet your expectations. To ensure you don’t regret your order every time that burger craving hits, take matters into your own hands (and kitchen). Recreating your favorite restaurant burgers at home gives you all the control in the world. You can use the freshest, highest quality ingredients and even grind your own blend of meat. Skip the drive-thru next time and make one of these copycat burgers. Your stomach will be so happy you did.
1. Red Robin Bonzai Burger: This is the ultimate burger for sweet and salty food fans. Juicy charred rounds of pineapple add the most amazing balance to this juicy burger that has teriyaki sauce both in and on top of it. Make your own with this recipe or use a shortcut and just buy your favorite. Yum. (via Creme de la Crumb)
2. Michael Symon’s Fat Doug Burger: This heavyweight of a burger is served at chef Michael Symon’s B Spot. It’s not messing around. The Fat Doug includes freshly made coleslaw, Chef Symon’s signature ShaSha sauce and a burger patty topped with pastrami. Host your own burger bash with friends and this burger might take home the grand prize, as Symon did in 2014. (via Pass the Sushi)
3. Nando’s Portuguese Chicken Burgers: Though chicken might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think “burger,” it’s definitely something you’re going to want, regardless. This recipe might be worth it alone for the homemade peri peri sauce AND pink sauce recipes, which you’re going to want to spread on every edible food in your home. (via Recipe Tin Eats)
4. Burger King Rodeo Burger: Frozen onion rings make recreating Burger King’s rodeo burger at home quick and hassle-free. The onion rings adds a delicious crunch to to this barbecue sauce-flavored cheeseburger without the mess of frying. Hello, easy weeknight dinner! (via Julie’s Eats and Treats)
5. The Faux Cheval Burger: Grinding your own beef is essential in making this classy burger, served at upscale diner Au Cheval in Chicago. Don’t skimp if you can help it — you want beef with a higher fat content for more flavor. Once that’s done, the rest of this recipe is smooth sailing and eating. (via O&O Eats)
6. Smoky Sweet Cherry Pepper Cheeseburgers: This imitation Shake Shack smokeshack burger is ideal for those of us living in Shake Shack wastelands. This is the smokey, spicy burger you need when the craving hits. Make them on potato buns for optimal flavor or substitute with your favorite hamburger bun. (via How Sweet It Is)
7. Canyon Creek Burger: Bet you’ve never had blackberry jam on a burger — unless you’ve had the Canyon Creek Burger at Ted’s Montana Grill. This burger isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s topped with a fried egg, thick cut bacon, cheddar cheese, jalapeño and blackberry jam. It’s a total flavor bomb. (via Creative Culinary)
8. T.G.I. Friday’s Jack Daniels Burger: The Jack Daniels glaze on this burger tastes great on everything, from french fries to chicken tenders, so you can imagine what it does for this burger. It’s sweet with a kick— kind of like a drunken teriyaki sauce. No ID necessary to enjoy. (via Host the Toast)
9. Fake Shack Burger: This insanely delicious fake shack burger could pass for the real thing. It’s a relatively easy recipe, save for the grinding your own meat part, but you could always ask your local butcher to help out. Make extra sauce, then dip your homemade fries in it. (via Smitten Kitchen)
10. Smashburger: Smashburger’s style of literal smashed burgers is worlds away from a regular burger patty. It’s the same style in which Shake Shack cooks their burgers, a technique usually employed on flat top grills. If you don’t have a flat top grill, don’t worry! A pan will do just fine. Smashing your burger creates a delicious fatty brown crust that somehow will make your burger taste meatier. You’ve gotta try it! (via Pics and Pastries)
11. Wendy’s Bacon Portabella Mushroom Melt: If this burger ever leaves Wendy’s, you can rest easy. You’ve got the recipe right here. Making Wendy’s bacon portabella mushroom burger at home definitely takes vegetarian cooking to the next level. You can craft the patty as thick or thin as you like and freshly saute your mushrooms. This one might be your new favorite. (via Noshing With the Nolands)
12. Red Robin Whiskey River BBQ Burger: Save the trip to Red Robin. This homemade Whiskey River BBQ burger is WAY better fresh off your own grill. With just 20 minutes of prep and 15 minutes to cook, a weeknight burger is easier than you thought. (via Love Bakes Good Cakes)
13. Copy Cat Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Chicken Burgers: Making this zesty chicken burger from scratch at home sure beats the one in the freezer aisle. It’s full of fresh ingredients like cilantro, bell pepper and onion. Thanks for the inspiration, Trader Joe’s, but we’ll take it from here. (via Iowa Girl Eats)
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