The Best Burgers for Super Bowl Sunday

Epicurious.com
Photo by Jeffrey Schad and Chris Gentile
Photo by Jeffrey Schad and Chris Gentile

By Epicurious.com

Mmmmm...burgers. They're not just for meat-lovers anymore. Sure, the classic hamburger is a nice beef patty sandwiched between two pillowy buns and perhaps enhanced with cheese, sliced tomatoes, and ketchup. But these days, the sky's the limit when it comes to what constitutes a burger: salmon burgers, crab burgers, bison burgers, lamb burgers, pork burgers, and the standard vegetarian burger option, portobello mushroom burgers. Even our highly rated black-bean burger won't have meat-lovers wondering Where's the beef? So whether you're a traditionalist or an adventure-seeker, give all our burgers a try!

See the full list of mouth-watering burgers here.

Triple Smoke Burger(pictured)

Turn up the heat on your burger with smoked paprika, chipotle chiles in adobo, and bacon. Buttery avocado adds a divine richness while the onions' astringency helps keep all the flavors in check.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

  • 2 tablespoons minced chipotle in adobo, including some sauce, divided

  • 8 bacon slices

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck (not lean)

  • 2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika

  • 1 large red onion, cut into 4 (1/2-inch) thick rounds, each stuck with a wooden pick to keep it together

  • 1 firm-ripe avocado, quartered lengthwise, peeled, and cut lengthwise into 1/3-inch thick slices

  • Olive oil for brushing on onion and avocado

  • 4 hamburger buns, grilled or toasted

Accompaniment:

  • lettuce; cilantro sprigs

Preparation:

1. In a food processor or blender, purée mayonnaise, mustard, and 1 tablespoon chipotle; transfer to a bowl.

2. Cook bacon in batches in a skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp; transfer to paper towels to drain.

3. Gently mix beef with 1 tablespoon chipotle, paprika, and 1 teaspoon salt until combined. Form into 4 (4-inch) patties.

4. Prepare a grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium heat for gas).

5. Meanwhile, brush both sides of onion rounds and avocado slices with olive oil.

6. Oil grill rack then grill onion rounds, turning over once, until slightly charred, 2 to 3 minutes total. Discard wooden picks.

7. Grill avocado slices, turning once, until grill marks appear, about 30 seconds on each side.

8. Grill patties, covered only if using a gas grill, until they reach 160°F on an instant-read thermometer, approximately 5 to 6 minutes on each side.

9. Put sauce on buns and make burgers with lettuce, avocado, bacon, onion, and cilantro.

Related: Easy Dip and Salsa Recipes

More Must-Try Burgers:

Aussie Burgers
A pint of Australian lager will help wash down this beaut of a burger made with eggs, pineapple, pickled beets, and a special spicy sauce.

Get the recipe here.

Turkey Cheddar Burger. Photo by Romulo Yanes
Turkey Cheddar Burger. Photo by Romulo Yanes



Turkey Cheddar Burgers
Consider substituting the sharp Cheddar with Gruyere, Emmental, a young Manchego, or even Monterey Jack.

Get the recipe here.

Andouille and Beef Burgers with Spicy Mayo and Caramelized Onion
Toasted and chopped pecans complement the spiciness of the sausage and the creaminess of the mayo.

Get the recipe here.

Bison Burgers with Cabernet Onions and Wisconsin Cheddar
The dried thyme in the hamburger patty adds a nice woody herb flavor that helps balance the richness of the Cabernet-cooked onions and cheese.

Get the recipe here.

Chipotle Pork Burgers
Take a trip to the American Southwest with this very traditional pairing: The chipotle chiles provide a nice smoky flavor and steady level of heat to the otherwise mild-tasting ground pork.

Get the recipe here.

Black-Bean Burgers. Photo by Romulo Yanes
Black-Bean Burgers. Photo by Romulo Yanes

Black-Bean Burgers
Ideal for health-conscious cooks, this burger recipe gets you almost 15 grams of both dietary fiber and protein.

Get the recipe here.

Cheeseburgers with Charred Green Chiles and Onions
If poblano chiles pack too much heat for your taste buds, substitute a milder chile pepper such as the Anaheim.

Get the recipe here.

Creole Crab Burgers
Think of these as crab cakes on a bun with tartar sauce, cayenne, and dry mustard.

Get the recipe here.

More from Epicurious.com:
• Healthy Comfort Food Recipes for Any Day
• Chef's Favorite Super Bowl Recipes
•One-Dish Wonders: Our Favorite Casserole Recipes
•Blue-Ribbon Chicken Recipes