From blue cheese-stuffed chicken to pork and chorizo patties, these burgers are anything but boring.

Summer is a time for the three B’s: barbecue, beer, and burgers. They’re also great the rest of the year, even if you do take the cooking and eating part inside. But unless they’re truly breathtaking, your standard patty-in-a-bun formula can grow stale. Why not switch it up?

To get you out of your burger rut, we’ve pulled together a list of 17 less traditional burgers that top anything you could buy in the freezer aisle. They may take a little extra time or involve a trip to the grocery store but trust us, they’re worth the extra effort.

1. Double-decker marinated portobello burger

Big Macs aren’t the only double-decker burger in town. Try our Double-Decker Marinated Portobello Burger recipe for a healthier twist on the Mickey D’s classic.

Portobello mushrooms are one of the easiest vegetables to use when converting a nonbeliever to a plant-based diet — they taste exactly like steak when you grill them (seriously).

You’ll need:

  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 8 portobello mushrooms (with the stems removed and dark gills scraped out)
  • 1 loaf ciabatta bread
  • 1/4 cup basil pesto
  • 8 1/4-inch tomato slices (from 2 medium, ripe tomatoes)
  • 10 ounces Monterey Jack or provolone cheese, thinly sliced
  • 4 to 8 romaine lettuce leaves

Get our full recipe here.

2. Black-eyed pea vegan burger

Vegans rejoice! The luck of black-eyed peas is on your side. You can now enjoy a delicious vegan burger that comes neck and neck with its meaty cousins.

Featuring mushrooms, beans, and a bevy of fresh herbs and seasonings, this healthful concoction might just become your go-to alternative summer grilling recipe.

You’ll need:

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6 medium cremini mushrooms, cleaned, stemmed, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium shallot (finely chopped into about 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 medium clove garlic, minced
  • 1 15-oz can black-eyed peas (drained and rinsed)
  • 1 medium scallion, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves and stems, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon tamari, plus more as needed
  • 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, plus more as needed
  • 4 toasted vegan ciabatta or burger rolls, for serving

Get our full recipe here.

3. Greatist veggie burger

Fresh is always better, so ditch the frozen veggie patty and try out the recipe for our official Greatist Veggie Burger.

It’s packed full of vegetables like zucchini, carrot, onion, and beet, as well as brown grains and tons of flavor.

You’ll need:

  • 1 cup dry textured vegetable protein (TVP)
  • 3/4 cup hot water
  • 1 cup zucchini, grated from 1 medium zucchini
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, minced from about 1/2 medium onion
  • 1 medium clove garlic clove, minced
  • 3/4 cup carrot, grated from 1 carrot
  • 1/3 cup red beet, peeled and shredded from 1/2 large beet
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
  • 2 teaspoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons ground mustard like Colman’s
  • 1 1/2 cups short-grain brown rice (about 3/4 cup dry, cooked)
  • 2/3 cup brown lentils (about 1/4 cup dry, cooked)
  • 2 tablespoons Italian parsley leaves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1 cup coarse whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs
  • 3/4 cup cremini mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg white
  • 3 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 7 whole-wheat buns or Kaiser rolls, for serving

Get the full recipe here.

4. Falafel burger

If you’re a fan of the almighty garbanzo, look no further than this creative take on a Middle Eastern classic.

For the falafel patties, you’ll need:

  • 1 1/2 cups dried garbanzo beans, aka chickpeas
  • 1/2 medium red onion, coarsely chopped
  • 4 medium cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 cup cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

For frying and assembling:

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 6 brioche or hamburger buns, split
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 6 tablespoons tomato jam
  • Lettuce leaves

Serve with tomato jam and an herb-infused Greek yogurt to kick up your condiment game. Get our Falafel Burger recipe.

5. Grilled salmon burgers

Salmon is a fantastic fish to throw on the grill. It’s hearty, healthy, and much easier to BBQ than lighter or whiter fish.

Follow the recipe, and you can top it with anything, from store-bought tartar sauce to your favorite homemade concoction.

You’ll need:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 medium shallot, diced
  • 3 tablespoons Italian parsley leaves, coarsely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
  • 2 pounds skinless salmon fillets (pin bones removed and cut into 1-inch pieces)
  • 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • Vegetable oil, for coating the grill

Get our Grilled Salmon Burger recipe.

6. Meatloaf burger

The idea of meatloaf anything may be a scary one, but the dreaded lunchtime classic gets an amazing, modern-day upgrade with this delicious recipe.

The addition of hoisin and sriracha gives the meat a slightly Asian-inspired taste, but don’t skimp on the ketchup. That’s where it gets all the moisture.

For the burger patties, you’ll need:

  • 1 pound ground chuck (about 15–20% fat)
  • 1/2 pound ground pork
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1/3 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon hot paprika
  • 4 tablespoons ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Black pepper, freshly ground

For grilling and assembling, you’ll need:

  • Vegetable oil (for oiling the grill)
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • Lettuce leaves
  • Tomato slices
  • Dill pickle slices

Get the full recipe here.

7. Juicy Lucy burger

Standard cheeseburgers are great. But our Juicy Lucy, where the cheese is inside the burger, is even better.

Adapted from a Minneapolis bar favorite (two bars have competing claims for the invention), the Juicy Lucy is a traditional hamburger stuffed with your choice of cheese. Just be sure to pick a soft, meltable cheese for the right ooze factor.

You’ll need:

  • 4 slices American cheese (or cheese of choice)
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck (about 15 to 20 percent fat content, chilled)
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Vegetable oil (for oiling the grill)
  • 4 hamburger buns, split and toasted
  • Pickles, sliced (for serving)

Get the full recipe here — or check out the video above for cheesy, meaty juices-running-down-your-chin-inspo.

If you’re used to spending your Labor Day weekend in the Hamptons or on your boss’s yacht (or just wish you were), this might be the recipe for you.

Inspired by the DB burger from French god chef Daniel Boulud (which originally cost $32), the Bull Market burger is a decadent way to impress on a holiday weekend.

Take a deep breath…

You’ll need:

  • 18 paper-thin slices preserved black truffle (about 1/2 ounce)
  • 1/4 cup shredded red wine–braised short rib meat (plus 2 tablespoons braising juices, kept to one side)
  • 1 ounce foie gras
  • 1 tablespoon minced carrot
  • 1 tablespoon minced celery
  • 1 tablespoon minced white onion
  • 6 ounces ground sirloin
  • 4 teaspoons horseradish mayonnaise
  • 1 Parmesan Kaiser roll, sliced in half and toasted
  • 5 to 6 red onion rings, thinly sliced
  • 1 to 2 thin slices fresh tomato
  • 1/3 cup packed frisée, cleaned and dried
  • 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 6 pieces tomato confit

Get the bull recipe here (ha).

9. Mediterranean lamb burger

With flavors reminiscent of a gyro, our burger is an easy entry point for anyone looking to incorporate lamb into their protein repertoire. Just treat it like ground beef and you’ll be good to go.

If you have trouble finding harissa, feel free to substitute sriracha.

For the harissa mayonnaise, you’ll need:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup harissa

For the burgers, you’ll need:

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
  • 3/4 cup yellow onion, finely chopped (from about 1 medium onion)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
  • Vegetable oil, for oiling the grill

To assemble:

  • 4 Kaiser rolls, sliced in half horizontally and toasted
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (about 1 ounce)
  • 1 4-inch English cucumber (cut into about 16 1/4-inch slices)
  • 4 romaine lettuce leaves

Have a look at the full recipe here.

10. Pork and apple burgers

Pork, apple, and rosemary make a pretty solid combo in the fall, and turning them into burgers takes them seamlessly into summertime.

We recommend serving them as sliders. Any leftovers could make for a mean sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich the next day (especially great if you had a few too many light beers or mojitos the night before).

You’ll need:

  • 1 pound ground pork (from the shoulder or a shoulder-belly mix)
  • 1 1/3 cups grated apple (from 2 medium apples, grated on the large holes of a box grater)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

Get the full recipe here.

11. Bison burgers with mushrooms and spring onions

Get your Oregon Trail on with our recipe for bison burgers. Bison, a throwback animal from the days of wagon rides, has found a nice resurgence thanks to the health-conscious movement (and all those paleo practitioners).

And that’s not without reason: it’s flavorful, lean, and high in protein.

You’ll need:

  • 6 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons freshly grated horseradish
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium spring onions, (dark green ends trimmed off, white and pale green portions sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rounds)
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces mixed wild mushrooms, trimmed and quartered if large
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 medium clove garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground bison meat
  • 3 Kaiser rolls, cut in half horizontally and toasted

Get the full recipe here.

12. Pork and chorizo chile burgers

Pork can be a little dry and bland on its own, which is why our recipe ups the flavor ante with the addition of Mexican chorizo.

Spicy and salty, the burger pairs with fresh avocado and roasted Anaheim chilies. This is the perfect burger to serve if you need an excuse [editor’s note: you should never need an excuse] to have a cold beer with lunch.

You’ll need:

  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 6 ounces fresh Mexican chorizo (casings removed, if in sausage form)
  • 2 medium cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • vegetable oil (for coating the grill and the avocado)
  • 4 Anaheim chiles, halved (stems and seeds removed)
  • 1 avocado, halved and pitted
  • kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 4-inch hamburger buns, halved and toasted

Get the full recipe here.

13. Kimchi chicken burger

Spice things up with fiery kimchi served on a chicken patty doused in spicy mayonnaise. It’s the perfect excuse to crack open another tongue-soothing beer (or pour another slushy cocktail).

You’ll need:

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken thigh meat
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 cup green onions, diagonally sliced
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup kimchi, roughly chopped
  • 2 cups savoy cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons sriracha or other hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 4 whole-wheat or plain hamburger buns, split and toasted

Get our recipe here.

14. BBQ bacon turkey burgers

Usually, turkey burgers are not a fave. However, they don’t have to suck. For example, our BBQ Bacon Turkey Burger recipe. Covered in BBQ sauce and topped with bacon, it could go 12 rounds with any beef burger in a flavor fight.

You’ll need:

  • 1 1/3 pounds ground dark-meat turkey
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
  • 1/4 cup smoky BBQ sauce (plus more for serving)
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 slices applewood-smoked bacon (thick-cut, halved to yield 12 pieces)
  • Vegetable oil, for the grill
  • 4 slices cheddar cheese
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • Mayonnaise
  • Pickled jalapeños
  • Sliced bread-and-butter pickles

Get our recipe here.

15. Blue cheese chicken BLT burgers

Take a Juicy Lucy, but swap the beef for chicken and the cheddar for bold blue cheese, then add in everything you love about BLTs (which is, well, everything: salty, crunchy bacon; crisp, fresh lettuce; and juicy, sweet tomato). Voila! You have a towering pile of awesome flavor.

You’ll need:

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken thigh meat
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 ounces blue cheese, cut into 4 pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 8 slices cooked bacon
  • 4 lettuce leaves
  • 4 thick slices from a red, ripe heirloom tomato
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 4 brioche hamburger buns, split and toasted

Get our full recipe here.

16. Chicken cordon bleu burgers

Here’s a truly original and totally unexpected BBQ option: chicken cordon bleu in the guise of a burger. The juicy chicken patty is made from dark meat so it doesn’t dry out, but even less moist white meat would go down decadently when topped with ham and melty cheese (not to mention the Dijon and mayo slathered on the bun).

You’ll need:

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken thigh meat
  • 1 medium shallot, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 8 slices Black Forest ham, thinly sliced
  • 4 slices Swiss cheese
  • 4 Kaiser or French-style hamburger buns or ciabatta sandwich rolls, split and toasted
  • 1 cup baby arugula

Get the full recipe here.

17. Banh mi chicken burgers

Much to everyone’s enormous benefit, banh mi has become easier and easier to find in major American cities. But if you’ve yet to try one, you’re in for a treat. And if you want to incorporate those spicy, savory, tangy, fresh, addictive flavors in burger form, we’re here to help.

For the pickled carrots, you’ll need:

  • 1/3 cup distilled white vinegar
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup peeled and coarsely shredded carrots, from about 2 medium carrots

For the chile mayonnaise, grab:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons chile-garlic paste or sambal oelek

For the burgers:

  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 medium scallions, finely chopped (white and light green parts only)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest, packed and finely grated from 1 medium lime
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken (dark meat or a mixture of dark and white meat)
  • vegetable oil (for oiling the grill)

And, finally, to assemble:

  • 4 Vietnamese or sweet French sandwich rolls, sliced in half horizontally and toasted
  • 2/3 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
  • 4 romaine lettuce leaves

Get the full recipe here.