50 Best Burger Recipes For 2015

Whether you're a fan of a juicy, all-beef burger topped with salty bacon and melted cheese; a smoky lamb burger stuffed with tangy feta and finished with a dilled yogurt sauce; or a colorful, vegetable-studded vegetarian patty, we'd like to believe that there's not a single person who doesn't enjoy a good burger from time to time. But with a near-endless number of delicious variations on the classic, all-American burger, how do you choose the best?

Click here to see the 50 Best Burger Recipes for 2015 (Slideshow)

There are so many ways to define "the best" when it comes to recipes. In years past we've reviewed recipes and then assigned them points in categories like taste, technique, and ingenuity. But each year we were left with one nagging question: How do you rank taste? Even with a panel of experts, you'll get a wide variety of opinions when it comes to this particular category.

We think a better approach is to know what you like and how to re-create it at home. So this year, we've rounded up the 10 best burger recipes from each of five categories: beef burgers, bacon burgers, stuffed burgers, healthy burgers, and alternative burgers.

A lot of this year's best burger recipes are surprisingly simple. Although the crazy mash-ups from years past (remember the ramen burger?) were fun and delicious, this year is all about getting back to basics and learning solid cooking techniques. If you buy good-quality ingredients and cook your burgers the right way, we guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised with the mouth-watering results.

So which of these 50 burgers is the best? Well, that's up to you.

Hamburger Recipe

There's nothing like a good old-fashioned hamburger — so juicy and full of flavor that you don't even need to add cheese. If you're a fan of this classic cookout fare, this recipe is for you. It's simple and delicious. 

Cheddar Cheeseburger with Caramelized Onions

This recipe seems simple in nature, but when you look closer you'll see there are extra steps taken to make sure that the classic Cheddar cheeseburger is treated well and tastes good. Tender shallots are cooked down and braised in white-wine vinegar to create a topping to a tender patty mixed with minced garlic. A little bit of mayonnaise and peppery arugula are all that are needed to complete this unassuming yet delicious burger. 

Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.