The Ultimate Burger

There are plenty of classic, tried-and-true ground beef burgers, plus newer takes that have become classics. Sprinkled throughout are venerated regional treasures, and we introduce over-the-top soon-to-be-favorite burgers our burger-obsessed test cooks created.

We thoroughly tested ever cut of meat imaginable to create the ultimate Grind-Your-Own Deluxe Beef Burger Blend, but we also provide shopping and cooking tips to make simple store-bought meat taste its best. We share test kitchen secrets for burger success from how to properly set up your grill to how to shape a burger patty to prevent “golf ball syndrome.”

Learn to make every part of the burger from scratch, from grinding the burger mixture in the food processor to preparing homemade buns, condiments, and crispy toppings. We don’t stop at the burger, learn to master classic sides like crispy fries, onion rings, and kettle chips, cool, creamy slaws and potato salads, thick and creamy milkshakes, and thirst-quenching sweet teas, and lemonades.