Give Beef a Break! Unconventional Burgers

Posted by Lani on June 9th, 2010 at 12:17pm

Burgers and summertime go hand in hand, but who says those burgers have to be beef? After all, hamburgers aren’t even made of ham, so why not try some other varieties of patty between your buns? There are delicious chicken, veggie, and turkey options to be explored. Widen your burger definition and try some of these unexpected, but delicious, burger recipes.

Add some spice to your barbecue with this Buffalo Chicken Burger from Sophitismom. With all the flavor of buffalo wings on a convenient bun, this sandwich breaks burger barriers as it changes up the sauce and meat one might expect when presented with a burger. Different is delicious when it comes to this mouth-watering morsel.

If you’re a fan of the flavor of avocado and are California dreamin’, maybe you’ll want to try this tasty California Burger from Joelen. Made with ground chicken instead of ground beef, these patties are full of flavor thanks to Montreal steak seasoning and a healthy dose of garlic (gotta keep those Twilight vampires away!). Top with a little cheese and fresh, ripe avocado, and you have a nontraditional but unforgettable burger.

After you sample California, why not try a little Lebanese? The Best Chicken Burger, Lebanese Style from Oven Dried Tomatoes is completely surprising and completely delicious. It’s a twist on the Lebanese dish Shish Tawook with a handy bun handle instead of the traditional skewer. Made with a flavorful marinade and hummus aioli, this is one burger recipe you aren’t likely to forget.

Try another kind of poultry in your burger adventure: turkey. With our Healthy Thai Turkey Burger, you won’t have to sacrifice succulence or flavor at dinnertime. Ginger, cilantro, and garlic flavor this fresh and unique burger. Try a new flavor and a new meat at your next barbecue.

If you like what you taste as you explore the realm of turkey burgers, you might want to try this Mexican Turkey Burger. Whether you choose it as a healthy alternative or a flavor alternative, this lean and crispy burger is a fiesta in your mouth. Let your taste buds have a little party; they deserve it.

Hosting a barbecue can be stressful as you try to get all your dishes ready at the same time. Help yourself out and try Next-day Turkey Burgers. If you do the messy prep work the day before, cooking up your burgers will be fast and easy, and your guests won’t see this poultry sandwich coming until it’s too late and they are in flavor heaven.

Consider a little patty-on-patty action with the Tapenade Turkey Burger from Yumventures. With a burger patty made from turkey and kalamata olives and a Tapenade patty made of olives, capers, and anchovies, this is an entirely new burger experience. Don’t be afraid of the anchovies–they simply provide background flavor to an already amazing zest.

Of course, there are non-meat options for your burger as well. These burgers are not just for vegetarians, either. If you’re a meat-eater who bypasses these veggie burgers just because they meet vegetarian standards, Brother, you are missing out. Expand your horizons with a Black Bean Jalapeno Burger. This is much more than a lackluster black bean burger; this is the spiced up older brother of that wimpy little patty. With cumin and coriander and cayenne and garlic, this burger is anything but lacking in the flavor department. It’s a flavor explosion you would never find in a traditional beef burger.

Since you were going to top your burger with mushrooms and peppers anyway, why not make your patty out of them? The Mushroom and Pepper Garden Burger does that and more. With the additions of a chilli and hoisin sauce, this burger does not disappoint despite its lack of meat.

After you’ve experimented with some of these unusual burgers, maybe you’ll even extend your burger adventure to another course. Try these Cupcake Burgers for dessert from Christie at PardonMyCrumbs. Don’t worry, it’s not what you think. These cute and tasty little delicacies are made from brownie mix, cake mix, and frosting–no meat involved. Using colored frosting to imitate ketchup, mustard, and relish, these little cupcakes look like the real thing, only sweeter and smaller. In fact, they’re so small that they won’t even ruin your diet. How’s that for a happy ending?

Now that you know the many options available, it’s time to give beef a break. Redefine your burger barbecue and expand your hamburger horizons. Your taste buds will thank you, and you’ll never look back.

Tags: burgers, chicken recipes, Healthy Recipes, summer

Under healthy eating Tags: burgers, chicken recipes, Healthy Recipes, summer