Teriyaki Burgers with Grilled Pineapple: A Tasty Tropical Twist on a Classic

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Teriyaki burgers with grilled pineapple are a tasty twist on classic burgers. You can make these juicy burgers by mixing ground meat with teriyaki sauce and topping them with grilled pineapple slices. The sweet and tangy flavors blend perfectly with the savory meat.

To make these burgers, you’ll need ground beef or turkey, teriyaki sauce, pineapple, and your favorite burger toppings. Grill the patties and pineapple slices for a delicious meal that’s perfect for summer cookouts or any time you want a tropical-inspired burger.

Table of Contents

Exact Ingredients (+ Possible Substitutes)

Here’s what you’ll need to make teriyaki burgers with grilled pineapple:

Ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
Fresh pineapple slices
Teriyaki sauce
Hamburger buns
Swiss cheese slices
Red onion
Green leaf lettuce

For the teriyaki sauce, you can use store-bought or make your own with:

Soy sauce
Brown sugar
Mirin (sweet rice wine)
Garlic
Ginger

Don’t have some ingredients? Try these swaps:

Ground turkey or chicken instead of beef
Canned pineapple rings if fresh isn’t available
Provolone or cheddar cheese in place of Swiss
Any type of onion works
Iceberg or romaine lettuce can replace green leaf

For a twist, add some sriracha mayo:

Mayo
Sriracha sauce
Lime juice

Mix these together for a spicy, creamy topping. Enjoy your tropical-inspired burger!

Instructions

Fire up your grill or heat a grill pan on the stove. While it’s warming, mix ground beef, breadcrumbs, and teriyaki sauce in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper for extra flavor.

Shape the meat into four equal patties. Make them about the size of your burger buns.

Grill the burgers for 4-5 minutes on each side. For medium-rare, cook until the internal temperature reaches 135°F (57°C).

While the burgers cook, grill pineapple slices and red onion rings. They’ll need about 2-3 minutes per side.

Toast your burger buns on the grill for a minute. This gives them a nice crunch.

Now it’s time to build your burgers! Here’s the order:

Bottom bun
Lettuce
Burger patty
Cheese slice
Grilled pineapple
Grilled onion
Top bun with teriyaki sauce

Serve your tasty teriyaki burgers right away. They’re best enjoyed hot off the grill!

Tips, Tricks & Storing

Make your burger patties slightly larger than the buns. They’ll shrink when cooked.

Press a small indent in the center of each patty. This helps them keep their shape while grilling.

For juicy burgers, don’t press down on them with a spatula while cooking.

Grill pineapple slices for 2-3 minutes per side. This adds a nice char and brings out the sweetness.

Baste your burgers with teriyaki sauce in the last few minutes of cooking for extra flavor.

Let burgers rest for 5 minutes after cooking. This keeps them juicy when you bite in.

To store leftover burgers, wrap them tightly in foil or plastic wrap. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheat burgers in a skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of water and cover to steam them back to juicy perfection.

For make-ahead prep, form patties and store between wax paper sheets in the fridge. They’ll keep for a day before cooking.