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Named one of Time magazine's 17 most influential burgers, Juicy Lucy—also purposely spelled without the "i"—is a twist on the classic cheeseburger in which the cheese is melted inside the patty. Hands down a Minneapolis favorite, the cheese-stuffed Lucy burger is an exquisite experience which actually requires some skill in order to know how to eat it without burning your mouth with a hot shot of the flowing molten American cheese locked between the two ground beef patties.
Apart from the succulent beef, this cheeseburger also carries another quarter-pound of controversy, mostly due to the feud about its origin, as there are two Minneapolis burger eateries claiming its invention. Matt’s Bar & Grill put it on the menu shortly after its opening in 1954 when a local customer asked for two hamburger patties with a slice of cheese in the middle.
MOST ICONIC Juicy Lucy
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Oklahoma onion burger is prepared by smashing thin slices of onions into a beef patty. The meat and onions cook together until the onions become caramelized and crispy and the meat is fully cooked. The burger usually also contains a slice of American cheese, pickles, and mustard or mayonnaise (or both), all tucked inside soft and fluffy burger buns.
It is believed that this burger was invented in the 1920s during the Depression, when onions were very cheap, and meat was expensive, so people started to add onions to the patties by smashing them into the meat with the back of a spatula.
MOST ICONIC Onion Burger
View moreA unique American burger known as bison burger is a type of hamburger that uses meat from the North American bison. This hamburger is often called buffalo burger as bison meat is frequently incorrectly referred to as buffalo meat, which is usually used for the meat coming from the African buffalo and water buffalo.
Although this burger has less cholesterol and fat than typical burgers, the higher price of buffalo meat makes it a special treat. The bison burger patty is typically placed inside a soft bun and served with various toppings such as onions, lettuce, tomato slices, red slaw, and cheddar cheese, with sweet fries often served on the side.
MOST ICONIC Bison Burger
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Green chile cheeseburger is New Mexico’s variation of the classic burger, made with green New Mexico chile-topped beef patty inside a burger bun. A slice of melted American cheese on top of the patty is mandatory. The dish has been popular at least since the 1950s, and nowadays it is practically a symbol of New Mexico.
This cheeseburger typically also contains other toppings such as onions and lettuce.
MOST ICONIC Green Chile Cheeseburger
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Wisconsin's messy contribution to the world of burgers is called butter burger. For some, butter burger is authentic when the ground meat is combined with butter. For others, it's when the bun is buttered, toasted, and topped with some more butter before serving.
The only thing that everyone can agree on is that there must be enough butter to drip off the meat, which will usually form a small pool of butter on one's plate. A theory says that the name comes from a place called Solly's in Glendale, Wisconsin, operating since 1936, where the butter is added to the meat that is, again, fried in butter, and served with a side of stewed onions.
MOST ICONIC Butter Burger
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The United States of America is famous for many creative recipes consisting of a succulent meat patty placed inside of a bun, and elk burger is Montana’s spin on the nation’s beloved dish. The state of Montana is widely known for its game meat, especially elk, and juicy elk burgers made with tender, dark-red meat are among the most popular local dishes.
They are leaner and higher in protein than those made with beef, yet equally tender and delicious. Elk’s delicate, slightly sweet flavor pairs nicely with pretty much any classic burger topping, but it is important not to overcook it - due to its low-fat content, elk meat dries easily, so medium rare is the best way to go.
MOST ICONIC Elk Burger
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Pimento cheeseburger is a traditional version of a cheesburger originating from the South, and it's especially popular in South Carolina. It consists of soft burger buns, grilled burger patties, and pimento cheese spread. The pimento spread is made with a base of grated cheddar, mayonnaise, and pimento peppers.
Once assembled, the pimento cheeseburger can be eaten as it is, although some people prefer additional toppings such as lettuce, fried onions, or tomatoes, but those are completely optional.
MOST ICONIC Pimento Cheeseburger
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Chili burger is a variety of hamburger consisting of a bun and a meat patty that is topped with chili con carne, although the chili might also be served on the side. The hamburger is served open-faced in some places, and it is often topped with cheese and onions, while fries are usually served as an accompaniment.
It is believed that chili burger was invented in the 1920s by Thomas M. DeForest in Los Angeles.
Pastrami burger consists of a toasted sesame seed bun filled with a beef patty that is topped with pastrami, cheese, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, onions, and fry sauce – a combination of ketchup, mayonnaise, sweet relish, and onion powder.
It's an invention of a Greek man named James Katsanevas, who had a restaurant called Minos Burgers in Anaheim, California, and started serving the dish in the early 1970s, while pastrami was brought over to Los Angeles by the Jewish people who came over from New York City in the middle of the 20th century.
MOST ICONIC Pastrami Burger
View moreSlaw burger is a traditional type of burger that's common in the southern parts of the United States. It's essentially a classic burger topped with coleslaw. In most cases, the burger consists of a meat patty that's topped with sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, and coleslaw dressing.
Some of the dressing is absorbed into the top bun for extra flavor. Everyone makes slaw burgers according to personal preferences, so it's not uncommon to include dill pickles, bacon, and cheese as well, but the only consistent element is the coleslaw topping.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 22 American Burgers” list until February 14, 2025, 2,769 ratings were recorded, of which 2,392 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.