Wake up your backyard BBQ with these stellar burger recipes from renowned chefs. Their homemade toppings, meat (or meatless) options and fresh buns will take your burger from tasty to unforgettable. And if the weather makes your BBQ a washout, no worries: plenty of these burgers can be cooked stovetop.

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  Recipe

  Spicy Mexican Burger

  This burger by Joe Isidori from Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer is so flavorful you almost don’t need any toppings, but the pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo, lettuce, pickles, and tomato take it right over the top.

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  Salmon Godzilla Burger

  This burger is so named for its towering appearance: a scallion-and-soy-spiked salmon patty topped with shiitake mushrooms, tempura crispies, lettuce, and smoky mayo. Troy Guard of Denver's TAG Burger Bar and the TAG Restaurant Group recommends making extra crispy topping; it’s a tasty snack on its own.

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  Recipe

  Buddha Karma Burger

  Here’s an inventive take on a veggie burger from Chicago Diner’s Jose Martinez. The sweet potato and tofu patty is seasoned deliciously with curry and topped with chimichurri.

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  “Ham” Burger with Onions and Gruyère

  Chris Cosentino, chef-owner of San Francisco’s Cockscomb, has come up with an ingenious idea: a real ham burger. Brining the pork for up to two days makes this burger spectacular; if you’re lucky, you’ll have leftover ham (excellent for meatballs or dumplings).

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  Recipe

  Jucy Lucy Turkey Burgers

  This burger—two patties surrounding molten cheese core—was inspired by the specialty at Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The creamy, tangy avocado spread is terrific on all kinds of burgers and can be made ahead (thanks to the lime juice and vinegar, it won’t readily discolor).

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