Summer means it’s officially burger grilling season! There’s nothing quite like the sound of a juicy burger sizzling on the grill, especially these pineapple teriyaki burgers!
Sweet, savory, smoky, and full of umami, these delicious teriyaki burgers might just become your new favorite summer cookout recipe!
This pineapple teriyaki burger is one of my go-to summer cookout burger recipes, right alongside my Greek Turkey Feta Burgers or my simple homemade burger recipe!
In this pineapple teriyaki burger recipe, the ground beef is seasoned and grilled to perfection, then stacked on brioche buns with grilled pineapple, onions, cheese, all your favorite toppings, and teriyaki sauce.
And if you love the flavor of teriyaki, be sure to try my Teriyaki Chicken Bowl or Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Tons of flavor. Sweet, savory, and smoky umami flavors in every bite.
- Easy to make. Ready in under 30 minutes with few ingredients and store-bought teriyaki sauce for simplicity.
- Cook your pineapple teriyaki burgers outdoors on the grill to enjoy the summer weather, or on the stovetop for a simple weeknight dinner.
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Ingredient Notes
Below, I included a few ingredients notes from testing my pineapple teriyaki burger recipe that I hope you find helpful!
- Ground beef: I use ground beef that is 80 percent lean, 20 percent fat. The fat is what gives burgers so much good flavor.
- Teriyaki sauce: You can use my homemade teriyaki sauce or your favorite store-bought version for the best umami flavors.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds incredible flavor and extra moisture.
- Cheese slices: Feel free to use any type of cheese. I think Swiss or Havarti pair really well here.
- Brioche burger buns: I love the buttery brioche buns, but regular burger buns work too.
- Toppings: Teriyaki sauce, pineapple slices (fresh, if possible), onion slices, lettuce, tomato.
- Salt and pepper, vegetable oil for cooking
Ingredient quantities are listed in the recipe card down below, as always.
How to Make Pineapple Teriyaki Burgers
Prepping for this pineapple teriyaki burger recipe takes just a few minutes, and the rest is just fun grilling! Let’s make it.
Step 1: Preheat your grill. In a bowl, gently mix the ground beef, a little bit of teriyaki sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Do not overmix, otherwise your patties will be tough.
Step 2: Divide into 4 equal portions and shape them into patties about ½ inch thick. They will shrink as they cook, so start with a wider patty than the bun. Gently press a shallow indent into the center to prevent them from puffing up, and smooth any edges.
Step 3: Lightly brush the grill grates or pan with oil to prevent sticking. Once the grill or pan is hot, cook the burgers until done to your liking. I prefer medium-well, about 5 minutes per side.
Step 4: At the same time, grill the pineapple rings and onions. Highly recommended for a smoky, charred flavor, especially for the pineapple to bring out sweet caramelized flavors.
Step 5: During the last minute of cook time, add a slice of cheese to the top to melt.
Step 6: Assemble your pineapple teriyaki burgers, brushing with more sauce for extra flavor!
Tips for Success
- Don’t overmix the meat, otherwise the burgers may get tough.
- For extra seasoning, sprinkle some of my burger seasoning blend on the outside of each patty.
- Shape the patties a little larger than the burger buns, as they will shrink slightly when cooked.
- Make sure your grill is hot before cooking. This will help prevent sticking and will get you a nice sear.
- Toast the burger buns! Brush them with a bit of oil or butter and place them face side down on the grill for about a minute.
How Long to Cook Burgers
The outcome of your pineapple teriyaki burgers depends on patty thickness, grill heat, and cook time. Here are guidelines you can use, although I do recommend using a thermometer for accuracy.
- Medium-rare: About 3-4 minutes per side. Internal temp: 130 F – 135F.
- Medium: About 5 minutes per side. Internal temp: 140 F – 145 F.
- Medium-well: About 6 minutes per side. Internal temp: 150 F – 155 F.
- Well-done: 7 or more minutes per side. Internal temp: 160 F.
Make Ahead Tips
Make ahead: You can form the patties ahead of time, place them on a plate and cover them with plastic wrap. Keep them refrigerated overnight and bring them out of the fridge as you’re heating up the grill.
Freezing: The patties can be frozen for up to 2 months, with parchment paper stacked in between each patty and stored in freezer-friendly bags. Then thaw them overnight or grill from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely. These pineapple teriyaki burgers can be made with ground chicken or turkey. For something different, try my salmon burger recipe.
Absolutely! I do this all the time, but I do like the smoky flavors from outdoor grilling. Same cooking times and directions.
Depends on how you like them. Medium would be about 5 minutes per side, and medium-well about 6 minutes per side. Use an instant read thermometer to be sure.
You sure can. Drain them first and pat dry. They may not have the same fresh flavor, but they’re great in a pinch.
Pairing and Serving Ideas
As with most burger recipes, this pineapple teriyaki burger pairs well with all kinds of potato sides, pasta salads, or greens. Here are just a few of our favorites!
Love a good potato salad? Try my dill potato salad recipe or potato and pesto salad!
If you need a lighter, refreshing side, try my Japanese Cucumber Salad!
I’d love to hear from you! If you loved my recipe, please consider leaving a 5-star rating and a comment down below. Sign up for my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest
Pineapple Teriyaki Burgers
Equipment
- Grill pan if cooking indoots
Ingredients
For the burger patties
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef - 20 percent fat
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground fresh black pepper
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce - or your favorite store-bought brand
- Vegetable oil - for the grill grates only
Buns and toppings
- 4 brioche burger buns
- 4 slices Swiss cheese
- 4 fresh pineapple slices - or canned
- 4 slices red onions - cut into rings
- 4 tomato slices
- Lettuce
- Teriyaki sauce for brushing - to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium high. Make sure the grill grates are clean.
- In a bowl, combine the ground beef with salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon of teriyaki sauce. Using your hands, mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Divide the meat into 4 equal portions and shape into patties about ½-inch thick, slightly wider than the buns since they will shrink a little when cooked. Press a shallow indentation in the center of each patty and smooth the edges if needed. This prevents them from puffing up as they cook.
- Optional: Season the exterior of the patties with a little bit more salt and pepper for extra flavor.
- Lightly brush the grill grates with oil. Cook the burgers until done to your liking. For medium-well, grill for about 5 minutes per side. Top with cheese slices during the last minute of cooking until melted.
- At the same time, grill the pineapple and onions. Highly recommended for a smoky, charred flavor!
- Assemble the burgers with the buns and toppings. Brush with more teriyaki sauce to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t overmix the ground beef, otherwise the burgers can turn tough. Until just combined is good.
- Optional: Season outside of patties with extra salt and pepper for more flavor.
- Shape patties slightly wider than buns because they will shrink when cooked.
- Cheese: I use Swiss cheese here, but feel free to use your favorite kind! Havarti and white cheddar are great options.
- Toast the buns with oil or butter for 1 minute. Highly recommended!
- Make ahead: Form patties, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
- Freezing: Freeze uncooked patties up to 2 months with parchment between. Grill from frozen or thaw first, adding extra cook time if needed.
- Medium rare: 3-4 mins (130–135°F)
- Medium: 5 mins (140–145°F)
- Medium well: 6 mins (150–155°F)
- Well done: 7+ mins (160°F)
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