easy hamburger recipes

Use the right tools with these easy hamburger recipes to give indoor burgers a just-grilled taste.

You don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this veggie curry burger.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Quick and satisfying, burgers are a year-round go-to meal for many families, and there are a lot of easy hamburger recipes that lower their fat content without sacrificing flavor. Grilling is a perfect strategy to add great flavor to leaner burgers. And though the weather’s getting cooler, in many parts of the country it’s not too late in the season to do get outside and fire up the grill a few more times. Just factor in the extra time it will take the grill to reach cooking temperature, position your grill out of the wind to conserve heat (but resist the urge to set it up too close to the house or in the garage), and keep the grill covered to trap heat over the cooking area. And as always, use a meat thermometer to gauge burger doneness.

Prefer to stay inside while trying these easy hamburger recipes? Not a problem, as there are several ways to get that satisfying sear on your burgers while cooking indoors. Many people now own an indoor electric grill, which is fast, safe, and easy to use. If you’re in the market for one, choose a model that uses at least 1,000 to 1,500 watts, in order to really get a good grilled result, and get those grill plates good and hot before adding your burgers. If you don’t own an indoor grill, use a heavy cast-iron grill pan to get that outdoor char.

When making burgers with leaner meats like turkey, chicken, and extra-lean ground beef, incorporate seasonings, veggies, and even cheese to add flavor and moisture. Make sure not to overcook the burgers; lean meat is less forgiving. And don’t overlook fish. Tuna, for example, creates a tasty, healthy burger loaded with heart-healthy omega-3s. When you’re at the seafood counter, ask for albacore tuna steaks from the U.S. or British Columbia, whose albacore fisheries are well managed and use pole-and-line gear. Most other fisheries for albacore use longlines, which often also catch sharks, sea turtles, and seabirds.

Ready to enjoy summer-cookout flavor in November? Read on and try one of these tasty alternative burger ideas from the Rodale Recipe Finder tonight.