Want to try a different type of burger next? Go for my Turkey Burgers or Black Bean Burgers to switch things up sometimes.

An Easy Classic Burger Recipe

Burgers have long been a staple food in our family. So I guess you can say we are a typical American family.

Growing up we had them cooked to that hockey puck doneness, overly well, but as a kid I didn't care it was a burger. One thing my mom never got wrong though was that she never used the pre-formed patties. That's burger mistake number one in my mind.

Shaping your own burgers from fresh ground beef will give you a fair superior result.

Helpful Tips

After 20 years of experience making hamburgers I've learned several other things along the way to create the perfect burger:

• Use a high quality bun for the base as this makes up a huge portion of the completed burger. Homemade or bakery fresh is best.
• Go for a good fat ratio within the beef for tenderness (personally I prefer 85%).
• Adequately season the meat with salt, this is a big one people often miss.
• Careful not to overwork the beef as you shape the patties so it's not tough.
• Use a food thermometer to cook to the right temp so it's not undercooked and dangerously rare, or over-cooked and dry and rubbery.
• Preheat pan/grill and maintain that proper temp. Otherwise you'll end up with a pale steamed-like patty or overly charred burger.
• Cook at a fairly high temp without disturbing as it cooks, this helps create a beautifully brown crust. The only way I could achieve this in the oven was to start that pan out super hot and not turn the burger until the end, for one nicely browned side at least.
• Slice toppings fairly thin. For texture and this allows the flavor of the beef shine if we don't go overboard on toppings.
• Toast the buns so they don't get soggy and they hold up better.
• If grilling burgers don't leave them unattended. Grills can have dangerous flare ups if you don't keep an eye on things. You should also be cleaning the fat from the grill regularly.

Over the years I've also tried different things like seasoning the beef to build in other flavors, creating various sizes of burgers, and trying various toppings.

I've settled on simple, and freshest is best but you are always welcome to change things up and go more bold (unique toppings, hot sauce/ peppers, blue cheese, etc).

And of course if you are a cheeseburger fan don't forget to add the cheese after turning the burger (during cooking) for perfectly melty cheesy goodness.

If you are wondering what my personal favorite method of cooking is here it's easily the cast iron stovetop method. But the others are nice for convenience as well and I use all three.

Crock Pot Chicken Thighs

Chicken gets a boost of flavor and a tasty balance of salty, sweet, tangy and spicy with the ingredients used here.

On busy weekdays you'll really appreciate this recipe for its simplicity and hands off cooking.

And since the chicken thighs are cooked in the crock pot they have plenty of time to marinate and soak up the flavors of this simple sauce.

To keep simplicity going pair them with cooked white rice or brown rice and steamed broccoli, green beans or asparagus. It will make a comforting home cooked meal without much hassle.

Easy Turkey Meatloaf

Many of us remember the classic meatloaf (like our parents or grandparents made) with rich ground beef but have you tried it with ground turkey yet?

Meatloaf is one of those things I actually hated as a kid but now I crave it! My mom made it enough that I can't help but love it now.

This version is a healthier alternative to the traditional fatty ground beef option yet it's still completely comforting, perfectly hearty and super satisfying.

Plus it's a breeze to prepare. Nothing complicated - just soaking bread crumbs, sautéing veggies, then mixing everything together and shaping into a freeform loaf.

From there, the oven does the rest while that inviting homestyle dinner scent fills the house and gets everyone excited for what will await at the table!

Pair it with jasmine rice and pineapple to build the perfect, simple summer meal!

What is Huli Huli Chicken?

Authentic huli huli chicken is usually made with a whole chicken or larger chicken portions and is cooked on a grill filled with mesquite wood, and it is cooked on splits.

It's rotated while cooking and basted in a sweet, teriyaki-like, huli huli sauce. It was first created over 70 years ago and has been a popular Hawaiian favorite ever since!

Did you know the word "huli" means "turn" in Hawaiian?

An Easier Recipe

This version is simplified, skipping out on any special equipment and uses pre-cut and trimmed chicken thighs.

It's marinated to infuse flavor and is basted with some of the reserved marinade for even more flavor.

It's a delicious chicken recipe that's set to impress! It doesn't require much effort yet it has a fantastic flavor!

Baste over grilled chicken and pair with easiest coleslaw and grilled corn on the cob to complete the meal!

Easy BBQ Sauce

Here you blend pantry staples with those refrigerator door condiments to create an incredibly flavorful and crave-able barbecue sauce everyone will request again and again!

BBQ sauce is a classic summertime staple and when you top your next grilled dinner with a this easy homemade bbq sauce you may just never look back to store-bought.

It's likely to take over you're new favorite spot beating out those famous grocery store brands like Sweet Baby Rays, Stubbs and Bull's Eye.

All it takes is a bit of measuring and simmering on the stove and you’ve got the perfect DIY sauce. Then from there you've got endless possibilities of ways to use it up (scroll down for some ideas).

Easy Grilled Chicken Kebabs!

I first shared these chicken pineapple kebabs four years ago, but every summer they're still a reader favorite so I decided to re-share them in case you've been missing out. Have you tried them yet?

Kebabs Video

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I mean, who doesn't love a tasty kebab recipe? And what better entree to serve on a warm summer day than these Hawaiian chicken kebabs? One bite of these will leave you craving more!

You will love the light sweetness and bright tang here paired with the pineapple, bell pepper, and red onion. And the chicken turns out perfectly flavorful and tender thanks to the simple chicken kebab marinade.

Threading everything onto the kebabs may take a little effort, but it's well worth it! These are so fun for summer parties or an exciting island-inspired weekend dinner.

It's a flavorful chicken dinner to switch things up and one the whole family can agree on!

Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken

This Hawaiian chicken recipe is inspired by one of my most popular recipes, Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs. This sheet pan chicken recipe may not have the same charred flavor, but it skips some of the steps that those kebabs require, making this variation the more simplified version that's perfect for weeknight meals.

It's amazingly delicious, and I like to serve this with coconut rice, but white or brown rice works great as well.

These ribs are unbelievably tender. We've had bad ribs that you have to chew of the bone and that are unfavorably tough. These are anything but. The meat falls right off the bone and melts in your mouth!

Slow Cooker Ribs with a Homemade BBQ Sauce

Another thing I really love about this recipe is this homemade bbq sauce. It's flavored just how I like. It's lightly sweet and tangy, it's rich and has good depth, and it's slightly smokey with a little kick.

The other great thing is that there will be extra sauce so you can grill chicken the next day and slather it with lots of this bbq sauce.

When in a rush you can use some of your favorite bottled barbecue sauce but I highly highly recommend trying this homemade sauce when you've got the time. It's so easy to throw together it's just a bit of measuring and simmering.

Chicken Yakisoba Noodles

This chicken yakisoba is a comforting dish you'll want to make again and again. I made it twice in one week and I'm already thinking about the next time we'll get to eat it! It's an incredibly easy weeknight meal that will get everyone in your family eating protein and veggies—and asking for seconds!

It's deliciously seasoned, and who can resist saucy yakisoba noodles?