Uncle Rich’s Famous Sweet Cheddar Teriyaki Burgers

These Sweet Teriyaki Cheddar Burgers are juicy, flavorful, and perfect for summer grilling season. Made with a blend of ground beef and turkey, cheddar cheese, sweet onions, soy sauce, brown sugar, and seasonings, these burgers caramelize beautifully on the grill for the ultimate sweet and savory bite.

I love burgers, but not all burgers are created equal. My burger needs to be charred, packed with flavor beyond just a pinch of salt, and most of the time, I want ketchup and mustard dripping down the sides with a huge stack of lettuce on top. But ketchup and mustard are completely unnecessary with a burger this good… let me explain.

Back in 2007, I was in Ohio visiting my aunt and uncle when my Uncle Rich started making burgers in the kitchen. He was tossing all kinds of ingredients into a bowl and making burgers in a way I had never seen before. Somehow my high school self remembered every single thing he added because I was so intrigued. I could smell the deliciousness before they even hit the grill.

When it was finally time to eat, I asked my aunt if they had ketchup. She immediately interrupted me with, “Trust me, you won’t need ketchup for these burgers.” And she was right. These may have been the best burgers I’ve ever had. They absolutely did not need ketchup.

I’ve been all about grilling and cooking up summer recipes lately. Mainly because I kind of missed out on summer last year while pregnant and dealing with nonstop food aversions. Even the heat alone would send me spiraling. So now I’m making up for it by taking every chance I can get to throw something delicious together for dinner.

And lately, burgers have been on my menu a lot. Last week it was my jalapeño cheddar burgers, and this week I’m throwing it back to these famous sweet teriyaki cheddar burgers from Uncle Rich!

These are the perfect burgers for summer backyard grilling, easy meal prep throughout the week, and if you don’t have a grill, don’t worry because they turn out just as delicious cooked right on the stovetop! I do mine in a super hot dutch oven sometimes.

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Sweet Teriyaki Cheddar Burger Ingredients

• Ground turkey
• Ground beef
• Soy sauce
• Better Than Bouillon Beef Paste
• Brown sugar
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Cheddar cheese
• Sweet yellow onion

I like using half ground turkey and half ground beef for the perfect balance of flavor and texture, but you can use all turkey, all beef, or even substitute ground chicken if preferred.

How to Make Sweet Teriyaki Cheddar Burgers:

Heat up the grill to medium high heat.

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the Better Than Bouillon beef paste, brown sugar, and soy sauce until combined.

In a large mixing bowl, add the ground meat, chopped onion, homemade teriyaki sauce mixture, black pepper, garlic powder, and cheddar cheese.

Mix until everything is evenly combined.

Form the mixture into 8 equal sized burger patties. Sprinkle the tops with extra black pepper before placing them on the grill. I make them about an inch and a half thick and four inches wide.

Cook the burgers on each side until the centers reach 165 degrees. The sweet teriyaki sauce creates the most delicious caramelized glaze on the outside of the burgers while keeping them juicy on the inside.

I love my burgers extra charred, so make sure the grill is nice and hot before adding the patties. That high heat gives them the best flavor and those crispy grilled edges!

We served these burgers on warm buns, but if you really want to take them to the next level, my uncle always buttered the buns and grilled them until perfectly golden and crispy. And like I said before, these burgers truly do not need ketchup or mustard. They’re packed with so much flavor all on their own.

I did add some crisp lettuce because I love a burger loaded up with crunchy lettuce. On the side, we served corn on the cob and baked beans, which made it feel like the ultimate summer backyard dinner. Below are a few recipes that pair perfectly with grilled burgers!

The Best Summer Side Recipes:

Lemon Ricotta and Garlic Chicken Pasta Salad
Best Healthy and Easy Creamy Broccoli Salad
Sweet Jalapeño Deviled Eggs | Delicious Appetizer
Crisp Apple & Quinoa Salad with Walnuts, Cranberries and Goat Cheese
The Best Italian Pasta Salad
Brussels Sprout & Quinoa Power Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Roasted Corn Jalapeño Queso Dip
Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts with a Honey Soy Sauce!

Summer Dessert Recipes:

& with every summer meal, dessert is absolutely necessary!
Orange Ginger Olive Oil Cake with Whipped Mascarpone
The Best Lemon Olive Oil Cake
The BEST Frosted Banana Bread Bars
Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Best Fudge Brownies | Chewy & Gooey!
Blackberry Cobbler
Healthy Cherry Crisp: Gluten & Dairy Free
Peaches N’ Cream Pretzel Dessert | Refreshing & Light

I’m so excited for you to try this recipe!