Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Burgers
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I have been dreaming about Hawaii a lot lately. Partly because my trip to Kauai in May got canceled, and partly because it is too dang hot here in Arizona! I would much rather be sitting on a beach with a Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Burger in my hands and a gentle breeze blowing through my hair. Oh, and a Mai Tai Cocktail….or Tropical Pina Colada being delivered by a cute cabana boy. Ahhh, a girl can dream.
Just look at that perfectly grilled burger topped with grilled pineapple and red onion rings, shredded cabbage, lots of teriyaki sauce and of course a squishy bun.
How to make Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Burgers:
To make the teriyaki sauce –
Place the sugar, tamari, pineapple juice, garlic, ginger and cayenne in a medium sauce pan.
Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add the orange zest and sesame oil. Whisk together and continue cooking for a minute or so until the sauce starts to thicken.
Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
To make the burgers –
Heat up gas grill or start a charcoal grill.
Brush both sides of the onion and pineapple slices with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.
Form your hamburger patties and brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. {they do not cook at the same time so I actually took the burgers out on a separate pan}.
Place the burger patties on the grill and cook until halfway cooked through, about 5 minutes.
Flip the burgers over and cook on the other side until just about cooked through, about 5 additional minutes. Brush the burgers with teriyaki sauce, flip back over the to other side and brush with the teriyaki sauce.
Place cheese slices on top of the burgers and cook until cheese is melted. Remove from grill, cover with foil and set aside.
Place the onion and pineapple rings on the grill and cook until charred.
Flip them over and char the second side. Brush burger buns with olive oil and place on the grill until golden brown.
Assemble the burgers with shredded cabbage or lettuce, a cheese topped burger patty, pineapple and onion slices and additional teriyaki sauce on a hamburger bun.
Grab some napkins and dig in!!
Recipe Notes & Tips
- My onion slices were about a 1/4-inch thick, but you can make them thicker if you prefer.
- These canned pineapple slices are very thin. For thicker slices, slice your own fresh pineapple, or purchase thicker canned slices.
- For an even easier meal, make the teriyaki sauce ahead of time or use a bottle of store-bought sauce.
What to serve with your burgers:
- Hawaiian Potato Salad
- Ahi Poke if you’re going for the full experience
- Baked Potato Wedges
- Sweet Potato Chips
- Rum Runner Cocktail – it’s like the adult version of Hawaiian Punch!
- Homemade Hamburger Buns
Enjoy!!
Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Burgers
Equipment
- Barbecue Grill
Ingredients
Teriyaki Sauce
- ⅓ cup tamari or soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons pineapple juice I buy the small cans.
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cloves garlic pressed or finely minced
- ¾ Tablespoon fresh ginger finely grated on a microplane
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional - just for background flavor
- ¾ Tablespoon grated orange peel
- ¾ Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
For the Burgers
- 1 ½ pounds 80/20 ground beef
- 4 slices pineapple
- 1 red onion sliced
- olive oil
- sea salt and ground black pepper
- 4 slices white cheddar or provolone cheese
- 4 hamburger buns
- shredded cabbage or lettuce
Instructions
To make the Teriyaki Sauce
- Place the sugar, tamari, pineapple juice, garlic, ginger and cayenne in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the orange zest and sesame oil. Whisk together and continue cooking for a minute or so until the sauce starts to thicken. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
To make the Burgers
- Heat up gas grill or start a charcoal grill.
- Brush both sides of the onion and pineapple slices with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Form your hamburger patties and brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Place the burger patties on the grill and cook until halfway cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Flip the burgers over and cook on the other side until just about cooked through, about 5 additional minutes. Brush the burgers with teriyaki sauce, flip back over the to other side and brush with the teriyaki sauce.
- Place cheese slices on top of the burgers and cook until cheese is melted. Remove from grill, cover with foil and set aside.
- Place the onion and pineapple rings on the grill and cook until charred.
- Flip them over and char the second side. Brush burger buns with olive oil and place on the grill until golden brown.
- Assemble the burgers with shredded cabbage or lettuce, a cheese topped burger patty, pineapple and onion slices and additional teriyaki sauce on a hamburger bun.
Notes
- My onion slices were about a 1/4-inch thick, but you can make them thicker if you prefer.
- These canned pineapple slices are very thin. For thicker slices, slice your own fresh pineapple, or purchase thicker canned slices.
- For an even easier meal, make the teriyaki sauce ahead of time or use a bottle of store-bought sauce.
