National Burger Day: 8 best burgers to celebrate with, from meat to veggie patties

To celebrate this year’s National Burger Day, which takes place on 26 August, we’ve scoured the supermarkets and worked our way through the best online butchers to bring you this definitive list of the best burgers to cook at home.

Originally a day dreamt up by the now-defunct Mr Hyde magazine, where you could get a generous discount on your favourite burger joint, we thought it best to bring the burgers to you (or at least your fridge). Whether you’re in the market for a classic beef burger, something more adventurous, or would prefer to keep things plant-based, we’ve found the perfect patty for you to sink your teeth into.

When considering the best choice for you, do consider what else you’ll be serving with it. The classic beef burger is excellent with mature cheese, whereas we found lamb varieties worked better with minted yoghurt. If feeding kids, a quarter pounder will probably be plenty, whereas hungry punters might prefer a hefty half-pounder.

Don’t overlook the bun either. Although we found brioche to be best, we’d recommend something robust enough to at least attempt to support the juicy contents until the last bite. Think of it as edible scaffolding.

Before cooking your burger, check the ingredients. Some will have already been seasoned for you while others will benefit from a pinch of salt. Although you want to make sure your burger is cooked properly, be careful not to overdo it. Generally, you’re looking for a perfectly seared crust and a juicy inner. We don’t want to witness any dry patties, please!

Read more:

• 10 best BBQ cookbooks to nail cooking over flames this summer
• 10 best meat substitutes for Veganuary and beyond
• 14 best condiments that will spice up your home cooking
• 11 best vegetarian meal kit delivery services

How we tested

Suitable for cooking on the barbecue, under the grill or in a pan, we put our burgers to the test, looking for texture, flavour and that all-important high-fat content.

Carefully following cooking guidelines, we kept a close eye on shrinkage – trying each burger with and without condiments, in a bun and naked. Having worked our way through plenty of patties, we’re confident this selection will impress even the hardest to please.

So, without further ado, these are the best burgers to put in your basket this National Burger Day and beyond.

The best burgers for 2021 are:

• Best overall – The Dorset Meat Company beef burger 500g: £5.95 for pack of four, Thedorsetmeatcompany.co.uk
• Best ethically produced patties – Brown Cow Organics Guernsey beef burgers 360g: £5.50 for pack of two, Abelandcole.co.uk
• Best lamb burger – Riverford lamb burgers 400g: £6.50 for pack of four, Riverford.co.uk
• Best for barbecues – Edwards of Conwy Welsh beef quarter pounders 454g: £3.49 for pack of four, Ocado.com
• Best gourmet burger – Marks & Spencer best ever burgers 340g: £4.50 for pack of two: Ocado.com
• Best for variety – Farmison the burger collection box: £11.25 for pack of 12, Farmison.com
• Best veggie burger – Veggie Moving Mountains plant-based 1/4lb burgers 227g: £4 for pack of two, Waitrose.com
• Best budget veggie option – No Bull quarter pounders burgers 226g: £2 for pack of two, Iceland.co.uk