Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside – who doesn't love fried chicken? Fry chicken strips dipped in a batter made from cornflour and egg whites, then place in a sesame seed bun with rocket, sliced onion and mayonnaise.
Let's be honest – tofu on its own is pretty bland. But marinate it in soy sauce, grated ginger and crushed garlic, then fry it, and it's transformed into a tasty vegan burger. Add tomatoes, beansprouts, coriander and mint. A dash of hot sriracha sauce wouldn't go amiss, either.
Here's a vegan burger with a difference. The base is made with tempeh, a fermented soya bean meat substitute. You could buy ready-made kimchi which is widely available in major supermarkets and specialty Asian grocery stores. The burgers are spiced up with ginger, garlic and chilli, then layered in a bun with lettuce and mayo.
How about making a homemade version of a fast food classic? Crisp baked fish in a bun with mayo and salad. Follow our method for breading the fish in our tacos recipe below. The avocado cream the tacos are served with would also be just brilliant in a burger.
Easy and quick to make, these veggie chickpea burgers are pimped up with Indian spices, ginger and garlic. They're served with a crunchy coleslaw which is made with yogurt, rather than mayo, for a lighter touch.
Take your lamb burger to the next level by adding fiery cooking chorizo to the mix. It's served with a fresh apricot salsa, to temper the heat. You can replace the apricots with fresh mango, if you prefer. Add some garlicky mayonnaise to toasted burger buns before assembling.
Slow-cooking a pork shoulder to make pulled pork is a great way to make a joint go further. Our recipe is easy to prepare and you just need the time for it to cook, to become fall-apart tender. It's sticky, sweet and slightly spicy. Serve with crunchy slaw in a bun.
These burgers, made with minced chicken, are speedy to make. Laced with plenty of spice, fresh coriander (replace with mint and parsley if it's not your thing), chilli, garlic and ginger, they are served with a herby mayonnaise.
A juicy grilled cod fillet makes a great burger filling. Add lashings of tartare sauce, lettuce and tomato, and you have a healthier version of that famous fillet of fish.
Find more healthier versions of your favourite comfort foods here
Time to ditch the takeaway and cook an easy, healthier version of a chicken burger. The chicken is marinated in buttermilk so it's super tender, then baked in a seasoned flour coating to add texture. Best of all, it's ready and on the table in 40 minutes.
These burgers have a Mediterranean vibe going on, with garlic, dried oregano and fresh parsley, and a little spice added. You can make the recipe just with lamb, rather than a combination of lamb and beef. Serve in a bun if you're going for a burger, but they would also be great stuffed into a toasted pitta bread.
Get the recipe for spiced Mediterranean burgers here
Crunchy deep-fried chicken served with lashings of curry sauce, chicken katsu makes fabulous inspiration for a burger. It's perfect served with sweet potato fries and remember the extra curry sauce on the side.
All kids love a burger so making a tasty veggie burger is a smart way to sneak in more vegetables for those picky eaters. Our easy recipe is potato-based, with onion, carrot and cabbage. A little cheese and tomato ketchup are added to boost the flavour. You could incorporate any veg you have to hand – frozen peas and sweetcorn are always a popular addition.
Even die-hard meat eaters will love this burger. Tomatoes are marinated overnight in a soy sauce, rice vinegar and sugar mixture; mushrooms are cooked in a rich, herb butter; and spinach is cooked down with garlic and chilli. Such a great flavour combination.
Get the recipe for spinach, tomato and mushroom burgers here
Mashed sweet potatoes make an awesome veggie burger. For extra substance, add puréed black beans, peppers, onion and spices into the mix. The icing on the cake, or rather the burger, is a rich, velvety avocado cream and jalapeño mayonnaise.
Lamb is quite a rich, sweet meat so it pairs well with hot spices like harissa, a North African chilli paste which is spiked with caraway, garlic and roasted peppers. Lamb and harissa burgers are great served with a cooling tzatziki sauce, made with cucumber and yogurt.
Venison makes a great alternative to beef, although it's much leaner so best served medium-rare. Wild, as opposed to farmed, venison, can be a little gamey, so you could add something sweet to your burger such as cranberry jelly. Our recipe is for a venison cheeseburger, served with a slick of mayo.
Why not transform your favourite lobster roll recipe into a burger? Instead of a hot dog bun, try a toasted brioche bun. Mix the cooked lobster with chives, chopped celery, lemon juice and mayo. Spread the cut sides of the brioche buns with softened butter, then fry in a hot pan before adding the lobster. For extra indulgence, go surf 'n' turf style and add a meat patty too.
Made with frozen peas, frozen spinach, fresh herbs and chia seeds, with ricotta and eggs to bind the mixture, these green burgers will be a hit with everyone. Serve in a bun with tzatziki and fresh rocket. Save any extra fritters for an easy lunchbox treat.
Try a Scandi-style salmon burger for something different. With those characteristic Nordic flavours of dill, mustard, anchovies, capers and horseradish, the burgers are served with a homemade dip of Greek yogurt, fresh dill, mint and cucumber. Serve in a soft bun or toasted pitta breads.
Sweet and sticky Chinese-style duck is a firm favourite, so why not try it in a bun? Follow our recipe, then thinly slice or shred the duck. Serve with crunchy cabbage, bean sprouts and shredded carrot, and a generous amount of hoisin or plum sauce on the bun.
Chopped mushrooms are mixed with canned kidney beans, crushed tortilla chips, hot chilli sauce and spices. The patties are served with a fantastic green chilli mayonnaise and a three-onion ceviche.
Ostrich meat may be a little off-the-wall, but it makes a pretty mean burger. It's farmed and you can source it online. It's very lean so be careful not to overcook it. It's a red meat which tastes a bit like venison or beef, but it's very low in saturated fat and rich in iron. A perfect burger to cook on the grill.
Now try these recipes to recreate your favourite takeout dishes at home
Shredded chicken works just as well as pulled pork in a burger bun. We love to serve it with crunchy coleslaw and hot sauce. It's easy to prepare and our recipe tells you how to poach a whole chicken, so any leftovers from your burgers would be great in a stir-fry, added to soup or tossed in a salad.