Make juicy apple burgers with a flavorful blend of ground beef and pork, sharp cheddar cheese, and sweet caramelized onions. It’s the perfect savory recipe to celebrate cookout season and put fresh apples to delicious use.

Close up of cheeseburger on wooden board.

I'm a huge burger connoisseur here. But not just any regular all beef burger. In fact, my favorite burger recipes are a mixture of meats, veggies, and fun toppings.

I love highlighting different ingredients in new fun ways. And now, so excited to share this new recipe inspired by fresh gala apples.

Red gala apples on wood table with bunches of sage.

Making Apple Burgers

Summers are known for burger season, grilling out, and loading your plate with fixins while enjoying the warm weather. However, I love the transitional time when Fall is creeping in, jeans are the perfect attire and bugs aren't after my meal.

Apple burgers consist of patties made with a mixture of pork, beef, and shredded apples. Ingredients added to enhance the flavor are fresh sage, brown sugar, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.

The fresh sage adds a lightness and compliments the fruit throughout the burgers. And the brown sugar adds a little sweetness with dijon for a balanced flavor profile.

Now, that the burger patties are made, it's time for the fixins aka the toppings. I chose extra sharp cheddar for these burgers, with fresh leafy green lettuce, a few thin apple slices, and lightly caramelized onions. Ticking all the texture boxes here!

Finally the burger bun is a soft seeded brioche made with onions and sweet potato puree. You can check out my Homem ade Burger Bun Recipe for 12 delicious fresh buns. You may have a few leftover, but they are great for making a breakfast sandwich the next morning.

Smear on a little aioli, mayo, or your fav mustard to the underside of the top bun and enjoy!

Gala apples in a cardboard apple box next to knives.

Ingredient You Will Need

Homemade Burger Buns

A delicious burger needs a tasty bun. My homemade burger buns are a fluffy brioche flavored with roasted sweet potato puree, caramelized onions, and a seeded top. Easy to make and a perfect addition to your cookout. This recipe makes 12 buns, so you can save some for breakfast sandwiches or lunch the next day.

Stack of seeded burger buns in a metal cooling rack.

Fresh Apples

The best part about these burgers are the shredded apples inside the meat patty. No need to peel the skin, just remove the core and stem. Grade the fresh apple and mix right into the meat for extra moisture and apple flavor.

I also love the crunch of fresh apples slices layered amongst the caramelized onions and cheese when building your burger. Add just a couple or up to four thin slices. The Gala apples are soft enough that you can bite into them with ease, while still giving a little texture difference.

Burgers on a wood cutting board next to a box of gala apples.

Fresh Sage

Sage is such a wonderful herb to pair with apples, pork, and cheese. It's earth, slightly peppery and lemony flavor profile is a wonderful additive to season this fall burger.

Caramelized Onions

Just a little butter, heat and slices of yellow onions will add a whole new taste party to your burgers. The longer you cook the onions the more golden they will become.

I prefer mine soft with dark golden edges. Cook yours about 10-15 minutes extra while stirring for more caramelization. If they start to stick to the pan, just add in a little water and keep stirring.

Grilled burger patties topped with melted cheese on a parchment paper lined tray.

Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Apples and cheddar cheese are such a nostalgic childhood snack and a great burger topping combo. Whether you go for extra sharp or Vermont white cheddar, add the cheese while the burgers are grilling to melt.

Lettuce and Aioli

I've made these burgers with both leafy green lettuce and baby spinach. Both are equally tasty and pair nice with a simple aioli slathered on the underside of the top bun.

Four burgers on wood cutting boards with ingredients showing.

Serving Suggestions

These burgers are the perfect size for a single portion meal. This recipe makes 8 burgers with patties that are about ¾ inch thick and 4 inches wide after cooking.

To make thinner burgers, simply weigh and divide the meat into 12 portions. Form into patties a little wider than bun size. The meat will shrink as it cooks.

Pair these apple burgers with your favorite fries, potato salad, or homemade potato chips. Enjoy outside with friends, maybe pair with an apple forward hard cider too!