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15 best burgers to buy for the BBQ
The top patties for your grill, including an affordable wagyu burger!
Tested by Callum Black and Georgia Turnell
As part of our 2025 BBQ Taste Test, our team of experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have worked their way through hundreds of products to bring you the very best for all your alfresco dining needs.
Ready to up your grilling game this summer? There’s nothing quite like the sizzle of a burger on hot coals; it’s a little piece of summer we can depend on, even if the British weather sometimes lets us down.
Whether you fancy a classic, straight-up beef patty, an indulgent wagyu burger, or one infused with tangy cheese, smoky chorizo or jalapeno, we’ve got the best burgers for your barbecue. Simply slather with ketchup, pick your perfect bun (brioche for us please) and add your favourite sides for the ultimate cookout this summer.
Best burgers to buy in 2025
In a hurry to get grilling? These are our experts’ favourite burgers in one handy list:
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Read on for more BBQ taste tests: Best ribs | Best sausages | Best kebabs | Best BBQ chicken | Best steak | Best meat-free burgers | Best meat-free sausages | Best hot sauce | Best ice cream
How long do burgers take on the barbecue?
Once you've made sure your grill is piping hot (around 71 celsius is best), cook the beef burger for 6-7 minutes on each side for medium, or 8-9 minutes if you prefer it well done.
You'll want to cook the meat on a high heat to sear the outside, while keeping a slightly pink middle. For other varieties such as lamb or vegan burgers, always follow the instructions on the packaging.
How we test burgers
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our panel of barbecue taste testers grilled, flipped and devoured 42 burgers from both supermarkets and independent retailers to find the ones worth stocking up on this summer. They were looking for a generously sized patty, with a rich, flavoursome taste and oh-so juicy texture.
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Dry Aged Aberdeen Angus Beef Burgers 340g
Score: 90/100
If you buy just one burger this summer, make it this one. Made with 14-day dry-aged Aberdeen Angus beef – a mix of rib, rump, brisket and chuck steak – these premium patties are seasoned with rosemary and have a deeply mature flavour.
Score: 84/100
With a juicy texture and natural flavour, Lidl’s well-priced patties are perfect for those who prefer to let the quality of the meat do the talking. Seasoned with just a crack of black pepper, the burger held its shape well and was described as “excellent” by our testers.
Score: 82/100
A full-flavoured alternative to your classic beef burger, Waitrose has mixed things up with these pork patties made with spicy chorizo and manchego. The Spanish-influenced ingredients are impactful – try serving with a cooling slaw.
Score: 81/100
Wild garlic season is so short here in the UK, and we can't get enough of the foraged, hyper seasonal ingredient. But Tesco has given us the opportunity to enjoy it all summer by seasoning these juicy beef patties with the aromatic herb.
Summery and fresh, if you love garlic, we’re confident you won’t be able to get enough of these burgers. Forgo all the toppings to really let the ingredient take centre stage.
Score: 80/100
Our panel loved how thick these patties are, which resulted in a pleasing pink, juicy middle. The aged flavour of the beef is noticeable, with good depth and light notes of iron. Pack into a toasted brioche bun with lashings of mustard for a truly satisfying meal.
Score: 78/100
Testers said this four-pack of patties was “full-flavoured and delicious”, with notes of aged beef and the perfect level of fattiness. Thick and juicy, these are satisfying classic beef burgers – perfect for any barbecue.
Score: 77/100
Made with a unique mix of haggis and black pudding, these are fairly thin patties, which make them a great choice for cooking quickly on the barbecue and topping with cheese slices. Compact and springy in texture, our testers found the meat very flavoursome with fatty notes and a gentle heat from the spices.
Score: 77/100
Made with British wagyu beef, our panel thought this classic burger could pass for homemade (we won’t tell if you don’t!). Each quarter pounder felt chunky and thick, with a juicy middle. Overall, an impressive burger where the quality of the meat shines through.
Score: 75/100
Flavoured with vintage cheddar, gherkin and jalapeño, testers described this well-balanced, succulent burger as “superb” and “out of the ordinary”. The New York deli-style seasoning really came through, making this a great burger to eat on a summer’s day.
Exceptional by ASDA British Montery Jack & Jalapeno Beef Steak Burgers 454g
Score: 75/100
Chunks of fresh green jalapeno dominate ASDA’s flavoured patties, slightly overpowering the beef and leaving a lingering heat on the palate. The mild cheese adds a subtle salty kick for balance, but this one is best saved for those who like their burgers super spicy.
Score: 75/100
A delicious blend of king prawns, flaked cod and potato, this fishcake-style patty is a great alternative for pescatarians. Naturally sweet and fresh, it’s well-seasoned with a hint of garlic. We recommend serving it with salad, rather than in a bun.
Available 1 May
Score: 75/100
Sweeten the deal with Iceland’s new quarter pounders, which are flavoured with caramelised onions. It’s a well-rounded burger, with spot on seasoning, which needs nothing more than a dollop of mustard.
Score: 74/100
Our testers loved the mouth-watering aromas of lamb and mint from these burgers. The meat is packed with flavour, combining the perfect level of seasoning, lightly fatty notes and well-integrated mint.
The texture was also a hit, with juicy, coarsely-ground meat in a thick patty. Top with a dollop of tzatziki for the perfect flavour combo.
Score: 74/100
Living up to their name, Co-op's classic burgers have a rich, oniony aroma and a light, buttery flavour. A simple, well-made burger with a juicy texture, it’s a great all-rounder for traditionalists.
Score: 73/100
It’s worth keeping a pack of these quarter pounders on standby this summer, as they work out at just 89 pence a patty. Expect a chunky texture, juicy middle and a classic grassy beef flavour that’s ready to be topped with your favourite condiments.
These also passed...
- Campbells Meat Pork & Chorizo Burgers, £7 for 680g, Score: 72/100
- TGI Fridays Extra Tasty Quarter Pounders, £4 for 454g, Score: 72/100
- Co-op Smash Burgers, £3.50 for 320g, Score: 72/100
- M&S Our Best Ever 2 British Beef Burgers, £5.25 for 340g, Score: 71/100
- Aldi Specially Selected Minted Lamb Burgers, £3.99 for 454g, Score: 71/100
- The Green Butcher Organic Beef Burgers, £9.50 for 320g, Score: 70/100
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
Georgia has been part of the hospitality industry for the last nine years. Her starting point was the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school where she gained a Diplôme de Pâtisserie. She has worked at a number of well-known restaurants and bakeries including The Club at the Ivy and Ottolenghi, Notting Hill where she was the head pastry chef. Most recently, Georgia worked at The Clink Bakery inside HMP Brixton, which aims to reduce reoffending through teaching. She is an expert in all things baked goods and holds a WSET level 2 in wine.
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