Fast food burgers have come a long way in 2025, with chains upping their game through better ingredients and innovative flavors. From classic favorites that stood the test of time to newcomers redefining what drive-thru burgers can be, there’s something for every burger lover.
Here are the absolute best fast food burgers you can sink your teeth into this year.
1. The Impossible Whopper 2.0
Burger King’s plant-based revolution reaches new heights with their reformulated Impossible patty. The texture now mimics beef so perfectly that even devoted carnivores are fooled.
Enhanced with smoky notes and a proprietary flame-grilled technique, this burger delivers guilt-free indulgence. The updated recipe includes 30% more protein than the original version.
2. Five Guys’ Bacon Butter Bomb
Five Guys shocked the industry with this decadent creation featuring a patty basted in garlic herb butter during cooking. The result is a juicy explosion of flavor that’s become their signature offering.
Topped with thick-cut applewood bacon and their secret umami sauce, this burger creates lines around the block. Worth every calorie!
3. Shake Shack’s Truffle Mushroom Smash
Luxury meets fast food in this umami-packed wonder. Shake Shack’s perfectly smashed patty comes crowned with wild mushrooms sautéed in black truffle butter.
A light drizzle of aged balsamic glaze cuts through the richness. The brioche bun, baked fresh daily, adds the perfect pillowy contrast to the crispy-edged beef.
4. McDonald’s Heritage Angus Classic
McDonald’s finally answered critics by launching this premium burger made with certified heritage Angus beef. The quarter-pound patty is seasoned simply with salt and pepper, letting the quality meat shine.
Served on a potato roll with house-made pickles and a tangy special sauce. This back-to-basics approach has earned McDonald’s newfound respect among food critics.
5. In-N-Out’s Double-Double Deluxe
The cult favorite chain expanded their notoriously limited menu with this upgraded version of their iconic Double-Double. Fresh avocado and crispy onion strings join the familiar cheese and special sauce.
The beef remains the same high-quality, never-frozen patties they’re famous for. This modernized classic proves In-N-Out can innovate while staying true to their roots.
6. Wendy’s Ghost Pepper Ranch Baconator
Wendy’s takes their famous Baconator to fiery new heights with ghost pepper-infused ranch sauce. The heat builds gradually, balanced perfectly by the coolness of fresh lettuce and tomato.
Six strips of bacon and two quarter-pound patties make this a serious hunger-killer. A drizzle of honey adds surprising complexity, creating sweet heat that’s addictively good.
7. Culver’s Midwest Bison Butter Burger
Culver’s elevates their butter burger concept with responsibly raised Midwest bison meat. Leaner than beef but more flavorful, the bison patty gets the signature butter treatment that made Culver’s famous.
Topped with Wisconsin white cheddar and caramelized onions. The slightly gamey notes of bison pair surprisingly well with their house-made cranberry aioli.
8. Whataburger’s Hatch Chile Smokehouse
Texas-based Whataburger captures Southwestern flavors perfectly with this smoky masterpiece. Their 5-ounce patty comes topped with fire-roasted Hatch green chiles, known for their perfect balance of heat and flavor.
Smoked gouda and applewood bacon add depth. The toasted potato bun gets a slather of chipotle-lime mayo that ties everything together into a cohesive flavor explosion.
9. Sonic’s Bourbon Bacon Jam Burger
They surprised everyone with this sophisticated offering featuring house-made bourbon bacon jam. Sweet, savory, and slightly boozy, the jam perfectly complements their never-frozen beef patty.
Aged white cheddar and arugula add sharp contrast. The pretzel bun, brushed with butter and toasted, provides the perfect sturdy base for this flavor-packed creation.
10. A&W’s Grass-Fed Mushroom Swiss
Commitment to better ingredients shines in this elevated take on a classic combination. The 100% grass-fed beef patty delivers clean, beefy flavor that pairs beautifully with earthy mushrooms.
The Swiss cheese is aged 60 days for extra nuttiness. A light truffle aioli adds luxury without overwhelming the other components, making this a surprisingly sophisticated fast food option.
11. Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. Nashville Hot Chicken Burger
Bridging the chicken sandwich wars with burger tradition, this hybrid creation features a beef patty topped with Nashville hot chicken tenders. The double-protein approach delivers serious satisfaction along with manageable heat.
Cooling ranch slaw balances the spice. Pickle chips add brightness, creating a burger that captures the essence of Southern comfort food in every bite.
12. Jack In The Box’s Umami Bomb
Jack in the Box embraces savory flavors with their science-driven approach to maximum umami. The beef patty gets mixed with powdered shiitake mushrooms before cooking, amplifying its meaty flavor.
Topped with aged provolone, sun-dried tomato spread, and miso-glazed onions. A sprinkle of furikake seasoning on the toasted brioche bun adds unexpected complexity to this craveable creation.
13. Steak ‘N Shake’s Garlic Butter Steakburger
Steak ‘n Shake returns to its roots with this simple but perfect execution of their signature steakburger. The thin patty gets seared with roasted garlic butter, creating crispy, flavorful edges.
Caramelized onions melt into American cheese for gooey goodness. The buttered and toasted potato roll soaks up all the savory juices, making every bite better than the last.
14. Fatburger’s Wagyu Blue Cheese Monster
Fatburger goes premium with this indulgent creation featuring American-raised Wagyu beef. The half-pound patty’s exceptional marbling creates a melt-in-your-mouth texture that justifies the higher price point.
Crumbled blue cheese and bacon jam provide bold flavor contrasts. Arugula and red onion add necessary freshness to this rich, celebration-worthy fast food splurge.
15. White Castle’s Impossible Slider Deluxe
White Castle elevates their pioneering plant-based slider with gourmet touches. The Impossible patty now comes with caramelized onions, smoked gouda, and truffle aioli on their signature steam-grilled bun.
These upscale ingredients transform the humble slider into something special. Perfect for vegetarians or anyone looking for a few bites of plant-based luxury without the commitment of a full-sized burger.
16. Smashburger’s Korean BBQ Double
Smashburger brings Korean flavors to the fast food scene with this fusion creation. Two smashed patties get glazed with gochujang BBQ sauce for sweet-spicy-umami perfection.
Topped with quick-pickled cucumbers and kimchi slaw for brightness and crunch. The sesame seed bun gets a brush of sesame oil before toasting, reinforcing the Asian flavor profile from top to bottom.
17. Freddy’s Frozen Custard’s Jalapeño Popper Steakburger
This one combines two beloved comfort foods in this creative mashup. Their signature thin, crispy-edged steakburger comes topped with cream cheese spread, fried jalapeños, and bacon crumbles.
The contrasting temperatures and textures make this burger memorable. Cool cream cheese against hot beef and crispy jalapeños creates a sensory experience that’s worth the potential mess.
18. Dairy Queen’s Flamethrower Loaded
DQ transforms their cult-favorite Flamethrower burger into a meal-in-one beast. The flame-grilled patty comes smothered in their spicy Flamethrower sauce and topped with crispy jalapeño chips for double heat.
Queso cheese sauce adds creamy richness that tames the fire. The unexpected addition of seasoned waffle fries right on the burger provides delightful textural contrast and eliminates the need for a side.