Is there any better combo than cheese plus burger plus bun? We don’t think so. And here’s the best part: The basic formula can be endlessly adapted to suit nearly any preference, whether you’re mayo-obsessed, a seafood fiend, or a heat seeker. Here, we concoct five riffs on the classic cheeseburger—a French Onion Soup Burger piled high with melty Gruyère and a tangle of caramelized onions, a Pimento Cheese Burger bedecked with spicy-sweet candied jalapeños, and a Lamb and Feta Burger swiped with rosemary aioli, just to name a few. We’re sure there’s something for nearly anyone, so ready the napkins and heat up the cast-iron pan. It’s time to stack some meat and cheese.

Bison Breakfast Burger

French Onion Soup Burger with Gruyère

Pimento Cheese Burger with Candied Jalapeños

Lamb and Feta Burgers with Rosemary Aioli

Surf and Turf Burger

Photography by Craig van der Lende, Styling by Lori van der Lende

Rebecca Haley-Park

Rebecca Haley-Park is culture's former editor and resident stinky cheese cheerleader. A native New Englander, she holds a BFA in creative writing from University of Maine at Farmington.