If you love the sweet-and-savory flavor combination of teriyaki sauce and grilled pineapple, the Red Robin Banzai Burger is hard to beat. This copycat recipe recreates the restaurant favorite with a juicy grilled beef patty glazed in teriyaki sauce and topped with melted cheddar cheese, a grilled pineapple ring, crisp lettuce, and fresh tomato. This flavor bomb is served on a toasted hamburger bun.
The combination may sound unusual if you’ve never tried it, but the smoky beef, tangy teriyaki glaze, and naturally sweet pineapple work together well. The pineapple adds a burst of freshness that balances the rich burger and melted cheese, making every bite flavorful without feeling too heavy.
This burger is easy to make on either an outdoor grill or a grill pan, making it a great choice whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue or simply craving something different for dinner. Use your favorite bottled teriyaki sauce for convenience, or make your own if you prefer. Serve the burgers with fries, onion rings, or a simple salad for a restaurant-quality meal you can enjoy at home.
One warning: Serving this burger may invite a lively debate about the worthiness of pineapple combined with ground beef. If you want to avoid that, try the Red Robin Royal burger or the Culver’s Butterburger instead.
Red Robin Bonzai burger recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Marinade Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 57 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grilling
Description
This Red Robin-inspired Banzai Burger combines a juicy teriyaki-glazed beef patty with melted cheddar cheese, grilled pineapple, fresh lettuce, and tomato for the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 pounds ground beef
- 4 pineapple rings
- 2 cups teriyaki sauce
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 4 hamburger buns with sesame seeds
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 slices tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
Instructions
- Form and marinate the patties. Divide the ground beef into 4 equal patties. Place them in a shallow dish and pour 1 cup of the teriyaki sauce over the top. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Marinate the pineapple. Place the pineapple rings in a separate container and pour the remaining 1 cup of teriyaki sauce over them. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Grill the burgers. Preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan over medium-high to high heat. Remove the patties from the marinade, letting any excess drip off, and grill until they reach your desired doneness.
- Melt the cheese. During the last minute of cooking, top each burger with a slice of cheddar cheese and close the grill lid or loosely cover the pan until the cheese has melted.
- Grill the pineapple. Remove the pineapple rings from the marinade and grill over medium heat for about 1 minute per side, or until lightly caramelized with grill marks.
- Toast and assemble the burgers. Spread about ½ tablespoon of mayonnaise on each cut side of the hamburger buns. Layer the bottom buns with tomato slices, then add the cheeseburgers, grilled pineapple rings, and shredded lettuce. Finish with the top buns.
- Serve. Enjoy immediately with extra teriyaki sauce on the side for dipping or drizzling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 727
- Sugar: 37.6 g
- Sodium: 2934.2 mg
- Fat: 38.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 46.5 g
- Protein: 49.5 g
- Cholesterol: 123.9 mg