Teriyaki Grilled Hawaiian Burgers with Pineapple

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Let the delicious savory sweet taste of this juicy Hawaii Burger with grilled pineapple transport you straight to the sights and sounds of the Hawaiian islands. The pineapple teriyaki sauce, charred pineapple, and grilled red onion create a taste reminiscent of a Hawaiian paradise. After one bite of this Hawaiian Teriyaki Burger recipe, a plain burger just isn’t the same!

Ingredient notes

• Ground beef — Ground turkey or chicken are popular alternatives for lean ground beef, or combine and do half and half. 
• Sweet Pineapple — Cut your own fresh pineapple slices or use canned pineapple rings. Or if pineapple isn’t your thing or you don’t have any, substitute it with mangos, papaya, or apricots. 
• Red onion slices — Substitute yellow onions if you don’t have red onion on hand. 
• Provolone cheese — Mozzarella is an easy go-to, but Fontina cheese or Swiss cheese are also good replacements. 
• Lettuce — Crispy lettuce gives it a nice crunch, but feel free to use another favorite green leaf lettuce. 
• Hamburger buns — Brioche or King’s Hawaiian buns give added sweetness. For GF, Happy Campers and Udi’s are top choices. 

For the sauce:

• Teriyaki sauce — Use Worcestershire sauce or BBQ sauce as a substitute.
• Ketchup — Kick it up a notch and substitute your favorite salsa.
• Brown sugar — Replace with coconut sugar or add maple syrup or molasses to your white sugar. 
• Minced garlic — No minced garlic? No worries. Use ¼ tsp garlic powder or 1 clove. 

How to make Hawaiian Burger Recipe

Gather your ingredients and prep them so they’re ready to go, like slicing the onion and pineapple if using fresh.

STEP 1 | Making the sauce

Mix the teriyaki sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and garlic in a small saucepan. Cook it over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer it for about 5 minutes.

STEP 2 | Patty the burgers

You want to preheat the grill to high heat. Divide your ground beef into four pieces and shape each into about a 3/4-inch thick burger patty.

Here’s a little trick: Use your thumb to press an indention right in the center to prevent the burger from bulging on the grill. Always season your patties with salt and pepper on both sides to cover all the meat. 

STEP 3 | Cook and baste

For a juicy burger, grill the burgers over the direct heat for 4 minutes on the first side. Using the teriyaki sauce, baste the burgers and then flip. Then cook them for another 4 minutes. 

STEP 4 | Grill the toppings

While the burgers are cooking, place the pineapple slices and onion slices on the other side of the grill and adjust the heat to medium. Cook each side for 1-2 minutes.

You want it to be slightly charred. Remove them from the grill onto a plate until the burgers are ready.

STEP 5 | Continue cooking

Baste the burgers a second time and flip once more. Top it with a slice of cheese and cook another minute until the cheese is nice and melted. The burgers are done when the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. 

STEP 6 | Plate and serve

Serve each burger on a bun with lettuce, the grilled onion slice, and 2 pineapple slices. Drizzle more of the delicious teriyaki barbecue sauce on top. 

You may need an extra napkin for these juicy Hawaiian burgers!

So while you’re grilling, include a few sides that go together with burgers and summer, like my Grilled Corn in Foil with Parmesan Butter, Red Potato Salad, and Easy Baked Beans. And there you have a beautifully complete summer cookout! Aloha!

Variations and substitutions

The beauty of burger recipes is there is no end to creating anything your tastebuds crave. 

• Add more Hawaiian burger toppings like grilled bell pepper rings or tomato as another colorful flavor, or saute a handful of mushrooms. 
• If you like a bit of heat, spread some sriracha mayo on the bun, or if you’re the one who loves bacon on everything, throw a couple of strips on top. 

Storage and reheating tips

• Burgers are best eaten immediately, but if you do have leftovers, wrap them up tightly in aluminum foil and store them refrigerated for up to 3 days.
• To reheat, place the wrapped burger in a 350-degree oven and heat until warmed through. To reheat in the microwave, unwrap the burger, place it on a microwave-safe plate, and cover it with a damp paper towel.

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

There are SO many accompaniment options for burgers, and this Tangy No Mayo Coleslaw is one of them. Instead of picking up a bag of chips at the supermarket, why not make your own with my Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips. 

Of course, the ultimate end to juicy summer burgers is yummy ice cream, like my Homemade Peach Ice Cream. Again, why buy premade when it’s easier to make your own creamy goodness?

Beyond the recipe

When we think of pineapples, it’s probably part of a recipe for a dish or dessert, but in Hawaii, it’s very much part of their culture. 

A pineapple in Hawaiian culture symbolizes welcoming and relaxing hospitality, which is the perfect connection because of their juicy sweetness. This favorite fruit is commonly used as part of beautiful luaus, edible displays, decorations, or garnishes for tropical drinks. 

Almost one-third of the world’s pineapple crop comes from the aloha state, and thousands come from around the world to experience the Dole Plantation, which is Hawaii’s second-most visited attraction. 

I love this little motto we often see pop up in little boutiques or on a T-shirt: Be a pineapple — stand tall, wear a crown, and be sweet on the inside.