Hawaiian Burger with Grilled Pineapple and Teriyaki Sauce

Make an incredibly flavorful restaurant-style Hawaiian Burger at home in just 25 minutes with this easy recipe. The burger is topped with grilled pineapple slices, pepper jack cheese, and teriyaki sauce for a bright, tropical twist on a classic cheeseburger.

My first taste of pineapple on a burger came while working at a burger restaurant in San Diego, and I was hooked immediately. Inspired by that Islands Restaurant Hawaiian burger, this version layers grilled pineapple and a simple teriyaki sauce over seasoned beef patties. I like pepper jack for a little heat, but Swiss or provolone make good alternatives if you prefer a milder cheese.

These burgers balance sweet, salty and savory notes with a touch of umami from the teriyaki. They’re easy to prepare for weeknight dinners or a summer cookout—ready in about 25 minutes, or as little as 15 minutes if you make the teriyaki sauce ahead of time. Hawaiian burgers are always a crowd pleaser.

Key ingredients

Below are the main ingredients and notes to help you shop and prepare. Quantities and full instructions are provided in the recipe card further down.

• Hamburger seasoning – a simple blend of salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder adds balanced flavor to the beef. Make a batch and store it for easier meal prep.
• Pineapple slices – fresh pineapple slices work beautifully for grilling, but canned slices drain and grill well too.
• Pepper jack cheese – provides a spicy contrast to the sweet pineapple and teriyaki. Swap for Swiss, provolone or Havarti if you want a milder cheese.
• Teriyaki sauce – homemade teriyaki made from soy sauce, brown sugar, and cornstarch is quick and flavorful, but bottled teriyaki will also work in a pinch.

Instructions

Step-by-step photos accompany the process below to make this recipe easy to follow. For best results, start by preparing the teriyaki sauce if you plan to make it from scratch—this can be made up to two weeks ahead and refrigerated.

1. Form the patties. In a bowl, combine 1 ½ pounds ground beef (80/20), 1 tablespoon hamburger seasoning, and 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Divide into four equal 6-ounce portions and form into patties about ½ inch thick. Press a shallow indentation into the center of each patty with your thumb to reduce shrinking during cooking.
2. Grill the pineapple. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Grill pineapple slices for 3–4 minutes per side until caramelized, then remove and set aside.
3. Grill the burgers. Place the patties on the hot grill and cook 4–5 minutes per side for medium (adjust time if you prefer medium-well or well-done).
4. Add the cheese and rest. In the last 1–2 minutes of cooking, place a slice of pepper jack on each patty. Remove the burgers and let them rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
5. Assemble. Toast Hawaiian buns on the grill or in a skillet. Optionally add a leaf of lettuce to the bottom bun, place the rested burger on top, spoon about 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce over the patty, then add a grilled pineapple slice and any other preferred toppings. Finish with the top bun.