Best Burgers at Applebee's: Top 5 Ranked for 2026

Applebee's burger lineup is seriously underrated. While the chain is best known for riblets, wings, and its 2 for $25 combos, the handcrafted burger section quietly competes with dedicated burger joints on ingredient quality and portion size, all at a lower price point.

We compared every burger currently on the menu using three factors: flavor complexity, value for the price, and how consistently each item is rated by customers across locations. Here's how they stack up, from solid to best-in-class.

The Classic Burger is exactly what it sounds like: an all-beef patty, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles on a toasted bun. It's the least adventurous option on the list, but it's a reliable choice if you want a straightforward burger without any specialty sauces or toppings competing for attention. Best for picky eaters or anyone ordering for kids who want "a burger, no sauce."

A genuinely unique entry: the patty is wrapped in a grilled flour tortilla with melted cheese, pico de gallo, and chipotle mayo instead of a traditional bun. It's messier to eat than the others on this list, but the tortilla-instead-of-bun format gives it a flavor profile you won't find at most burger chains. Order it if you want something different from the standard bun-patty-cheese formula.

Applebee's plant-based option holds up well against the beef lineup, which is not always true at casual dining chains. The Impossible patty is seasoned and grilled the same way as the beef patties, then topped with melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. It's a solid pick for vegetarians and for diners simply trying to cut back on red meat without giving up the burger format entirely.

Sautéed mushrooms, melted Swiss cheese, and a Bourbon Street glaze give this burger a savory-sweet balance that's hard to replicate at home. It's a step up in complexity from the Classic Burger without becoming overly rich. If you like mushroom swiss burgers at steakhouses, this is the closest casual-dining equivalent you'll find at this price point.

The Fireball Whisky glaze is what separates this from a standard bacon cheeseburger — it adds a peppery, slightly sweet kick that plays well against the Pepper Jack and caramelized onions. It's a heavier burger than the others on this list, so it pairs best with a side salad rather than a second round of fries if you're watching portion size.

For most diners, the Whisky Bacon Burger is the safest recommendation — it's the most talked-about item on the burger menu for a reason. But if you want something Applebee's does that most burger chains don't, the Quesadilla Burger and Bourbon Street Mushroom Swiss Burger are both worth trying at least once. Check our full menu with prices to compare current costs before you order.