The 2021 Winning Blended Burgers + Tips on How to Make Your Own

ICYMI: This year, we hosted the third annual Blended Burger Contest on FoodNetwork.com. Different from previous years, the 2021 contest was open to both home cooks and professionals, meaning there were two $10K prizes up for grabs.

Throughout the summer, more than 1,300 cooks created delicious and unique blended burgers for their chance at the cash prize plus their burger photo featured in the November issue of Food Network Magazine. The only requirement: the burger must be made with at least 25% mushrooms in the patty.

After much reviewing, tasting and deliberating, we narrowed it down to two blended burgers. (drum roll) We’re thrilled to introduce this year’s winning blended burgers…

HOME COOK WINNER: Buffalo Chicken Blended Burger From Wendy Tien

Buffalo chicken, oyster mushrooms, blue cheese mayo: this flavor-packed burger truly has it all. Winning home cook Wendy Tien’s blended burger patty is a mix of oyster mushroom and ground chicken, topped with blue cheese mayo, celery salad and buffalo sauce.

On why Wendy chose oyster mushrooms for her blend, she says, “Oyster mushrooms have an uncanny resemblance to chicken in taste and texture, making them perfect for this take on buffalo chicken in a burger.”

Try the winning recipe at home!

PROFESSIONAL WINNER: Bánh Mì Blended Burger From Alison Fagan

 

 

Chef Alison Fagan’s love for Vietnamese cuisine was the inspiration behind her Bánh Mì Blended Burger. She also “love[s] incorporating vegetables into dishes in unexpected ways,” as evident by the colorful, fresh veggies that top the pork-beef-shiitake blended patty.

Try the winning recipe at home!

Tips for Making Your Own Blended Burger

Feeling inspired to make your own blended burger? Use these tips for getting started.

Mix and match mushroom varieties. One of the many benefits of a blended burger is that The Blend™ is not limited to one specific mushroom variety, meaning the possibilities are endless. Try combining your protein of choice with different types of mushrooms to transform the overall flavor profile.

Get creative with toppings. The toppings of a burger can really dictate the overall vibe. Ingredients like tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese and parsley transform an American classic into an Italian-inspired burger, for example. Channel your favorite cuisine by incorporating its key flavors into your blended burger toppings.

Play with ratios. We recommend making blended burgers with 25% finely chopped mushrooms and 75% ground protein, but it’s certainly not a requirement! Consider 50/50 or 70/30 to find a balance that pleases your taste buds. And as we like to think, there’s no going wrong with more mushrooms. 😉

Find more blended burger recipes here!