The Cheapest Burgers At 12 Sit-Down Chains In 2026

Burgers are ubiquitous chain restaurant fodder. From iconic fast-food offerings to our eight favorite gourmet burger chains, the options are seemingly endless. But there's got to be a middle ground between cheap and paper-wrapped road trip burgers and the extravagant burgers worth a detour, right?

If you'd prefer your burger on a plate, delivered by a friendly server, and still at a wallet-friendly price, consider a sit-down chain. From Applebee's to Texas Roadhouse, you can often find a burger and fries without breaking the bank.

We scoured the menus of over a dozen restaurant brands to find the cheapest burgers at sit-down chains in 2026. These may be no-frills burgers (the bacon costs extra, though cheese usually doesn't), but if you need a burger fix, one of these may scratch the itch.

Pricing is based on Denver-area locations whenever possible, but may vary between locations.

Waffle House may have "waffle" in the name, but there's a burger on the menu, too — and it's only $5.95 for a ¼ pound hamburger at the Aurora, Colorado location. This no-frills burger comes without cheese (an additional $0.65) and Waffle House doesn't have fries. You can get a side of hashbrowns for $3.95, or upgrade to a Texas Bacon Patty Melt — a ¼ pound patty, cheese, bacon, and onions on Texas toast served with hashbrowns — for $13.60.

This 24-hour diner chain may be known for its breakfast, but what would a diner be without a burger? At Denny's, the Classic Burger with Fries deal will leave a lot of change in your wallet. Choose between wavy fries or hash browns to round out your meal. As is expected, toppings like cheese or bacon are extra, but even the additional $1.29 for a topping ($1.49 for avocado) keeps the total low. In Denver, a burger with no toppings is $9.99.

What can $9.99 get you at Red Robin? How about lunch? For under $10, you can choose between a classic Double Burger with Red's Secret Sauce or a Haystack Double with crispy onions, plus a side and a drink. As a bonus, if you're dining in, those fries (with the signature secret seasoning that we tried to crack) are bottomless! The deal is only available for a limited time, so if it's not available in your area, you can snag Red's Double for $10.69.

Fast food joints aren't the only places with value menus. At Chili's, the 3 for Me Deal gets you the Big QP Cheeseburger, fries, a drink, and an app (like chips and salsa or a house salad) for only $10.99. The burger by itself costs $14.29 in Denver, so choosing the deal actually saves you $3.30. Let's see the local drive-through do that.

Known for its selection of pies, Perkins also has a robust lunch menu to enjoy before you settle in for dessert. Order the Burger, Fry, and Pie deal to get either a classic cheeseburger or a two-patty smashed burger (which also includes grilled onions), seasoned french fries, and a slice of pie for just $10.99. With a dozen pie flavors to choose from, picking what to get for dessert is the hard part.

With more than 1,400 locations, it's easy to find an Applebee's — and an affordable burger. The Applebee's Classic Burger tops an all-beef patty with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. You can also add cheese or bacon for an additional cost. The burger comes with a choice of side: Classic fries, seasoned broccoli, coleslaw, garlicky green beans, or garlic mashed potatoes are included, while other sides cost extra. Feeling thirsty? We ranked 7 Applebee's cocktails that would be a great pairing with your meal. At the Aurora, Colorado location, the Classic Burger starts at $12.79.

If you find yourself at Buffalo Wild Wings wanting something other than chicken, you're in luck. The wing chain also has three burgers on the menu, and the All-American Cheeseburger isn't much more than a wings-and-fries bundle. For $13.49 in Denver — though prices are much lower at other locations, ringing in at $9.99 in Lebanon, Missouri — you get two burger patties, American cheese, lettuce, and tomato on a challah bun, plus a side of fries.

Ruby Tuesday has an extensive menu, including a variety of burger options. On the regular menu, Ruby's Cheeseburger or the American Smashed Burger will both run you $13.99 at Denver-area locations. But it's the daily promotions where you'll find the true bargain. Those same burgers start at just $6.99 on Tuesdays, or the double-patty American Smashed burger with fries and endless Garden Bar is $10.99 on Thursdays. Time your visit right for the best deal.

As a more casual steakhouse, it's no surprise that LongHorn has a burger on the menu. The chain's cheeseburger was actually our favorite when compared to other sit-down chains' offerings, so bonus points for flavor. If you're visiting LongHorn Steakhouse at lunch, you can nab the Half-Pound Steakhouse Cheeseburger — served with an extensive choice of sides — for just $10.99. Though the price goes up after 3 p.m., ringing in at $14.79 at one Denver-area location.

The Pizookie may be a major draw at BJ's, but mom always said you've got to have dinner before dessert. Enter the $13 Pizookie Meal Deal, one of the best under-$15 lunch deals of 2026. Monday through Friday, you can have a two-patty All-American Smash Burger, your choice of side, and a Personal Pizookie for just $13. On weekends, grab a Classic Cheeseburger ($15.99 in Denver), then order a Pizookie and ice cream to share — or not.

Come for the quirky general store, stay for the cheeseburger. Weighing in at half a pound and priced at $15.79 in Denver, a Barrel Cheeseburger at Cracker Barrel may cost a bit more but you're getting more for your money. The patty is topped with Colby cheese — also a unique offering compared to other sit-down chains — and comes with a choice of over a dozen sides, from steak fries to a true southern-style side of fried okra.

If you're not hungry enough for one of Texas Roadhouse's hand-cut steaks and are craving an affordable entrée, you may want to consider the All American Burger. Served on house-baked burger buns, the classic cheeseburger comes with American cheese and seasoned fries. Diners in the Denver area can expect to pay $15.99 for the burger.