12 Of The Hands-Down Best Fast Food Cheeseburgers We've Eaten In 2026 So Far

A simple cheeseburger with beef, cheese, and perhaps a few veggies is a flawless American icon, but there's something to be said for creative, tricked-out burgers as well. In 2026, fast food chains have offered all kinds of delicious cheeseburgers, but between all the simple, tasty classics and new releases it's hard to decide which ones to try. We did the legwork for you and sampled many different cheeseburgers from this year to pick out the best of the best.

Throughout 2026 so far, Tasting Table's reviewers have put our palates to the test and tried all the cheeseburgers we could get our hands on. We visited fast food giants like Burger King and Shake Shack as well as smaller chains like Freddy's and Habit Burger & Grill to find the tastiest, cheesiest, beefiest burgers that are truly worth ordering. In our taste tests, we assess factors like overall flavor and quality, freshness, value, and innovation, so you know our favorite burgers of the year really do beat the competition. Our list has something for every fast food fan, whether you're craving a simple and honest cheeseburger or want a flavor-packed, trendy entree that will shake up your drive-thru trip.

When we tried and ranked 10 Burger King burgers, the Texas Double Whopper unexpectedly swept first place. It stacks two beef patties, lettuce, tomato, onions, bacon, American cheese, jalapeños, mayo, mustard, and pickles onto a sesame seed bun. It sounds a bit overloaded, but our reviewer found it surprisingly balanced, super flavorful, and fun to eat due to the mix of flavors and textures. This Whopper is normally a regional offering, but BK occasionally brings it to menus nationwide, so watch out for it.

The winner of our taste test of smash burgers from popular chains wasn't Shake Shack or Smashburger, it was Sonic. The chain's All-American Sonic Smasher is a study in simple perfection with two thin Angus beef patties, American cheese, pickles, ketchup, onions, mayo, lettuce, and tomato on a potato bun. The meat is seasoned and crisped just right, the condiments add an essential creaminess, and the onion adds a welcome sharpness. Our taste tester found it to be both satisfying and affordable.

Shake Shack is known for its tricked-out, limited-time burgers; and in our review of its West Coast menu, the West Coast Burger made a nice showing. With the chain's signature smashed beef patty, Secret Sauce, caramelized onions, and honey mustard pickles, the sandwich delivered a unique flavor thanks to the mustard-y sauce and sweet-and-savory onion. The West Coast Burger has since left Shake Shack but the chain routinely brings back its limited-time menus so don't miss it next time.

Back in August, we ranked several Jack in the Box burgers and the Bacon Double Smashed Jack proved to be a fantastic bacon cheeseburger and our favorite of the bunch. It packs two smashed beef patties, hickory smoked bacon, American cheese, pickles, grilled onions, and a Smashed Jack Sauce on a brioche bun. The bacon and cheese delivers on rich flavor, the veggies and garlicky sauce balance everything out, and it's not as heavy as it looks; it's just satisfying enough and totally classic.

Culver's new Fried Pickle Pub Burger had us feeling zesty in a good way. This creative, limited-time cheeseburger included fried pickles, a beef patty, cheddar cheese, and a special Brewpub Sauce on a pretzel bun. Culver's fried pickles shine more when enjoyed on their own, but their crunchy tanginess also made for a delicious burger along with the flavorful pretzel bun and creamy, mustard-like sauce which all complemented the meaty patty. The burger has a unique German influence that really stood out.

Carl's Jr. offers a lot of simple cheeseburgers, but the stacked Guacamole Bacon Burger was the best sandwich in our ranking of Carl's Jr. menu items. This Southwest-leaning burger adds guacamole, cherrywood bacon, pepper Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, and Santa Fe sauce to a beef patty. The flavor-packed guacamole worked well on the burger while the bacon adds complementary smoky notes for a complex flavor profile.

Soon after we tried Burger King's Peppercorn BLT Whopper in March we declared it to be the best new fast food burger of 2026 up to that point. This cheeseburger paired BK's flame-grilled patty with bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and peppercorn mayo. We thought the beef and tomatoes were juicy, the toppings were full of savory flavor, and even the bun was delicious with a soft texture and toasty crust — but the real star was the creamy, spicy peppercorn sauce that enhanced every bite.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is a fairly small chain but it's worth seeking out for its crown jewel, the Prime Rib Steakburger. This sandwich was the best Freddy's burger in our ranking, and uses prime rib in place of a burger patty topped with robust portobello mushrooms, grilled onions, and nutty Swiss cheese. Meaty, savory, rich, and yet not overly heavy; this is one cheeseburger experience that other chains just can't replicate, and it's a must-try for steak lovers.

One of Shake Shack's limited-edition items of 2026 seriously put the "cheese" in cheeseburger. The Clubhouse Pimento Cheese Burger included plenty of pimento cheddar, a beef patty, lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce. We thought the entire Shake Shack Clubhouse Pimento Cheese menu hit it out of the park, and this burger delivered on supreme cheesiness with a contrasting hit of spicy, tangy peppers. The crispy beef and fresh tomatoes rounded out this messy yet delightful burger.

In February, we visited another lesser-known chain, Habit Burger & Grill, to rank its Charburgers from worst to best. Though the cheese-less classic Charburger won first place, the Char Sliders ranked a close second. These small burgers are well-balanced, with beef patties, creamy and umami-rich Thousand Island dressing, and American cheese. They're simple yet full of flavor, especially due to the dressing that coats every bite, making them standouts in a world of underwhelming sliders.

Though many In-N-Out fans love highly-customized secret menu orders, the chain's classic cheeseburger could go head-to-head with any fancier sandwich. It earned a decisive victory in our taste test of cheeseburgers from eight fast food chains thanks to its soft yet crunchy bun, juicy and beefy patty, melty American cheese, fresh veggies, and flavorful signature spread. There's simply no way to beat this timeless classic, and to top it all off it's cheaper than cheeseburgers from many other chains.

The Del Taco All-American Burgertaco may not be a traditional burger but it's too fun and tasty to not mention. This entree is essentially a cheeseburger in a taco shape, piling two beef patties, American cheese, tomato slices, special sauce, lettuce, and onions into a toasted flatbread. In our review of Del Taco's All-American Burgertaco, we found the ingredients to be fresh, delicious, and dealt out in perfect amounts. It will satisfy a burger craving while tickling your fancy with its fun format.