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The Kitchen's Best Recipes on a Bun

See how co-hosts of The Kitchen build their best burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches on hearty buns.

A photo from the production of "The Kitchen" in Montclair, N.J., on Wednesday, June 3, 2015.
Photo: David M. Russell/BSTV

Photo: David M. Russell ©

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Diablo, Diablo, Diablo Burger

There's two times the decadence of gooey cheese in Sunny Anderson's over-the-top burgers. Not only is the patty served on top of a slice of pepper Jack, but it's also stuffed with nacho cheese dip. One bite into these chile-laced patties and you'll experience the ultimate ooze factor when that nacho cheese dip drips out.

Jeff Mauro makes Cheesy & Spicy Reuben-Style Brats, as seen on The Kitchen, Season 17.

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The Ultimate Cheesy and Spicy Reuben Brats

Pickled jalapenos add a spicy kick to Jeff’s 18,000 Island Dressing, which adds extra tanginess to the sauerkraut topping.

Sunny’s Quick Chicken Cheesesteak from The Kitchen

From: The Kitchen

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Sunny's Quick Chicken Cheesesteak

Sunny adds beer to her cheese sauce for a decadent twist.

Co-host Katie Lee's dish Citrus Grilled Turkey Breast with Pineapple Marmalade, as seen on The Kitchen, Season 17.

Photo: Anders Krusberg

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Citrus Grilled Turkey Breast

PSA: Turkeys are not just for Thanksgiving! Katie grills this just as you would a chicken breast.

Co-hosts Jeff Mauro and Sunny Anderson's dish Grilled Mahi Mahi Sandwich with Escovitch and Mango Aioli, as seen on The Kitchen, Season 17.

Photo: Anders Krusberg

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Escovitch-Style Mahi-Mahi Sandwich with Mango Aioli

One fan told us, “This is the BEST fish sandwich I have ever eaten!!”

Katie Lee makes a Sausage and Peppers Burger, as seen on The Kitchen, Season 17.

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Italian Sausage and Pepper Burgers

Katie transforms the sandwich you know and love into a hearty burger loaded with cheese.

A photo from the production of "The Kitchen" in Montclair, N.J., on July 8, 2014.
Photo: Jeffrey Neira/Watershed Visuals
Â©2014 Watershed Visual Media. All Rights Reserved.

Photo: Jeffrey Neira ©

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Lobster Roll

Succulent buttery lobster is overflowing from Geoffrey Zakarian's quick-fix rolls, which he dresses up with a drizzle of creamy Sriracha-laced mayonnaise before serving.

Grilled Chicken and Avocado-Bacon Sliders from The Kitchen

Photo: Todd Plitt ©. From: The Kitchen

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Grilled Chicken and Avocado Bacon Sliders

A cumin-scented marinade guarantees that Sunny's moist chicken gets packed with flavor from the beginning, while toppings like sweet caramelized onions and a bacon-avocado spread finish the sliders with even more richness and bite.

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Smoked Pork Butt on the Grill

The secret to fork-tender pulled pork is smoking the meat slowly and at a low temperature. To infuse the pork with as much flavor as possible, let it marinate in a brown sugar-paprika rub, then baste it with a mustard vinaigrette as it cooks.

Photo: David Lang ©

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Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Sandwiches

You don't have to be in Tennessee to enjoy Nashville's famous hot chicken. Just stick with Jeff Mauro's hearty recipe, boasting buttermilk-battered fried chicken dredged with a spicy flour mixture of cayenne, chile powder and granulated garlic. Follow Jeff's lead and build the sandwiches with bright pickles, cool iceberg lettuce and creamy mayonnaise to balance the heat of the chicken.

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Shrimp Burgers with Old Bay Mayo

Not just for cocktail hors d'oeuvres, shrimp can be turned into a tender burger patty as well. Katie Lee keeps the filling simple, with breadcrumbs, bright lemon juice and garlic powder, then finishes the dish with a creamy mayonnaise spiked with Old Bay, a go-to seafood spice, and creamy avocado.

GZ's Ugly Burger from The Kitchen

From: The Kitchen

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Ugly Burger

Don't let the name fool you. What this dish may lack in appearance, it more than makes up for in decadence. GZ's secret? Not overworking the meat, which means it doesn't become tough. He tops the burger with classic fixings like lettuce and tomato, plus a smear of his Special Sauce, featuring spiced ketchup, mayo and minced cornichons.

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Fried Green Tomato Parm Sandwiches

Inspired by a classic Parmesan hero, Jeff's easy-to-make sandwiches feature golden, crispy fried tomatoes as the centerpiece. Instead of using traditional tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, follow Jeff's lead and opt for layers of caramelized tomatoes and Burrata instead; this milky-centered cheese ball is endlessly rich and creamy, and it'll take Jeff's sandwich to the next indulgent level.

Photo: Jason Clairy ©

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Spicy Oregano Burgers

Take it from Marcela Valladolid: This top-rated recipe does double duty. "This is one of my favorite Sunday dinner/Monday lunch recipes," she explains. "These burgers are great as a standalone dinner making six Spicy Oregano Burgers. If you want to plan for Monday's lunch, make only four burgers for Sunday's dinner and set aside 1 cup of the mixture to make my Mini Meatball-Stuffed Pitas the next day."

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West Virginia-Style Hot Dog

Not your everyday dog slathered with ketchup, Katie's next-level version is inspired by the hot dogs she ate growing up in West Virginia. This one is topped with a beefy chili, cool coleslaw and yellow mustard for a tangy bite.

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BLT Ranch Burger

Piled high with the trio of BLT essentials, Katie's 5-star burger gets it ranch flavor from a homemade dressing laced with buttermilk and fresh herbs.

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Soy-Da Glazed Pulled Pork

It's all about the sweet, tangy orange soda-soy sauce glaze that Jeff uses to shellac his juicy pork shoulder.

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Grilled Chicken Burgers with Pasilla Aioli

An aioli is a fancy name for a mayonnaise sauce, and here Marcela's is spiked with a pasilla chile and a garlic clove. Along with crispy fried poblanos, this creamy spread transforms her chicken burger into a craveable favorite full of smoky taste and subtle spice.

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Beet Burger with Citrus-Caper Aioli

You want to cook with no meat? No problem. Jeff's 5-star burger boasts a beet-focused patty, made hefty and satisfying thanks to a filling of brown rice and walnuts. All it takes is cool lettuce and some of his sweet, tangy caper-studded mayonnaise to finish his vegetarian burgers.

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Mexican-Style Hot Dog

Thanks to the mayonnaise, pickled jalapeno and potato chip toppings, there's no shortage of taste or texture in Marcela's fast-fix hot dogs. It's up to you to decide whether to steam or boil the hot dogs.

Hosts Jeff Mauro and Katie Lee discuss how to create a fall wreath using an old rake as seen on Food Network's The Kitchen, Season 7.

Photo: Jason DeCrow ©

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Want More of The Kitchen?

Check out Food Network's The Kitchen headquarters for more recipe inspiration, plus insider photos of the co-hosts behind the scenes.

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