I compared cheeseburgers from Applebee's and Buffalo Wild Wings. The chicken chain completely surpassed my expectations.

• Applebee's and Buffalo Wild Wings are both classic American chain restaurants.

• Buffalo Wild Wings, however, is more famous for its wings and chicken offerings than its burgers.

• So I was surprised by the quality and value of its classic cheeseburger.

Football season may be over, but it doesn't mean your cravings for game-day foods have to be.

In a series, "Tailgate Taste-off," Business Insider is pitting chains against each other to identify the best versions of popular game-day dishes, such as Buffalo wings and cheeseburgers.

Last year, casual dining chains capitalized on America's need for beef, with multiple chains launching new burgers and burger-based value meals.

Applebee's is arguably most famous for its burgers.

Buffalo Wild Wings, on the other hand, is more well-known for its chicken offerings, which include classic wings, boneless wings, chicken tenders, and chicken sandwiches.

However, in a recent ranking of cheeseburgers from four chain restaurants, I was genuinely impressed by the quality of Buffalo Wild Wings' classic cheeseburger.

The chain has also grown in recent years, adding 22 US units between 2022 and 2023, according to data from Restaurant Business.

To put Buffalo Wild Wings' burger to the test, I decided to compare it to Applebee's classic cheeseburger, thus determining which chain delivered the better burger in terms of taste and value.

Here's how the classic cheeseburgers at Applebee's and Buffalo Wild Wings compared.

I first tried the classic cheeseburger from Applebee's.

I ordered the burger as part of the chain's "2 for $2X" deal, which also allowed me to get an order of boneless wings and a chicken tender basket.

However, the burger typically costs $16.99, excluding tax, at the location I visited in Brooklyn, New York.

This year, Applebee's teamed up with the NFL as the league's official grill and bar partner, recognizing overlap between their customer base and NFL viewers.

"We know our guests are football fans," Applebee's chief marketing officer Joel Yashinsky told Business Insider, adding, "This season, we've been all in on the NFL."

Data collected by Applebee's in April showed that 64% of its guests were interested in or very interested in the NFL, and around 34% had watched the NFL in the past year, which helped shape the chain's strategy for the football season, Yashinsky said.

The cheeseburger came with two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles on a brioche bun.

The burger patty's exterior was noticeably dark, initially making me worry that it had been overcooked beyond the medium level I had requested.

However, to my surprise, it was incredibly juicy and even leaned slightly toward medium-rare.

The melted, tangy cheese covered the entire burger, creating a perfectly balanced bite.

The thick slices of red onion added a lot of bold, tangy flavor, as well as a delightful amount of crunch to each bite. I also thought the lettuce and tomato slices tasted fresh.

Although this burger didn't come with any sauce, it was still moist, thanks to the melted cheese and a buttery bun.

However, the Applebee's burger was slightly topped by the burger from Buffalo Wild Wings.

I ordered the All-American Cheeseburger at my local Buffalo Wild Wings in Brooklyn, New York. It cost $14.49, excluding tax.

I typically regard Buffalo Wild Wings as a chicken chain, known for its traditional and boneless wings, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this classic cheeseburger.

The burger came with two beef patties instead of one, even though it was less expensive than Applebee's.

The All-American Cheeseburger came with two beef patties, American cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

Each patty had a crispy exterior and was generously coated in gooey, melted cheese.

It differed slightly from the Applebee's burger in that it already came pre-topped with mayonnaise and mustard, adding even more moisture to this juicy burger.

I found this burger to be an excellent value and devoured every bite.

The mayonnaise and mustard added extra moisture and flavor to this burger, but honestly, it didn't even need it.

It felt like an upgraded take on a classic fast-food cheeseburger, instantly transporting me back to childhood with its fresh toppings, crispy beef patties, and perfectly melted, tangy cheese.

The second patty made a noticeable difference in making this burger even more filling and juicy, elevating the overall experience. And at just under $15, it was also an excellent value.

Read the original article on Business Insider