The Best Burger Toppings

Burgers are having a moment right now. What used to be the standard fare of fast food chains and dive diners has now become a $20 feature on the menu of every microbrew pub or celebrity chef restaurant. Did you know there’s a burger out there that costs $6000?!

The good thing for you and me is that a great, gourmet style burger is easily within our reach!

It may cost $3-6 at a fast food chain, but you can make some of the best hamburgers at home for less than a couple bucks each, especially when you offer an array of yummy burger toppings.

And I promise they will be the best burgers you ever had. I’ve included a huge list of burger toppings for you to choose from as well as easy and cheap recipes. You will have discovered your favorite burger in no time and be able to recreate it whenever the craving hits.

Why It Matters

Hamburgers are a wonderful, all-in-one meal. They already have a protein and a carb. While ketchup is really not a vegetable, lettuce and tomatoes are as well as some of the yummy vegetable burger toppings I’ve included below. Burgers can be a one-dish dinner!

Most people like them. You can always make turkey or veggie burgers for those who don’t want the beef. In fact, burgers are ideal for meeting the range of tastes in your family or at a party. Like the take-out commercial boasted, you can have it your way — when you serve different hamburger toppings for the crowd.

They are cheap. You can easily get four burgers from a pound of meat. Buy that meat on sale for $3/pound and either buy or bake some buns, and you can serve up $1 burgers without having to go through the drive through line.

What Makes the Best Burger?

The best burger is the one that’s made just the way you like it. Since you don’t need a lot of any one burger topping, it’s easy to provide a small variety of hamburger patties, bases, and toppings so that each person can make their burger exactly the way they like it.

Burger Combos to Try

I’ll be honest, I have paid almost $20 for a burger. Bryan and I were on a vacation day, just the two of us, and feeling adventurous. Dubbed “the Longhorn Burger”, my choice boasted “½ pound Certified Angus Beef patty, sweet and savory bacon jam, maple brown sugar bacon, brie cheese, served on a brioche bun”. 

It was good, but your homemade burgers will be better — and cheaper!

Here are some yummy combos we’ve played with that are definitely worth your while.

• beef burger, barbecue sauce, bacon and onion rings
• salmon burger, coleslaw, tartar sauce
• sausage burger, herbed mayo, sautéed onions
• lamb burger, pita bread, tzatziki, and feta cheese
• chicken burger, Swiss cheese, remoulade, pickled onions
• turkey burger, blue cheese, bacon, chipotle mayo
• plant burger, thousand island dressing, fried onions, and American cheese
• mushroom swiss burger, crumbled goat cheese, arugula
• pork burger, fried egg, carmelized onions 

Burger Patties

While the original hamburger was probably made with a ground beef patty, don’t be limited by that protein. Burger patties can be made from any number of ground proteins including:

• beef
• venison
• bison
• lamb
• pork
• spicy sausage
• chicken
• turkey
• salmon
• plant-based grind – My daughter likes

Season the meat simply with salt and pepper or take it to the next level with this simple hamburger seasoning.

To save time, be sure to prep the patties in advance and store them in an airtight container, separated by patty papers. If you buy your proteins in bulk, you can even make a lot at one time and freeze hamburger patties for later.

Cook your burgers on an outdoor grill for summer smoky flavor, or keep your cool indoors cooking hamburgers in the air fryer, in a skillet, on a griddle, or on an indoor grill pan.

Make sure that you use an instant-read thermometer to cook the meat to the proper temperature for flavor as well as food safety. Patties must reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F for salmon; 160 for beef, lamb, pork, and plant-based burgers; 165 for turkey or chicken patties. 

Buns and Bases

Years ago, I started making homemade hamburger buns. I know it seems totally extra, but trust me. It’s totally worth the effort.

I still buy store buns when I’m pressed for time, but a homemade hamburger bun really does take your meal to the next level, especially these Everything Hamburger Buns.

In addition to the traditional bun, you can also serve hamburgers on other bases, such as:

• lettuce wraps or abundant salad greens
• pita pockets
• tortillas – Have you seen the viral TikTok Taco-burger? 
• bread – this is perfect for the classic patty melt, a mash-up of a grilled cheese and a hamburger
• gluten-free buns – We’ve had good luck with Schar and Canyon Bakehouse brands.

Burger Toppings Ideas

Veggies, cheese, and sauces all add flavor and personality to your burgers. You can pretty much turn all of your favorite foods into burgers, depending on how you mix and match the elements. 

The following list of hamburger toppings is not exhaustive, and you certainly shouldn’t exhaust yourself making them all at one time. BUT, if you’re doing meal plan theme nights to make meal planning easier, this list will definitely keep burger night from getting boring.

• standard condiments such as ketchup, assorted mustards, and mayo
• shredded lettuce, lettuce leaves, spinach, arugula, or baby greens
• sliced tomatoes
• dill hamburger sliced pickles
• Thousand Island dressing
• chipotle mayo
• herbed mayonnaise
• tartar sauce
• remoulade
• Tzatziki
• BBQ sauce
• chili
• sliced cheese, such as Swiss, Jack, cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack
• crumbled cheese, such as goat cheese, blue cheese, or feta
• fresh herbs, such as cilantro or basil
• cole slaw
• grilled or pickled jalapeños 
• fajita vegetables
• guacamole
• pico de gallo
• cooked bacon
• pickled or caramelized onions
• sautéed mushrooms
• sautéed mushrooms and onions
• roasted red peppers
• roasted poblano chiles or hatch green chiles
• roasted garlic
• onion rings
• English pickle or other chutney
• peanut butter – yes, that’s a thing, but please disclose to your guests in case someone’s allergic, like my daughter!