When it comes to hamburgers, everyone you know has a traditional favorite set of toppings. Some people are mayonnaise, pickles, and raw onion people. Some are ketchup, grilled onion, and mustard lovers. With the favorites established, it can sometimes be a challenge to get people to try new burger condiments.
There are a lot of burger condiment and topping combinations that cater to the classic burger fan, and they will always have that particular mindset about burgers. However, there are plenty of burgers that are popping up that have put a new spin on condiments. The new burger fans are topping burgers with just about anything you can imagine, and the result is delicious and changing the face of burgers and burger condiments as we know them.
Unique Burger Topping Ideas
Although the classics are delicious, some of the new condiment and topping selections that once made us scratch our heads have become the new crowd favorites. Enjoying a burger with onion rings and barbeque sauce for toppings, for example, is now known as a western burger in many areas of the country. You also have the pepper jack burger, topped with pepper jack cheese and jalapeno peppers, a new favorite among the spicy fans of burgers.
But what about burger toppings like fried egg and avocado? Do these toppings tantalize your taste buds? Or are you a classic burger fan who swears to never enjoy one of the new style burgers that are quickly becoming fan favorites? If you’re feeling adventurous, we have several ideas for condiments on your burgers that really may blow your mind.
- Spaghetti Sauce and Green Peppers: Think about it: You love hamburger in your spaghetti sauce, and green pepper is usually cooked into your sauce. Why not put this classic taste combination on your burger? This is sure to be a crowd-pleaser with kids of all ages, and adults as well!
- Celery, Bleu Cheese, and Hot Sauce: If you’re a fan of buffalo wings, then this is definitely the burger for you! By putting your favorite buffalo wing flavors on a burger, you’ve taken two of your favorite flavor combinations and made a burger topped with as much awesome taste as you can pack into a topping list. Try this one out in place of wings at your next gathering. It will definitely be a new fan favorite.
- Sliced Deli Ham, Mayo and Mustard Mix, Garlic, and Swiss: Yes, you are correct, it’s a Cuban burger. One of the best parts of making this burger is pressing it like a Cuban, and it is really one of the best burger trends that we’ve seen lately. It combines two of your favorite handheld favorites, and the flavor is absolutely amazing. Combine a Cuban and a burger for your next party, and watch your guests devour these amazing burgers.
- Macaroni Salad: We all love to have macaroni salad as a side dish at picnics and barbeques. How about cutting out the plate and putting the macaroni salad on the burger? Trust us, once you enjoy your burger with macaroni salad as a condiment, you will understand why this new topping trend is becoming so popular. It’s a great combination of flavors and is sure to become a new favorite burger.
- French Fries and Coleslaw: French fries and coleslaw are two of our favorite sides to pair with burgers, but they also make great toppings for burgers. Try them separately, or for maximum flavor, put them together on your burger. It is a great taste combination that is becoming a topping trend at a barbecue or picnic near you.
- Guacamole: Guacamole has been a favorite with salsa and tortilla chips for ages, but when you pair it with a delicious burger and your favorite cheese, this is a topping combination that is sure to become a go-to selection in your house.
- Pastrami, Horseradish, and Mustard: The trend of turning our favorite deli sandwiches into burgers just keeps getting better. Try adding sliced pastrami, horseradish, and mustard to your burger. Reminiscent of a New York Deli favorite, this is one burger that doesn’t need to be served on rye to be a fantastic topping combination.
- Gorgonzola Cheese and Jalapenos: Gorgonzola cheese and jalapenos is a bold flavor choice, but when paired with a nice, juicy burger, the condiment selection here is unbeatable.
Classic Condiment or New Favorite?
When it comes to making a delicious burger with the best burger condiments and toppings, the sky really is the limit. If you are a traditional burger fan, there is never a shortage of topping combinations for you.
Ketchup, Mustard, Mayo: These traditional favorites for burger condiments have been around for a very long time! Ketchup is a sweet, tomato flavored sauce that is a favorite addition to burgers and fry dipping. Due to its sweet/tangy flavor due to the added vinegar, ketchup adds a whole new flavor profile to your burger.
Mustard choices include the classic yellow, Dijon and spicy brown mustard. If you like a milder flavor, go for the classic yellow. This is the most popular among burger lovers. If you like a bit of a spicy/sharp flavor, go for some Dijon. If you want a different texture, try some spicy brown mustard. Beware – it has some heat!
Ahh, the traditional creamy mayo. If you want that addition of creaminess with a bit of tang, you are the person for mayo. Mayo mixed with the other burger condiments adds the creaminess plus the flavors of your other toppings to give you that perfect mixture of flavor. While there can be controversy over mayo, try it for yourself.
Tomatoes and Lettuce: When it comes to adding tomatoes and lettuce you have so many choices. Whether you like classic beefsteak tomatoes that are beefy and juicy or a Roma tomato with the tangy flavor you can’t go wrong with adding tomato to your burger. As far as lettuce, for that added crunch texture, along with different flavors that each type of lettuce has, add a bit of green to your burger. You will love it when you bite into this burger topping.
Bacon: While you might not think of bacon as a standard of burger condiments and toppings, you may want to change your mind. Bacon comes in many flavors itself, such as Applewood smoked, honey, and hickory to name a few. Frying up some of these and adding to your burger will give it a whole new smoky or sweet flavor to the burger. You may even try chopping up some bacon and adding it straight into the burger meat. Now that’s a flavor to die for!
Those of us who like to bring a little of the daring into our palettes are really beginning to enjoy the new wave of burgers you can cook at any time. To see burgers being enjoyed with many creative, custom topping combinations is a reminder that there really is a burger for everyone, and that no two burgers need to be constructed the same way in order to be enjoyed.
What’s Next for Burger Condiments and Toppings?
The burger condiment and topping is a matter of choice and it seems that as far as the imagination can stretch, there is a condiment or topping choice that will allow you to enjoy all of your favorite flavors on a burger. Some of them become instant crowd favorites and get a title and are featured on cooking shows and in magazines. Others, after heading back to the drawing board a few times, are hailed as a taste for the brave. Whatever your favorite burger topping is, it seems that there really isn’t a taste combination that doesn’t go great with a burger. There are even dessert burgers being crafted and they are delicious as well!
Dessert Burgers? Yes, You Read That Correctly!
Ice cream, candy bars, sprinkles, and chocolate syrup. Those are all ice cream toppings, right? Actually, we are seeing a new trend out there in dessert burgers. Think about it, the sweet and salty combination has long since been a favorite comfort food blend, and to toss in a nice, salty burger patty has led to this new brand of burgers that are turning heads on a grill near you.
One of our favorite combinations in the dessert burger arena is quite simple. The pairing of chocolate bars and whipped cream on a burger with a sweet Hawaiian bun is absolutely fantastic, and also can be topped with chocolate syrup for a sweet and saucy combination guaranteed to satisfy your sweet and salty craving.
Although the dessert burgers aren’t for everyone, it seems as though those who are fans really seem to think they are the greatest thing since sliced buns. In case you were wondering, yes, there is also ice cream and pickle dessert burger that caters to the maternity condiment crowd. So you may find yourself firing up the grill if there is a 3 am craving for this burger!
Condiment vs. Topping
Generally, a condiment is going to be a sauce. Mustard, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, pesto, spaghetti, and marinara all fall into the category of delicious burger condiment.
A topping is going to include your lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and relish of the traditional variety, but will also now house the new favorites. Some of the topping family has been given a new look with the birth of the new style burgers cropping up everywhere. It seems that everywhere you look, there is a new topping being paired with your favorite burger, and some of them seem just as natural as macaroni with cheese, while others can leave us scratching our heads.
The Moral of Burger Condiments and Toppings
The moral, though, is that there really is no such thing as a bad burger. As long as your burger has the condiment or topping of your choice, it is a great burger. If you like some of the new selections in the topping world, by all means, load your burger with them, grab it with both hands and enjoy. If you want to stick with the traditional condiment list that has been served for generations, then that’s exactly how you should build your burger. The truth is, everyone has a burger that cannot be beaten. As long as your burger is built your way, there is nothing wrong with how it has been built.
We love the classic burger just as much as the newly crafted and oddly named burgers that have come to a grill in your neighborhood. The bottom line is that you can build your burger any way you choose, as long as you are enjoying it, it is a great burger, indeed!
Let us know what your favorite burger is! We love to hear your ideas. It’s great to know what our fans are doing in the burger world! Keep lovin’ those burgers!