70 Best Ways To Top A Burger
Let's move past the squeeze bottle of ketchup, people.
One of our favorite ways to get to know someone is to ask them what makes their dream burger. You'll quickly find out that there's a million different answers—all of them very true and perfect in their own way. Do you go plain ketchup and mustard? Go a sweet and savory route? Add a fried egg on top to make a cheesy breakfast burger!?! We say, the wilder the better, and we’ve rounded up 70 burger topping ideas to prove it—everything from complete burger recipes to our fave condiments that we know deserve a spot on your patties.
Let’s start with the basics—you gotta walk before you can run, which in the burger world means you’ve got to master the perfect cheeseburger before you can start, say, stuffing jalapeño poppers into it. Our recipe has everything you need to know about the toppings and the patty itself to set you up for success.
Once you’ve got that down, it’s time to have some fun. There are some classic toppings that will always be crowd-pleasers, like the caramelized onions on our French onion soup burgers, the pineapple on our Maui burgers (trust us!), or the bacon on our BLT burgers, but truly, the sky’s the limit. Looking to branch out, but afraid to leave your comfort food faves behind? Try turning classic weeknight dinners into a burger, like we did in our pizza burgers, our chicken Parm burgers, or our steak frites burger, or stuffing your fave dips and apps like pimento cheese, Buffalo chicken dip, or Greek feta dip into your burgers.
Looking for true burger excellence? Don’t forget the SAUCE. Ketchup, mustard, and mayo are good starts, but don’t stop there. Try adding something a little sweet, like our mango chutney, our TJ’s copycat peach salsa, our spicy mango whipped goat cheese, or our tomato jam; something tangy, like our remoulade, tartar sauce, or the sweet chili mayo on our coconut shrimp burgers; or something tried-and-true, like our spinach & artichoke-stuffed burgers, our copycat Big Mac sauce, or our copycat Chick-fil-A sauce. Be warned, though: Once you go saucy, you might never enjoy a plain burger again.
More of a hot dog fan? We’ve got you too—check out all of our favorite hot dog toppings to achieve BBQ perfection this summer.
Spinach & Artichoke Dip
These spinach and artichoke-stuffed burgers are a two-in-one dinner that will make you the star of any game day or summer BBQ, and will have you leaving the basic burgers behind.
Dave’s Sauce & Kale Slaw
A few years into their meteoric rise, Dave’s Hot Chicken debuted a vegetarian option, swapping out the chicken for cauliflower. Dubbed “Dave’s Not Chicken.” This dish offers all the bold flavors and textures of their classic hot chicken—minus the meat.
Get the Copycat Dave’s Hot Chicken Cauliflower Sliders recipe.
TJ’s Copycat Peach Salsa
In this homemade version of Trader Joe's peach salsa, the spicy smoky adobo sauce is balanced out by the sweet juicy peaches. Everything in this salsa is so fresh tasting with a perfect slight crunch from the red onions, that it is a no brainer to pair with a meaty burger.
Get the TJ’s Copycat Peach Salsa recipe.
Butter
In Culver’s ButterBurger the juicy patties are pressed and seared fresh for every order, and simply seasoned with salt and pepper. Served on a toasted and lightly buttered Kaiser-style bun, they’re so good you don’t even need condiments.
Spicy Mango Whipped Goat Cheese
This spicy mango whipped goat cheese is the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and cheesy that is just as good on its own as it is added to your favorite burger.
Sweet Chili Mayo
A hot, crispy platter of coconut shrimp is easily in my top 5 favorite appetizers, so naturally, I jumped at the chance to turn it into a burger. The crispy patties are layered onto a toasted potato bun, topped with cabbage slaw, and smothered in spicy-sweet chili mayo.
Get the Coconut Shrimp Burgers recipe.
Caprese Salad
A Caprese salad isn't just a side anymore! Instead, try topping your burger with everything you love about the summery salad, from fresh tomatoes and basil pesto to mozzarella and balsamic.
Get the Caprese Turkey Burger recipe.
Homemade Ketchup
Sweet, savory, tart ketchup is the perfect condiment for everything from French fries to burgers to hot dogs. Sure, you could buy a bottle of the stuff, but why not try your hand at homemade ketchup?
Get the Homemade Ketchup recipe.
Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
This Thai-inspired sweet chili turkey burger is just the break from boring you’ve been waiting for. Loaded inside and out, it’s got a ginger-, garlic-, and scallion-studded turkey patty, pickled spicy chiles and cucumbers, a bright, crisp cabbage slaw, and plenty of sweet chili mayo all on a shiny, fluffy brioche bun.
Get the Thai Sweet Chili Turkey Burger recipe.
Shake Sauce
If you've ever eaten at Shake Shack and wondered just what makes their burgers so good, we've got the intel for you: It's the sauce! Specifically, how the pickles are incorporated into it. Now you know, go forth and put that ish on everything.
Get the Copycat Shake Shack Burger recipe.
Classic Cheese
While we're all for getting super-creative, there is something SO satisfying about a classic burger topped with American cheese. You've gotta walk before you can fly, and this is the best place to start.
Get the Classic Cheeseburger recipe.
Green Hatch Chiles
When roasted over an open flame, green hatch peppers take on new life, going from crisp and verdant to velvety tender and seductively smoky. You end up with condiment gold, transforming the humble cheeseburger into a transcendent experience between two buns that must be tasted to be believed.
Get the Green Chile Cheeseburger recipe.
Grilled Avocados
It's no secret that avocados are the best, but have you tried grilling them? Grilling avocados not only gives them a charred and smoky flavor, but it makes them incredibly tender and extra creamy, perfect for pairing with... well, anything!
Get the Grilled Avocados recipe.
Big Mac Sauce
Our favorite part of our copycat Big Mac? That Mac sauce. Once a trade secret, all it takes is whisking together mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, and ketchup with vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
Get the Copycat Big Mac recipe.
Jalapeño Popper Dip
There's nothing better than jalapeño popper dip, so we're stuffing it in EVERYTHING we can—pigs in a blanket, egg rolls, chicken, and now burgers. You're welcome.
Get the Jalapeño Popper Burgers recipe.
Classic Garlic Aioli
In this aioli, the fresh garlic adds a delightful kick and complex savory flavor that regular mayo doesn’t typically have. Additionally this version is hand whipped and will result in a velvety texture that is perfect for spreading on a burger or for dipping your fries into.
Get the Classic Garlic Aioli recipe.
Bánh Mì Topping
We amped up these turkey burgers by incorporating the flavors of one of our favorite sandwiches: bánh mì. Pickled veggies, spicy mayo, and cilantro all top our seasoned turkey burgers for a cheap and easy dinner that couldn’t be more exciting.
Get the Bánh Mì Turkey Burgers recipe.
Mozzarella + Marinara + Basil
Chicken Parm's not just for a fancy dinner anymore. Instead, simmer ground chicken patties in marinara for a chicken Parm burger that's saucy and cheesy—and SO much easier to pull off than the Italian classic.
Get the Chicken Parm Burgers recipe.
Lemon-Yogurt Sauce
The tzatziki-inspired sauce from our falafel-inspired burgers would be perfect on any burger, meatless or otherwise. If you do go with meat, may we suggest adding a little extra Mediterranean flavor in the way of crunchy roasted chickpeas too?
Get the Falafel Burgers recipe.
BBQ Sauce + Onion Rings
There are a ton of famous fast food burgers, but the Bacon Western Cheeseburger holds a special place in our hearts. Take inspo from it and top any and all of your burgers with tangy BBQ sauce and crispy onion rings, and you'll be on your way to burger heaven.
Get the Copycat Carl's Jr. Bacon Western Cheeseburger recipe.
