(BPT) – Whether you’re putting together a quick weeknight meal or having friends and family over for a summer celebration like Father’s Day, the Fourth of July or just a fun pool day, there’s nothing more crowd-pleasing than a good burger. But even better, especially if you have guests with a wide variety of taste preferences — or children with particular palates — is setting out a create-your-own burger bar.
Not only can a burger bar simplify both cooking and cleanup, but it’s also a fun, interactive experience for your family and guests that will ensure everyone can enjoy a burger that suits their exact taste.
To help you assemble the makings of a memorable burger bar — whether that’s out on the patio or right in your kitchen — here are some easy-to-follow tips.
It all starts with the burger
You can’t have a fantastic burger bar without a really tasty burger. To make it even easier, even on a busy weeknight, try BUBBA burgers, frozen burgers that can be cooked right from the box, with no thaw time, in under 15 minutes. Just cook for 5-7 minutes on each side. You’ll find full cooking instructions at Bubbafoods.com.
No grill? No problem. You can cook up your BUBBA burgers on the skillet, the air fryer or in the oven. You can choose from Original Beef, Sweet Onion or Angus Beef varieties. BUBBA burgers are made from 100% USDA Chuck, with no additives and no preservatives. To find a BUBBA burger® retailer near you, visit Bubbafoods.com/where-to-buy.
Say “cheese”!
Nothing puts a smile on everyone’s faces like the word “cheese”! Provide a couple of cheesy choices as the first stop nearest your grill or cooktop, and ask guests if they’d like you to add their cheese right after flipping, to allow it to melt atop their burger. The best options for easy-to-add cheese slices include: American, Cheddar, Swiss or Monterey Jack.
Toppings galore
Here’s where you can let your imagination go wild. You’ll want to include the classics and choices you know your kids will love, but it’s fun to add a few zesty options that will wow your guests and wake up their palates.
Include toppings like:
- Lettuce: Consider offering more than the usual green leaf lettuce, iceberg or romaine — like peppery arugula or crunchy frisée.
- Tomatoes: Large beefsteak or heirloom tomatoes are ideal for slicing.
- Onions: Thinly sliced red onions or sauteed onions.
- Sauteed mushrooms: or other lightly sauteed veggies, like zucchini or bell peppers.
- Bacon slices: or crumbled bacon.
- Pickle slices: Offer both dill and sweet varieties.
- Jalapeño peppers or other chiles.
- Avocado slices
- Pickled red onions
- Kimchi
- Pineapple slices
- Coleslaw
- Fried egg
Plus, add any other regional or family favorites — the more creative, the better! For more topping inspiration, be sure to check out @bubbaburger on Instagram.
Sauce it up
Make sure to please your crowd with a wide variety of lip-smacking sauces, ranging from mild to spicy:
- Mayonnaise
- Classic yellow and/or Dijon mustard
- Ketchup
- Barbecue sauce: Choices ranging from sweet to hot.
- Ranch dressing or any other favorite creamy dressing.
- Cocktail sauce
- Hot sauce
Don’t forget the buns
Providing different bun options can also make your burger bar stand out. Consider not only sesame seed buns, but also pretzel buns or sweet Hawaiian buns. Toast the buns lightly with a little butter, cut-side down on the grill, for just 10 seconds — and keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
Round out the meal with spectacular sides
You can include classic sides like crunchy coleslaw, creamy potato salad, zesty beans or flavorful french fries, or lighten up the meal with fresh green salad, colorful veggies and dip or a refreshing fruit salad. But anything goes — the burger each person creates exactly to their liking is really the star of this show!
When setting out your burger bar options, make sure to leave enough space for everyone to make their selections without too much crowding. You could even set up different stations or tables for each category, if you have enough room.
Pro tip: Don’t put anything out that requires refrigeration until right before mealtime (especially when eating outside on a hot day).
Ready to get started? For more recipe ideas and dinner inspiration, visit Bubbafoods.com/recipes, and for helpful tips on hosting a BUBBA burger® barbecue, check out our blog here.