Build Your Own Burger Bar
Here’s a fun idea for your next backyard barbecue— a Build Your Own Burger Bar complete with the best burger patties and a buffet of toppings and condiments. You provide the options, while your guests bring their appetites and creativity!
During the summer, burgers are my first choice for grilling and entertaining. They’re easy, versatile, and a crowd-pleaser for sure. Why not take the extra step and give your friends and family a wide variety of sauces, cheeses and other toppings so they can create their ideal burger? Read on for my suggestions on how to make a Build Your Own Burger Bar, plus my burger recipe!
The Best Burger Recipe
A burger bar starts with a good hamburger patty, of course. I’ve found that 80% lean ground chuck is the best meat the start with. It has more fat, but a lot more flavor.
I like to keep my patties simple— with a heavy sprinkling of salt and pepper, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, a bit of garlic powder, and some fresh herbs. See the recipe card below for the full recipe. These hamburgers are so flavorful and juicy!
How to make Hamburger Patties
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- In a large bowl, combine ground beef with seasonings and mix with a fork or your hands. Do not overwork the meat or your patties will be tough.
- Divide meat into even portions. I shape them first into balls to make sure they’re all the same size. You can also use a kitchen scale for more accuracy. My patties are usually 1/4 or 1/3 lb, but you also want to consider the size of buns you are using.
- Shape into patties by pressing down on the middle and in from the sides to prevent the meat from cracking. Or, have you seen this hack for shaping patties between two tuppeware lids? It’s genius!
- Place shaped patties on a plate or tray lined with wax paper. Grill them right away, or wrap them in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
How to assemble a “Build your own burger” bar
The possibilities for toppings in a burger bar are almost endless! How big or small you want your options to be is totally up to you. Have your buns, hamburger patties, and toppings spread out on a big buffet table so your guests can choose what they like. Have the table placed next to the grill if you’d like to serve the patties as they’re done cooking. Here are the toppings I served with this burger bar, but don’t feel limited to only what you see here. Get creative!
Cheeses:
- Cheddar
- Swiss
- Pepper Jack
- Blue
Toppings:
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Red onions
- Caramelized onions
- Sauteed mushrooms
- Bacon
- Pickles
- Jalapeño peppers
Condiments:
- Mayonnaise
- Yellow mustard
- Dijon mustard
- Ketchup
- Ranch
- BBQ sauce
When you’re done building your burger, if it is so tall you can’t fit it in your mouth without a bit of effort, then you’re doing it right. I’m always guilty of overloading my burgers, or is that even possible?
The great thing about a Build Your Own Burger Bar is everyone gets to make the burger they love, and explore new flavor combinations and ingredients. What is on your perfect burger?
Side dishes
Looking for a few side dishes to serve alongside your burgers? Here are a few delicious ideas:
- The Best Potato Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Ultimate Fruit Salad
- Grilled Hasselback Potatoes
- Caesar Salad with Homemade Caesar Dressing
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This recipe was originally published July 2014.
The Best Burgers
Ingredients
For the patties:
- 2 1/2 lbs ground chuck (1 kg 100 grams), preferably 80% lean
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Worchestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh herbs like sage, oregano, or rosemary
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
To serve (optional):
- 6 hamburger buns
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes , sliced
- Cheese and other toppings , as desired
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the ground beef with the salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and herbs with your hands.
- Divide mixture into 6 balls. Press into a disk about 3/4 inch high.
- Brush both sides lightly with oil. Cover and chill until ready to grill, up to 8 hours.
- Grill over high heat, about 4-5 minutes on each side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and no pink remains. If adding cheese, place on the top of the patty during the last 30 seconds of cooking. Serve immediately as desired.
This sounds like such a great idea for summer get-togethers! I love my burger with plenty of cheese and veggies, and a little mayo. Oh, and bacon of course, let’s not forget about bacon 🙂
xo, Elisa
Gotta have the bacon! 🙂
OOOOH, I love burger bars! Great idea for the 4th, Annalise.
Did you make those buns? They look SO good! I’m with you- a good burger trumps just about anything else, especially in summer!
I did not make these buns, though I often do. These ones came from Harmons, and yes they were so good!
Excellent idea for the 4th. And I’m totally digging those buns!!
This looks perfect! I’m a pickle LOVER so I’m super excited to try these! Have a great holiday!
Thanks Melissa! Happy 4th to you too! 🙂
Yes to the onions, pickles, coarse mustard, tomato, avocado, etc. I’m normally a person who cuts my food into really little bites, but not when it comes to hamburgers. I like them piled so high I have to use my entire face to eat them. Yum! I’ll have to try brushing oil on mine before cooking next time, I never thought of that before.
What is it about burgers that makes us throw out our dainy table manners? If you feel like you need a drop cloth, then it must have been a good burger! 🙂 Thanks for your kind comments and support!
Copying is a form of flatter, they say. I invented the Burger Bar, back in 1983, when worked for a restaurant, in Marietta, GA, that was only pulling in $50 during the lunch peak hour. I have continued to do Burger Bars, over the years, at family gatherings. Someone must have seen a post about one of them, posted on my Public Facebook page. I am not complaining, but would have been nice to have gotten credit for it.
Are you kidding me?!??? Next, I’m sure you’ll take credit for inventing the cow?! Fuddruckers originated in 1979… Burger Bar
We are building a burger bar for our very spunky grandpa who is turning 92 this week. The only thing I would add to this burger bar are homemade onion rings (to go with the BBQ sauce and cheese). Burger bar, beers and adult milkshakes for our guests. Should be a lot of fun! Great list you’ve made. I’ve taken a photo and will head out to the store tomorrow with it. 🙂
Love the idea. One very lucky grandpa ?
Never tried a burger bar. Used to doing a Barby or the webber. A must try for my son’s 36th birthday Saturday. ?
Nice array, but one thing may be missing. You got the BBQ sauce, but neglected the hot sauce. Ever since I discovered “Five Guys Burgers and Fries”, every time I make myself a burger, I put hot sauce on it. Yummy.
Thanks for the feedback! You know, I’m not a big hot sauce fan, but I’m sure plenty of others out there are!
An idea for any vegetarian/vegan guests that may be at your cookout; Whole portabello mushroom caps for burger patties 🙂
Love the ideas thank you. I’m hosting a build a burger lunch tomorrow
I’m thinking of doing something like this for my boyfriends baseball team and their family’s during one of their tournaments.
I’m thinking of having a food bar for my boyfriends next baseball tournament for his team and this sounds like the perfect thing to satisfy a bunch of hungry teenage boys!! ?
Thank you very much,
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Looks so delicious. I love it
Wow, what a recipe. Looks so delicious. thanks for sharing. I will try at home. mostly I order fast foods from country kebabzcountry kebabz to satisfy my hunger. the quality of all foods in a country kebab is very outstanding. the taste of all foods is very delicious.