Turn plain old burgers into party fare with an incredible assortment of toppings.
Parties don't have to be fancy, especially in the summer. A casual gathering of friends is always a lot of fun, and expensive decorations and hours spent in the kitchen really aren't necessary to create a festive mood.
Your barbeque or grill is truly your best friend when it comes to outdoor party fare. Simple offerings like hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled sausages can be a big hit with your guests, and you can easily spice things up by offering a wide and varied assortment of toppings for the main course.
First things first; here's a recipe for a basic, juicy hamburger that tastes great no matter what you put on top. This recipe makes 8 burgers, but can easily be doubled.
Barbeque Burgers
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 beaten eggs
- 1/2 cup crushed butter crackers (Ritz or similar)
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 1/4 cup ketchup or mild barbeque sauce
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- ground black pepper to taste
In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Divide mixture into eight equal pieces and form each piece into a patty. Layer on waxed paper and cover; refrigerate until ready to grill.
To grill burgers, preheat your barbeque or grill and cook over direct heat, about 5-7 minutes per side, until burgers reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now for the fun part - the toppings! Set up a table with a pretty tablecloth, and put out small bowls or plates containing your toppings. Allow your guests to build their own burgers, buffet style. For less clean-up, use disposable (recyclable) plates and bowls.
For sauces, try mayonnaise, ketchup, a variety of mustards, salad dressings or dips (such as ranch or onion), sweet or dill relish, hot sauce, and barbeque sauces. Fresh veggies, sliced to fit, make great toppings. Try fresh tomatoes, lettuce, onion, cucumbers, radishes, and grilled pepper strips in a variety of colors.
Pickles are always a favorite, so try a few different types. Dills and sweet bread and butter pickles are obvious choices, but you can also used pickled veggies, sliced beets, mustard pickles, and sliced olives.
Slice a few different cheeses, like cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, and Swiss. Crumbled blue or feta cheese also makes a terrific addition to a burger. Cole slaw, either the creamy or vinegar-based type, tastes great alongside your burger, but it's even better on top! Sliced ham and cooked bacon are also good choices.
Make sure you have an assortment of buns and rolls too, just to add to the variety. Egg buns, whole wheat rolls, and even lengths of crusty French bread make yummy buns for hamburgers and hot dogs.
As a finishing touch, put out a large bowl of mixed salad greens so your guests can create their own salads too, to go with their main course. Most of the toppings for your burgers will make nice additions to a salad as well.
Bon appetit!
