National Hamburger Day is officially celebrated on August 27th, but hamburgers and cheeseburgers are too delicious to be celebrated just one day a year. Whether you host a backyard BBQ with family, friends and neighbors or are just looking for an easy way to entertain on a budget while feeding the masses, consider hosting a BYOBB – a build your own burger bar. Here are seven simple steps to throwing a summertime backyard burger bar party.
#1 Pick a Patty
When hosting a build your own burger party, select the type of patty you want to serve guests. Beef patties are a classic choice, but channel your culinary creativity and offer a variety of options including:
If you are hosting guests with dietary preferences, include other options like Ketogenic-friendly burgers and plant-based burgers like bean burgers or veggie burgers.
#2 Select a Size
Once you have picked your patties, select a burger size. Traditional six ounce burger patties work well for adults, while smaller bite sized sliders are great options for children. If guests want to make a variety of options to enjoy, consider serving sliders to everyone so all guests can mix and match toppings more than once. Buy Ground Beef in bulk to save some cash.
#3 Choose a Cheese
Some guests may prefer hamburgers, while other guests may want a slice or two of cheese to create an epic cheeseburger, so be sure to provide an array of cheese options for guests. Some popular cheese choices include:
-
American Cheese
-
Bleu Cheese
-
Brie
-
Goat Cheese
-
Plant-Based Cheese
-
Smoked Gouda Cheese
#4 Grab a Bun
A hamburger or cheeseburger wouldn’t be complete without a hearty bun to keep guests’s delicious creations together, so offer a few burger bun options for guests to enjoy. Some great go-to options include traditional hamburger buns, lettuce wraps or pretzel buns. If guests want to add a slightly crispy crunch to their burger buns, place the burger buns on the grill for a few seconds to give them a quick char – grill marks included.
#5 Select Savory Toppings
After guests have their burger essentials, set up a savory station complete with a selection of savory burger toppings like caramelized onions, crispy bacon slices and grilled fruits and vegetables like peppers, pineapple, mushrooms or zucchini slices so guests can dress up their burgers any way they like.
#6 Top It Off with Fresh Toppings
After guests select a smattering of savory toppings, give burgers a fresh taste with some cool and crisp toppings. Some fresh staples include lettuce leaves, pickles, raw onions and tomato slices, but some other fresh toppings include:
-
Avocado Slices
-
Banana Peppers
-
Cilantro
-
Jalapeno Peppers
-
Kale Leaves
-
Pickled Ginger
-
Red Onions
-
Roasted Red Peppers
-
Scallions
-
Spinach
-
Sprouts
-
Sweet Onions
#7 Slather on a Sauce
A build your own burger bar party wouldn’t be complete without a dollop or two of some classic condiments and sauces. Provide bottles of everyone’s favorites like BBQ sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and relish. You may even consider whipping up a batch of homemade sauces like guacamole, tapenade and salsa for a unique flare.
Use these seven steps and take a bite out of the summer season by creating a build your own burger bar and enjoy all the flavors of the summer season. Happy National Burger Day everyone!
Meet The Author
Ashley Martens is a Health and Wellness Writer based in Chicago, IL. With a background in digital marketing coupled with her knowledge of general nutrition and a lifelong passion for all things health, wellness, fitness and nutrition, Ashley offers a healthy alternative to traditional writing. You can learn more about Ashley and her writing on her portfolio.