The Perfect Burger Board

It’s burger season, and nothing satisfies like an all-beef patty. But even though burgers are sure to please, they’re not one-size-fits-all.

Take my house, for example: One of my kids doesn’t like melted cheese (weirdo), some of us love our burgers topped with cheddar, and still others prefer pepper jack or provolone.

Throw in our individual topping preferences, and a simple burger night can be complete chaos. A fun solution is a burger board!

This post is sponsored by the Washington State Beef Commission.

You’ve heard of charcuterie boards. A burger board is the same concept but with multiple options for burgers, buns, toppings, and condiments. Here are some fun ways to mix it up:

PC: Kristina Slaney

Buns: Try non-traditional options like pretzel buns, Hawaiian sweet bread, sourdough buns, or onion buns.
Cheese: Sliced, non-crumbly varieties work best (though other options are delicious, too). Offer 2-3 choices and keep the grill warm so your guests can pop their burgers back on and melt their cheese!
Condiments: Steak sauce. Hot sauce. Pesto. Salsa. Endless varieties of mustard. Peanut butter. (Look it up. It’s a thing.) There are so many fun things to try in addition to the old stand-bys.
Toppings: Lettuce. Pickles. Avocado. Sauerkraut. Caramelized onions. Go crazy and pile ‘em high!

Now, to make a good burger board it’s important not to offer too many options. It can get overwhelming for your guests and expensive (and time-consuming) for you. Offer a few new, fun options in addition to the traditional choices. After all, there’s a reason they’ve stood the test of time.

PC: Kristina Slaney | Jalapeno & Cheddar Burger

And when you’re offering burgers, make sure to stick with the real thing and make sure they’re made with beef. These days there are a lot of people offering “healthier” burger alternatives, but when you drill down to the nutritional facts, the alternatives aren’t what they seem. Take turkey burgers, for example. Turns out 93% lean beef has fewer calories and less fat than 93% lean ground turkey! Plus, it’s lower in cholesterol and higher in iron. So don’t get caught up in marketing gimmicks and stick with the burgers you know everyone wants. BEEF.