65 Ways To Top A Burger

While we're all for getting super-creative, there is something SO satisfying about a classic burger topped with American cheese. You've gotta walk before you can fly, and this is the best place to start.

Get the Classic Cheeseburger recipe.

These were born when we just couldn't decide between a slice of pizza or a burger and never wanted to have to make the decision again. Like BLT sushi or pizza chicken, the combo just works.

Get the Pizza Burger recipe.

When roasted over an open flame, green hatch peppers take on new life, going from crisp and verdant to velvety tender and seductively smoky. You end up with condiment gold, transforming the humble cheeseburger into a transcendent experience between two buns that must be tasted to be believed.

Get the Green Chile Cheeseburger recipe.

It's no secret that avocados are the best, but have you tried grilling them? Yes, seriously, avocados get even better when quickly cooked on the grill. Grilling avocados not only gives them a charred and smoky flavor, but it makes them incredibly tender and extra creamy, perfect for pairing with... well, anything!

Get the Grilled Avocados recipe.

Chicken Parm's not just for a fancy dinner anymore. Instead, simmer ground chicken patties (or beef, no judgement!) in marinara for a chicken Parm burger that's saucy and cheesy—and SO much easier to pull off than the Italian classic.

Get the Chicken Parm Burgers recipe.

The tzatziki-inspired sauce from our falafel-inspired burgers would be perfect on any burger, meatless or otherwise. If you do go with meat, may we suggest adding a little extra Mediterranean flavor in the way of crunchy roasted chickpeas too?

Get the Falafel Burgers recipe.

Sweet, savory, tart ketchup is the perfect condiment for everything from French fries to burgers to hot dogs. Sure, you could buy a bottle of the stuff, but why not try your hand at homemade ketchup? If you want a version without high-fructose corn syrup, this recipe delivers.

Get the Homemade Ketchup recipe.

There are a ton of famous fast food burgers, but the Bacon Western Cheeseburger holds a special place in our hearts (and not just because it’s really fun to say). Take inspo from it and top any and all of your burgers with tangy BBQ sauce and crispy onion rings, and you'll be on your way to burger heaven.

Get the Copycat Carl's Jr. Bacon Western Cheeseburger recipe.

The feta yogurt sauce on our Greek(-ish) lamb burgers is EVERYTHING. Trust us, you're going to want to slather it on both sides of the bun. If you end up with extra, it also makes the perfect dip for raw veggies or pita chips.

Get the Lamb Burger recipe.

It goes without saying that dishes that hail from the vast and diverse country of India are quite delicious, and that goes double for tomato chutney, a spiced condiment enriched with peanuts and flavored with fresh ginger, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, and cayenne. Often served with dosa or uthappam, tomato chutney is also great served with grilled cheese sandwiches or on top of cheeseburgers.

Get the Tomato Chutney recipe.

Want to give your classic burger a Hawaiian-inspired upgrade? Take inspo from our Maui burgers, which add a round of sweet pineapple and a shichimi aioli (made with mayo and Japanese shichimi togarashi) to great effect.

Get the Maui Burgers recipe.

Cowboy Candy (aka candied jalapeños) are spicy, tangy, salty, and sweet—the perfect condiment for a burger. The combination of fiery heat from the jalapeño and the nearly caramelized coating from the sugar is truly incredible.

Get the Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapeños) recipe.

Whether you go crab cake or classic beef, there's nothing to be crabby about with a burger topped with a creamy, tangy Old Bay sauce. You can even double-down on that savory Old Bay flavor by adding a healthy dab of Old Bay hot sauce or sprinkling the seasoning on the fries you serve alongside.

Get the Crab Cake Burger recipe.

Tomatoes are maybe the best part of summer, especially when you grill them. Not only does the char from the grill add a slight bitterness that balances a tomato’s acidity and sweetness really well, but the direct heat manages to bring some out some of their deep umami flavors without them falling completely apart.

Get the Grilled Tomatoes recipe.

There's nothing better than jalapeño popper dip, so we're stuffing it in EVERYTHING we can—pigs in a blanket, egg rolls, chicken, and now burgers. You're welcome.

Get the Jalapeño Popper Burgers recipe.

Though traditionally served with churrasco (grilled meat), this oil-based sauce couldn’t be more versatile. Garlicky and super-herbaceous with added tang from vinegar and lemon zest, there's practically no dish that chimichurri can't improve (including burgers!).

Get the Chimichurri recipe.

Halloumi is a fresh cheese similar to a cheese curd, which gives it its infamous "squeaky" texture and its high-melting point. This allows it to be griddled or grilled without melting away, creating a wildly crispy, golden exterior and a salty, chewy inside. Trust us, and swap it for cheese slices on your burger—you won't be disappointed.

Get the Grilled Halloumi recipe.

Our favorite part of our copycat Big Mac? That Mac sauce. Once a trade secret, all it takes is whisking together mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, and ketchup (for that trademark pink color) with vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. It's a versatile condiment you're going to want on ALL your burgers from now on.

Get the Copycat Big Mac recipe.

Bang Bang shrimp and cauliflower get all the hype, but we are here to tell you that you should absolutely be making a bangin' version of your burgers. The sweet-spicy sauce is perfect over almost anything and will spice up any patty you're serving up.

Get the Bang Bang Burgers recipe.

Guacamole is a burger condiment game-changer. How so? If you're the type to like spicy cheese or peppers (like the melty pepper Jack and fresh jalapeños here), the guac helps add a cooling, creamy layer that makes it all work together in even better harmony.

Get the Guacamole Burger recipe.