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Updated 2024.

This crowd-pleasing burger toppings board will answer the eternal question: “what to put on a burger?” But even more than that, I love how easy this toppings bar is to serve for low-key summertime parties and cookouts. You don’t even have to fire up the grill–unless you want to, of course!

The most important part of this burger charcuterie board is all the fixins… after all, without the toppings these mini burgers or sliders are really just tiny beef patties. With all these yummy topping ideas, there’s something for everyone (even the picky eaters).

For more summer-y ideas, check out my BBQ Chicken Board, Build Your Own Hot Dog Board, Bratwurst Board, Taco Bar Party, and Stone Fruit & Burrata Salad.

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How to Make a Burger Toppings Bar

Serves 12

Burgers

2 lbs ground beef

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Cheddar cheese (optional)

Cheese

Sliced cheddar

Sliced Pepper Jack

Crumbled Blue Cheese

Carbs

Pretzel slider buns (or buns of choice)

Best Toppings for Burgers

Red onion, thinly sliced

Roma tomatoes, sliced

Romaine, divided

Jalapeños, sliced

Dill pickles, sliced

Pico de Gallo

Sauces

Guacamole

Ketchup

Mayonnaise

Mustard

Thousand Island Dressing

Other Toppings Ideas For Burgers

Feel free to swap in your favorite fixins’! Here are ideas to get you started:

Banana peppers

Relish

Bacon

Peppers & onions

Pesto

Grilled pineapple

Sprouts

Sautéed mushrooms

Fried egg

Avocados

Mac & cheese

Sauerkraut

Peanut butter (don’t knock it till you try it!)

Fried onions

Potato chips

Unique Burger Toppings by Season

You know I love a seasonal board, and this one is no different. Depending on the season, you might want to change the theme or produce on-offer!

For warmer months, burgers can be their own cookout theme… but you can also lean into the season with more fresh produce (like corn, avocados, tomato, and other summer veggies)! You can even put a twist on the flavors, like these Tropical Island Burgers or Taco Burgers!

For cooler months, you can lean into the apples, squash, and belly-warming chili of it all! The heartier (and cheesier!) the better. Plus, there’s the added bonus of football tailgates and team themes. Try a Chili Cheese Burger or a Buffalo Wing-Stuffed Burger!

Vegetarian Burger Options

There are plenty of delicious options for meatless burgers that will work just as well with this toppings board! Here are a few of my favorite kinds that you can buy at the store:

Impossible Burger Plant-Based Meat
Beyond Burger Plant-Based Patties
Morning Star Farms Veggie Burgers (I love the Spicy Black Bean flavor!)
Dr. Praeger’s California Veggie Burgers

You can also make your own quinoa, black bean, or chickpea burgers!

How To Make Sliders in a Muffin Tin

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Form beef into 12 small patties (about the size of muffin wells), then season all over with salt and pepper. Place patties into the wells of a muffin tin and cook until they reach desired doneness, 5-6 minutes for medium rare.

Remove from oven and immediately top each patty with a small piece of cheddar, if desired.

Using a spoon or butter knife, remove patties from wells and transfer to a plate.

Recommended temperature for ground beef is 160 degrees. (See more on this below!)

P.S. I love this muffin tin idea from The Good Dish, but feel free to make full-size burgers if you prefer! For full-size burgers, just increase the size of the toppings on your burger charcuterie board.

Stovetop

Heat a large pan or grill pan over medium heat. Add patties and cook 2-3 minutes per side, or until they reach desired doneness. (See more info from America’s Test Kitchen here!)

Grill

Heat grill to medium-hot. Add patties and cook 4-6 minutes per side, or until they reach desired doneness. (Check out this recipe from The Food Network.)

How To Cook The Perfect Burger

Whether you try the muffin tin method or go the classic grilling route, keep these cooking tips in mind:

Always opt for freshly ground meat rather than frozen

If you’re forming your own patties, try to minimize the amount of mixing and forming–over working the meat can make for some tough patties!

Always salt the formed patties and NEVER the pre-patty meat

Keep an instant-read thermometer handy to check doneness

Find more burger tips in this article!

Burger Temperature

For beef burgers, the instant-read thermometer will help you achieve your perfect burger, from rare to well-done! No judgment here.

Rare (very pink or red in the middle): 120-125 F

Medium-Rare (pink in the middle): 130-135 F

Medium (still pink, but less pink): 140-145 F

Medium-Well (very little pink): 150-155 F

Well-Done (no pink at all): 160-165 F

IMPORTANT NOTE: For poultry-based burgers, you should always cook them completely to 165 degrees. Trust me, you don’t want any pink in the middle!

Put It All Together

Add the sauces, pickles, pico, and blue cheese to individual bowls. Place in the center of your charcuterie board.

Fan romaine leaves around the bowls. Then add the tomatoes, cheese slices, and onions in single lines around the edge of the board.

Serve the cooked burgers and buns on the side. Enjoy!

Best Burger-Beverage Pairings

I personally love a nice, cold beer with my burger, but there are so many excellent drinks that are perfect for occupying the other hand!

Alcoholic

Paloma

Ranch Water

Old Fashioned

IPA, Lager, or Pilsner (or really any beer!)

Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon

Non-Alcoholic

Milkshakes!

Soft drinks

Sweet iced tea

Punch

Burger Bar Leftovers

If you’ve got leftovers, have no fear! The only things that won’t keep very well are the lettuce and guacamole, but everything else will keep for a few days in airtight containers or zip-top bags in the fridge!

The USDA recommends keeping cooked burgers for a max of 3-4 days. For everything else, use your judgment! As long as it doesn’t have any mold, I generally give it the ol’ sniff test before eating it. Fresh produce will not keep long, whereas cheese and anything pickled will last quite a bit longer.

Show Me Your Burger Boards

I hope this post inspires you to make a burger toppings bar. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the beautiful snacks and meals you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share!

And, If you liked this recipe, please rate and review.

Make Your Own Burger Board

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Description

Set up this super easy hamburger slider bar with all the best burger toppings.