6 Not So Basic Burger Toppings

Tomatoes, red onion, ketchup, mustard, and pickles are all classic burger toppings. You can’t go wrong with any of these. A good bread and butter pickle on a juicy burger in the backyard of your family’s house is a summer time staple. 

Burgers are eaten all spring and summer long. Cookout season has us eating hamburgers and sliders galore. By the time the invitation to the fifth cookout comes around, you might be ready for something different. We took these classic burger toppings and elevated them. 

We added a little kick to your ketchup with Gochujang paste. We added a little zest to your red onion with lime juice to go with a margarita. Kick your burger toppings up a notch with these 6 not so basic burger toppings.

#1 Massaged Onions

• 1 Red Onion
• Juice of 1 lime
• Pinch of salt

1. Slice red onion and place in a bowl.
2. Add lime juice and salt to onion.
3. Massage onion for about 1 minute until onion just starts to wilt.
   
   

#2 Roasted Balsamic Tomatoes

Ingredients:

• 1 container of cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp high heat oil
• Salt to season

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400º.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment or tin foil.
3. Spread tomatoes on the baking sheet and drizzle with balsamic and oil.
4. Season with salt.
5. Roast for 15 minutes or until the tomato skin starts to crinkle.
   
   

#3 Maple Mustard

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp stone mustard of your choice
• 1 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions:

1. Mix together. Easy Peasy. 

#4 Spicy Korean Ketchup

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Ketchup (Pick a Whole30 compliant ketchup if Whole30)
• 1 1/2 tbsp Gochujang Paste

Instructions:

1. Mix together. Another easy peasy recipe.

#5 Grilled Tomato

Ingredients:

• 1 Beefsteak Tomato, sliced
• Salt to taste
• High heat oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat grill pan or cast iron pan on medium high heat.
2. Spread high heat oil on pan.
3. Salt one side of your tomato slices and place in pan, salted side down.
4. Cook for about 4 minutes.
5. Before flipping, salt top side. Then flip and cook for another 4 minutes.

#6 Quick Pickled Cucumbers & Carrots

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, peeled into strips
• 1 large carrot, peeled into strips
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 tbsp sugar (omit for Whole30 or Paleo)
• 1 tbsp salt
• Big pinch of black pepper

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in a large bowl or mason jar.
2. Cover and put in fridge for at least 15 minutes.

Recipes by Chef Christy Williams (@christinewilliamscooks)