A burger bar is a fun and delicious way to entertain friends and family for parties, special occasions, or just because! All you need is the right ingredients and a little creativity! Whether you're looking for a classic cheeseburger or an adventurous creation, a burger bar has something for everyone!
Burger Bar For Parties
Whether you're hosting a birthday party or a holiday get-together, there's one thing every celebration needs - great food! A burger bar is the perfect solution for feeding a crowd, and it can be done on a pretty reasonable budget, too!
With the right ingredients and condiments, you can easily set up a burger bar that rivals your favorite restaurant. From selecting the perfect buns and toppings to grilling up juicy patties, the possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing your own burgers!
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If you love planning parties, make sure to check out my hot dog bar and taco bar, too! They are perfect for just about any celebration!
🍔 Planning Your Burger Bar
The great thing about a burger bar is that it is completely customizable. For instance, if you are having a tropical luau-themed party, you could feature ingredients to make a Hawaiian burger!
Here are a few suggestions for toppings and condiments that pair well together:
- American - American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, bacon, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and pickle relish.
- Italian - Mozzarella, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and arugula.
- Greek - Feta cheese, tzatziki sauce, olives, and cucumber.
- Asian - Teriyaki sauce, wasabi mayo, pickled ginger, and sesame seeds.
- Mexican - Pepper jack cheese, guacamole (or avocado), salsa, and pico de Gallo.
- Gourmet - Blue cheese, goat cheese, caramelized onions, truffle oil, garlic aioli, fig jam, and balsamic glaze.
🥘 Burger Bar Ingredients
You can swap out any of these ingredients to suit your needs. This is just a starting point! Encourage your guests to get creative with their burger creations by offering a variety of unique and unexpected toppings!
Burgers
- Ground Beef - 6 pounds of ground beef (I used beef with an 85/15 ratio).
- Burger Seasoning - 3 tablespoons of burger seasoning. See my recipe, or use your favorite blend!
- Buns - 12 hamburger buns (twice as many if making ¼-pound burgers). If desired, you can butter and toast them beforehand.
Toppings
- Bacon - Crispy, cooked bacon is always a crowd favorite. I plan on two strips per person.
- Red Onion - Sliced red or white onions are classic. Pickled onions are also delicious!
- Tomatoes - You can't go wrong with some fresh and juicy sliced tomatoes.
- Lettuce - Butter lettuce, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, or even arugula adds a nice crisp crunch.
- Pickles - Dill pickles are an all-time favorite burger topping!
- Pineapple Slices - Pineapple is a fun and unique topping option that is surprisingly tasty!
- Bell Peppers & Onions - Roasted onions & bell peppers are a quick and easy topping that can turn any burger into a gourmet burger.
- Mushrooms - Sauteed mushrooms taste wonderful with Swiss cheese or blue cheese.
Cheese
- American Cheese - This is my go-to if I'm serving smash burgers.
- Provolone - Provolone or Swiss cheese is perfect for all the white cheese enthusiasts.
- Blue Cheese - You either love it or hate it, but it makes some wonderful gourmet burgers!
Condiments
- Burger Sauce - If you ask me, this burger sauce is the only condiment you need! You will want to make 2-3 batches of my burger sauce recipe.
- Ketchup - This classic American burger condiment is always a hit!
- Mustard - Yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, stone ground- so many options!
- Mayonnaise - I love good quality mayonnaise, like Hellman's, Duke's, or Best Foods.
- BBQ Sauce - You can make your own BBQ sauce or grab a bottle of your favorite brand!
- Sweet Pickle Relish - Pickle relish isn't just for hot dogs!
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make A Burger Bar
Once you've whipped up the burgers, it's all about presentation. You'll need either your grill or a skillet or frying pan, and a knife and cutting board to prep the toppings.
To ensure you have enough burgers for your guests, plan on serving two burgers per person for smaller patties or one larger burger per person.
Cook The Burgers
- Preheat. Preheat your grill, frying pan, skillet, or flat-top griddle to medium-high heat (425°F / 218°C).
- Stovetop: Add 1 tablespoon of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) to the pan as it heats up. (Adding more as needed after batches of burgers).
Grill: Clean and oil the grates. - Portion. While things are heating up, portion 6 pounds of ground beef into twelve ½-pound patties (or 24 ¼-pound patties).
- Season. Once your grill or pan is ready, season both sides of the burger patties with the 3 tablespoons of burger seasoning and add them immediately to the hot grill or pan. (Work in batches if necessary and wait to season the patties until right before adding them to your pan or grill).
- Cook. Cook for 4 minutes on the first side, then flip the burgers and cook for another 3-4 minutes on the opposite side or until they reach your desired level of doneness.
- Rest. Once cooked, transfer the burger patties to a cutting board or plate and cover them loosely with foil. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving. Repeat with any remaining burger patties.
Set Up The Burger Bar
- Prep. On a large table or surface that is easily accessible to guests, set out the plates and utensils.
- Arrange. Place the burgers, 12 hamburger buns, toppings, cheeses, and condiments at the head of the table after the plates. If possible, label the ingredients to help your guests navigate your burger bar more easily. (Bacon, red onion, tomato, lettuce, dill pickle slices, pineapple slices, roasted onions & bell peppers, mushrooms, American cheese, provolone or Swiss cheese, blue cheese crumbles, burger sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, sweet pickle relish).
- Serve. Allow guests to make their way down the line and assemble their perfect burger!
In addition to the burger bar, I like to offer a selection of side dishes to round out the meal! A few of my favorites are coleslaw, baked beans with ground beef, and fresh fruit salad. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Save yourself time before the party by prepping all the toppings, vegetables, and condiments in advance. Most ingredients can be prepared 1-2 days in advance and kept in the fridge until needed.
- To keep your burgers warm and delicious, consider using a chafing dish or warming tray to maintain their temperature. Alternatively, you can cook the burgers in batches, allowing guests to enjoy them fresh off the grill!
- Turn your burger bar into a friendly competition by inviting guests to submit their best burger creations! You can then have a taste test and award a prize for the most delicious and creative burger.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Leftover burger patties and toppings can be placed in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and refrigerated for 3-4 days.
Leftover buns can be kept at room temperature in a sealed Ziploc bag for up to 5 days.
Reheating Burgers
Place leftover burger patties on a metal wire rack on top of a baking sheet and bake them at 400°F (205°C) for 3-4 minutes, then flip and cook the opposite side for 2-3 minutes. Then, assemble your burgers and enjoy!
>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<
❓ Recipe FAQs
For ¼-pound burgers, you should plan on serving 2 burgers per person. For ½-pound burgers, you can offer 1 burger per person.
There are a number of different burger patties you can try. There are turkey burgers, veggie burgers, and even frilled portobello mushroom caps! This is a great way to make sure anyone with specific dietary needs can still partake in your burger bar.
You can keep it classic with homemade french fries or switch things up by serving some elotes! Bags of potato chips are a quick and easy option, or you could whip up some potato salad!
😋 More Awesome Burger Recipes
- Blue Cheese Burger - Bite into a burst of bold and tangy flavors with this classic blue cheese burger!
- Elk Burger - Elevate your burger game and savor the unique and lean taste of a juicy elk burger!
- Egg Burger - This brunch burger recipe features a juicy cheeseburger with a runny fried egg and your favorite burger toppings!
- Bison Burger - A healthier burger option that's extremely tender yet packed full of delicious bold flavor!
- Venison Burger - This venison burger is tender, juicy, and packed with rich flavor.
- Mushroom Swiss Burger - A classic combination of Swiss cheese and sauteed mushrooms is perfect for when you want a unique yet flavorful burger!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
Burger Bar
Ingredients
Burgers
- 6 lbs ground beef (I used beef with an 85/15 ratio)
- 3 tablespoon burger seasoning
- 12 hamburger buns (twice as many if making ¼-pound burgers)
Toppings
- bacon (cooked and crisped)
- red onion (sliced)
- tomato (sliced)
- lettuce (washed and leaves separated)
- dill pickle slices
- pineapple slices
- roasted onions & bell peppers
- mushrooms (sauteed)
Cheese
- American cheese (sliced)
- provolone or swiss cheese (sliced)
- blue cheese crumbles
Condiments
- burger sauce
- ketchup
- mustard
- mayonnaise
- BBQ sauce
- sweet pickle relish
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Cook The Burgers
- Preheat your grill, frying pan, skillet, or flat-top griddle to medium-high heat (425°F / 218°C).
- Stovetop: Add 1 tablespoon of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) to the pan as it heats up. (Adding more as needed after batches of burgers).Grill: Clean and oil the grates.
- While things are heating up, portion 6 lbs ground beef into twelve ½-pound patties (or 24 ¼-pound patties).
- Once your grill or pan is ready, season both sides of the burger patties with the 3 tablespoon burger seasoning and add them immediately to the hot grill or pan. (Work in batches if necessary and wait to season the patties until right before adding them to your pan or grill).
- Cook for 4 minutes on the first side, then flip the burgers and cook for another 3-4 minutes on the opposite side or until they reach your desired level of doneness.
- Once cooked, transfer the burger patties to a cutting board or plate and cover them loosely with foil. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving. Repeat with any remaining burger patties.
Set Up The Burger Bar
- On a large table or surface that is easily accessible to guests, set out the plates and utensils.
- Place the burgers, 12 hamburger buns, toppings, cheeses, and condiments at the head of the table after the plates. If possible, label the ingredients to help your guests navigate your burger bar more easily. (bacon, red onion, tomato, lettuce, dill pickle slices, pineapple slices, roasted onions & bell peppers, mushrooms, American cheese, provolone or swiss cheese, blue cheese crumbles, burger sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, sweet pickle relish)
- Allow guests to make their way down the line and assemble their perfect burger!
Notes
- Save yourself time before the party by prepping all the toppings, vegetables, and condiments in advance. Most ingredients can be prepared 1-2 days in advance and kept in the fridge until needed.
- To keep your burgers warm and delicious, consider using a chafing dish or warming tray to maintain their temperature. Alternatively, you can cook the burgers in batches, allowing guests to enjoy them fresh off the grill!
- Turn your burger bar into a friendly competition by inviting guests to submit their best burger creations! You can then have a taste test and award a prize for the most delicious and creative burger.
- To store: Leftover burger patties and toppings can be placed in an airtight container or Ziploc bag and refrigerated for 3-4 days. Leftover buns can be kept at room temperature in a sealed Ziploc bag for up to 5 days.
- To reheat: Place leftover burger patties on a metal wire rack on top of a baking sheet and bake them at 400°F (205°C) for 3-4 minutes, then flip and cook the opposite side for 2-3 minutes. Then, assemble your burgers and enjoy!
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