44 Best Burger Topping Ideas To Try

Gearing up for a summer BBQ and want to bring your “A game” to the grill? Making burgers at home doesn’t have to be boring or bland, and plenty of options are available if you want healthier toppings or have dietary restrictions. 

Assembling a burger can easily take up anyone’s daily calorie intake, so learning which toppings are higher in calories, carbs, protein, fat, and sugar is essential. Learn how to build the best burger bar with our burger-topping ideas below.  

Burger Protein Ideas

Traditional burger proteins typically come in the form of beef patties, but other options can be healthier. Here are some of my favorite protein ideas:

• Chicken patty (3-oz patty): 160 calories, 12 g  protein, 14 g  carbs, 7 g  fat
• Turkey patty (3-oz patty): 176 calories, 22 g  protein, 0 g  carbs, 9.7 g  fat
• Salmon patty (3-oz patty): 154.9 calories, 16.1 g  protein, 3.2 g  carbs, 8.7 g  fat
• Morningstar Farms, Garden Veggie patty (3-oz patty): 126.9 calories, 12.7 g  protein, 15.2 g  carbs, 3.8 g  fat
• Impossible patty (3-oz patty): 218.3 calories, 20.3 g  protein, 5.3 g  carbs, 12.8 g  fat  
• Bacon (1 slice): 37.4 calories, 2.7 g  protein, 0.1 g  carbs, 2.8 g  fat
• Eggs (1 large egg): 100.9 calories, 6.3 g  protein, .6 g  carbs, 8 g  fat 
• Beef patty (3-oz patty): 229.6 calories, 21.9 g  protein, 0 g  carbs, 15.1 g  fat

Vegetable Topping Ideas

Fill up your burger with plenty of vegetable toppings to make a healthier and tastier burger. Don’t just stop at lettuce, tomatoes, or onion. Here are some vegetable topping ideas to expand your horizon: 

• Lettuce (1 leaf): 4.3 calories, 0.4 g  protein, 0.8 g  carbs, 0 g  fat
• Arugula (½ cup): 2.5 calories, 0.3 g  protein, 0.4 g  carbs, 0.1 g  fat
• Kale (1 leaf): 3.5 calories, 0.3 g  protein, 0.4 g  carbs, 0.1 g  fat
• Spinach (½ cup): 3.5 calories, 0.4 g  protein, 0.5 g  carbs, 0.1 g  fat
• Sprouts (½ cup): 2.5 calories, 0.5 g  protein, 1 g  carbs, 0 g  fat
• Bread & butter pickles (1 slice): 6.8 calories, 0 g  protein, 1.6 g  carbs, 0 g  fat 
• Coleslaw vinaigrette dressing (¼ cup): 71.2 calories, 0.4 g  protein, 6.1 g  carbs, 5.2 g  fat
• Avocado (½): 113.6 calories, 1.3 g  protein, 5.9 g  carbs, 10.5 g  fat
• Tomatoes (1 slice): 3.6 calories, 0.2 g  protein, 0.8 g  carbs, 0 g  fat 
• Onions (1 slice): 5.6 calories, 0.2 g  protein, 1.3 g  carbs, 0 g  fat
• Garlic (1 clove): 4.5 calories, 0.2 g  protein, 1 g  carbs, 0 g  fat
• Jalapenos (1 slice): 0.5 calories, 0 g  protein, 0.1 g  carbs, 0 g  fat
• Sauteed mushrooms (2 tbsp): 3.5 calories, 0.5 g  protein, 0.5 g  carbs, 0 g  fat

Cheese Options

Cheeseburgers are our favorite types of burgers, and they’re incomplete without this melty slice of goodness. While American cheese melts the easiest on a burger patty, you should consider other types of cheese for variety. Here are some of our favorite options: 

• American (1 slice): 69.2 calories, 3.4 g  protein, 0.9 g  carbs, 5.8 g  fat
• Cheddar (1 slice): 84.6 calories, 4.8 g  protein, 0.7 g  carbs, 7 g  fat
• Swiss (1 slice): 82.5 calories, 5.7 g  protein, 0.3 g  carbs, 6.5 g  fat
• Monterey jack (1 slice): 78.3 calories, 5.1 g  protein, 0.1 g  carbs, 6.4 g  fat

Fancy & Gourmet Burger Toppings

Open up your imagination with burger toppings with these fancy and gourmet toppings to elevate a plain burger: 

• Pineapple (1 slice): 42 calories, 0.5 g  protein, 11 g  carbs, 0.1 g  fat
• Pesto (1 tbsp): 62.9 calories, 0.9 g  protein, 0.6 g  carbs, 6.5 g  fat
• Brie (3 tbsp): 90.2 calories, 5.6 g  protein, 0.1 g  carbs, 7.5 g  fat
• Aioli (1 tbsp): 95.3 calories, 0.3 g  protein, .2 g  carbs, 10.5 g  fat
• Caramelized onions (2 tbsp): 65 calories, 0 g  protein, 1 g  carbs, 6.8 g  fat 

Burger Condiment Ideas

While ketchup, mayo, and mustard are typical condiments, there are many more options to consider that will really amp up your burger game. Be mindful of which condiments are high-calorie, there are also healthier mayo alternatives, too.  

• BBQ sauce (1 tbsp): 34 calories, 1 g  protein, 8 g  carbs, 1 g  fat
• Mayonnaise (1 tbsp): 93.5 calories, 0.1 g  protein, 0.1 g  carbs, 10.3 g  fat
• Ketchup (1 tbsp): 15.1 calories, 0.2 g  protein, 4.1 g  carbs, 0 g  fat
• Yellow mustard (1 tbsp): 9 calories, 0.6 g  protein, 0.9 g  carbs, 0.5 g  fat
• Teriyaki (1 tbsp): 16 calories, 1.1 g  protein, 2.8 g  carbs, 0 g  fat
• Thousand island (1 tbsp): 64.6 calories, 0.1 g  protein, 2.2 g  carbs, 6.3 g  fat 
• Sriracha (1 tbsp): 18.1 calories, 0.4 g  protein, 3.7 g  carbs, 0.2 g  fat
• Buffalo sauce (1 tbsp): 3.8 calories, 0.1 g  protein, 0.5 g  carbs, 0.3 g  fat
• Ranch (1 tbsp): 64.7 calories, 0.3 g  protein, 0.5 g carbs, 7 g  fat 

How Do You Make Burgers More Exciting?

If you’re looking to make your at-home burgers more exciting, consider making different themes of flavors each time you cook these up. Here are some of our favorite flavor combinations: 

• Breakfast – fried egg, bacon, cheese, arugula
• Island – pineapple, teriyaki sauce, lettuce
• Healthier – cheddar, caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms, spinach
• Chicken sammies – chicken patty, coleslaw, maple syrup, red onion
• Buffalo chicken – chicken patty, buffalo sauce, cucumbers, onions, blue cheese crumbles

How Do You Dress Up A Burger Patty?

Now that you’ve got all your ingredients and a freshly grilled burger patty, it’s time to assemble your burger. Follow these steps to ensure your burger stays together and doesn’t get mushy too fast. (from bottom to top assembly)

1. Bottom bun
2. Condiment
3. Lettuce
4. Tomato
5. Burger patty with melted cheese on top
6. Onions 
7. Pickles 
8. Optional: more condiments
9. Top bun

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5 from 2 votes

44 Ideas for Burger Toppings

Learn how to dress up your burger with various toppings to impress your friends for your next bbq!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword bbq, cheeseburger, healthy burger

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 1

Equipment

• knife and cutting board
• grill
• burger turner

Ingredients

Proteins

• beef patties
• chicken patties
• turkey patties
• salmon patties
• vegetarian patties
• bacon
• eggs

Vegetables

• lettuce green, red leaf, or iceberg
• arugula
• kale
• spinach
• sprouts
• bread & butter pickles
• coleslaw vinaigrette dressing
• avocado
• tomatoes
• onions
• garlic
• jalapenos
• sauteed mushrooms

Cheese

• American
• cheddar
• Swiss
• Monterey jack

Fancy toppings

• pineapple
• pesto
• brie
• aioli
• caramelized onion

Condiments

• BBQ sauce
• mayonnaise
• ketchup
• yellow mustard
• teriyaki sauce
• thousand island dressing
• sriracha
• buffalo sauce
• ranch

Instructions

• Clean and prep all your vegetables and herbs.
• Grill your burger patties until they measure to 160 ºF (or your preferred temperature).
• Add the cheese on top to melt.
• Toast the buns.
• Assemble your burger in the following way:

  A. Bottom bun

  B. Condiment

  C. Lettuce

  D. Tomato

  E. Burger patty with cheese

  F. Other vegetables: onion, pickle, etc.

  G. Optional condiment

  H. Top bun
• Serve and enjoy