Description
Celebrate patriotic flavors with this Red, White & Blue Burger Bar, featuring juicy beef burgers topped with fresh red tomatoes, creamy white cheese, and vibrant blue berry compote. Perfect for summer cookouts and festive gatherings, this customizable burger bar lets guests assemble their own colorful, flavorful creations.
Ingredients
Scale
Burgers
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 burger buns, split and toasted
Red Toppings
- 1 large red tomato, sliced
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
White Toppings
- 4 slices white cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese
- ½ cup mayonnaise or ranch dressing
- 1 cup sliced white mushrooms (optional)
Blue Toppings
- ½ cup fresh blueberries
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Prepare the burger patties: In a large bowl, combine ground beef with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Gently mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape each into a patty about ¾-inch thick.
- Cook the burgers: Preheat a grill or stovetop skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for about 4-5 minutes per side for medium doneness, or adjust time to your preferred level. During the last minute of cooking, add a slice of white cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese to each patty and cover to melt.
- Make the blueberry compote: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine blueberries, honey, lemon juice, and thyme leaves. Stir occasionally and cook until the blueberries soften and the mixture thickens slightly, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Assemble the burger bar: Toast the burger buns until golden. Provide toppings such as sliced tomatoes, red onions, shredded lettuce, mayonnaise or ranch dressing, and optional sautéed white mushrooms. Arrange the cooked patties alongside the toppings and blueberry compote for guests to customize their burgers.
- Serve and enjoy: Encourage guests to build their burgers using the red, white, and blue ingredients for a festive and delicious meal.
Notes
- Use fresh, ripe tomatoes for the best flavor and texture in your burger toppings.
- The blueberry compote can be prepared a day in advance and refrigerated to deepen the flavors.
- Optional mushrooms add a savory note, sautéed in a little olive oil until golden brown.
- For a lighter option, substitute ground turkey or veggie patties.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free burger buns or lettuce wraps.
