13 Tasty Condiments to Try On Your Burger

Summer typically presents many burger eating opportunities. By mid summer you may be sick of burgers, ketchup, and mustard. Before you give up on eating more burgers this summer, consider spicing things up with new condiments. A splash of flavor can go a long way when it comes to adding new life to ordinary burgers. Check out the 13 great condiment suggestions below to try out at your next barbecue.

1. Sriracha Ketchup

Sriracha ketchup is just one new condiment this year that is part of the sriracha hot sauce flavor craze. If you are a little gun shy about adding heat to your burger, try sampling a small amount with mayo before you cover your entire bun.

2. Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce

If you are game for a spicy kick, skip sriracha ketchup and head straight for the undiluted flavor. You can find this hot sauce in the Asian food section of the grocery store.

3. Zippy Mayo

Instead of spreading ordinary mayo on your burger, whip up some zippy mayo! Just add BBQ sauce or teriyaki sauce in equal parts to the mayo. Or try adding steak sauce or sriracha (here it is again) in small amounts, tasting as you go. For a citrus kick, consider adding a few drops of orange, lime, or lemon juice to your mayo.

4. Whipped Cream Cheese & Jam

With so many savory burger condiment options, why not try something sweet and fruity instead? Spread some whipped cream cheese on your bun. (Regular cream cheese will work too, although whipped is much easier to spread on a bun.) Next, add your favorite fruit jam or preserves. For example, try strawberry, apricot, or pineapple.

5. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter on a burger? You bet. Just spread some creamy peanut butter on your bun. Consider adding some grilled onions to create a new gourmet burger.  

6. Marinara Sauce

Do you have some leftover spaghetti sauce in the fridge? Why not add it to your burger? Or consider grabbing a jar of marinara sauce before your next cook out. Just add some sliced mozzarella cheese and a shake of Italian seasoning for a delicious twist.

7. Fry Sauce

Sure fry sauce is intended to complement fries, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add it to your burger! If you can’t find fry sauce at your local market, you can easily make this condiment at home. Just combine equal parts of mayo and ketchup. Then add 2-3 drops of yellow mustard.

8. Plum Sauce

Head to the Asian section of your grocery store and grab a small bottle of plum sauce. You can enjoy this delicious and unique sauce in place of any burger condiment. If coleslaw is available, add this salad directly to your burger as a great complement to the plum sauce. And you certainly can’t go wrong when you include grilled fresh pineapple too.

9. Garlic Butter

Add some garlic salt and parsley to softened butter. This condiment can be spread on any bun; however, adding garlic butter to a toasted bun is especially delicious.

10. Avocado Mayo

If you love avocado, you really should try this condiment. Take a ripe avocado and mash the fruit with a fork in a bowl. Combine with an equal amount of mayo. Add a dash of garlic powder and seasoned salt. (This is one condiment that you will want to serve immediately after preparing.)

11. BBQ Sauce

BBQ sauce is certainly no stranger to the burger scene; however, this summer is the perfect time to branch out and try different varieties of this condiment. For example, give honey mustard barbecue sauce or sweet chipotle barbecue sauce a chance. You can check out a sampling of the many varieties of barbecue sauce available here.   

12. Ranch

Ranch is another relatively common condiment; however, this classic flavor often ends up on your salad instead of on your burger. Switch things up and try a new variation of ranch dressing by exploring bacon ranch, cucumber ranch, southwest ranch, or three cheese ranch. If you want to keep experimenting with the sriracha flavor craze, just add some to your ranch for a delicious combination.

13. Salsa

Salsa is a classic multipurpose condiment; however, most varieties are often too wet to work well on a bun. You can fix this problem by making your own chunky salsa at home or by purchasing chunky salsa varieties (such as mango salsa) from the store. Another quick solution is to coat your bun with a layer of cream cheese so that the salsa juice gets absorbed, instead of making your bun soggy.

Use the guide above and get ready to mix up your condiments. With all of these new possibilities, you may find yourself craving burgers throughout the summer and even into the fall.

XO Whitney Hollingshead