Burger Bar

The recipes and photography for this post were provided by local blogger, Sally Roeckell of 365 Barrington.

There’s nothing like a classic juicy burger right off the grill. Happily, grilling season is about to be in full swing. Putting together a Burger Bar has never been easier!

Did you know you can choose from a huge variety of ready formed gourmet burgers right in the meat department at Heinen’s? The combos are amazing. Each burger is hand-formed in store by the skilled butchers using only the highest quality meats and the freshest ingredients. You’ll find burgers with ground chicken and buffalo seasoning, beef, tomato and fresh mozzarella, jalapeño peppers, feta cheese and more. The best news is that they also have an amazing lineup of vegetarian burgers.

Today we made two of my favorite veggie burgers, the Santa Fe chickpea veggie burger and the black bean veggie burger, alongside classic burgers which all had a combination of chicken, veal and pork.

I love the veggie burgers! I can’t tell you how easy they are to prepare. The fact that they are fresh and ready to put in the pan makes life so easy. Simply throw them in a hot skillet with a drizzle of olive oil for eight minutes on a side. I feel great knowing I can easily serve my family a meal I know they’ll enjoy that is also incredibly good for them. Win win.

I’m a big fan of easy cleanup so throwing everything in one big platter or tray is my favorite way to serve dinner. This is a great way to serve burgers. It allows everyone to make their own creation. The classic lettuce, tomato and mayo burger will never get old but feel free to mix it up. If you’re thinking “where’s the bacon,” don’t worry, it’s right there on my kitchen counter. I made a pound of thick cut Applewood smoked bacon and it didn’t make it into the photo. Anyone else leave ingredients behind? Trust me, the kids found it!

Burger Fixing Inspiration

Some of our favorite fixings are grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, fresh pickles, hot onion rings, sliced jalapeños with a squeeze of lime, leaf lettuce, fresh spinach, hot house tomatoes and definitely cheese. Today we’re serving blue cheese, swiss, and cheddar. Once you have your main burger ingredients, make sure to mix up the bun selection to make it even more fun. My gang is definitely team brioche but I think some of the burger fixings go well on a pretzel roll, especially Fritos and Chipotle Cholula with a squeeze of lime.

Possible Ingredients for your Burger Bar:

•Barbecue sauce and fried onions
•Salsa, cheese and bacon
•Cream cheese and grilled onions and pulled pork
•Mango and pear
•Fried banana and peanut butter
•Caesar dressing and romaine
•Stuffing, Swiss cheese and cranberry sauce
•Jam and prosciutto with goat cheese
•Candied walnuts and arugula
•Fritos foie gras and truffles
•Kimchi and Korean catchup
•Mac & cheese
•Honey mustard, brie cheese and Granny Smith apples
•Herb goat cheese and roasted red peppers with horseradish
•Pesto and Parmesan cheese
•Garlic aioli and caramelized onions with tender baby greens

Whether it’s a beef burger or a vegetarian burger, the possibilities are endless!

ENJOY!

Click Here to Print the List of Burger Bar Possibilities