Grilling means burgers. But wouldn't it be nice if the hamburgers you throw on your backyard barbecue took on the personality of the fancy restaurant variety? Believe it or not, creating your own at-home burger bar is easy — you probably already have many key ingredients in your kitchen right now! Here are the key components to have on hand that will add to any home burger experience.
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Worcestershire Sauce
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A secret weapon in any BBQ arsenal. Great for marinades or adding a kick to sauces.
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Summer means that ripe avocados are at the grocery store no matter where you live (in California, for example, these suckers are available year-round). Slice up half an avo to top your burger patty or mash up a whole one with some of your other ingredients to make a burger-worthy guacamole!
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Everyone's favorite food adds "oomph!" to any burger bar. Extra points for preparing your bacon right on the grill!
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The cult favorite is great for adding some zing to your ketchup or squirted right on top of your burger patty.
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Sauteed mushrooms pair well with Swiss cheese or pepper jack atop a home-grilled burger.
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Pepper Jack Cheese
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Having a variety of cheeses on hand for your burger bar will give yourself and your guests more tasty burger options. Pepper jack is great for someone who wants a good kick in the taste buds without the burger being too spicy.
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A great cheese option that plays well with many different burger condiments.
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Probably the most popular burger-topper at any barbecue. It's a cut above the hum-drum packaged singles but still a classic.
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A no-brainer for any burger bar.
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Anyone who likes mustard has preferences, but having this variety on hand is guaranteed to please most patrons at your burger bar.
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A secret weapon for meat marinade or adding to sauces. A little bit of this stuff goes a long way but packs a mean punch in the taste buds.
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Use this kitchen staple to season your burger patties, punch up your condiments or simply add a nice twist to the cheese melting atop your burger.
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A head of lettuce can go a long way as part of your burger bar. It can be a condiment of course, but also a "bun" alternative for anyone trying to watch his or her carb intake.
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Ripe tomatoes add a pop of color and a hint of freshness to any burger. Slice up thin to add to any burger.
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Get your burger that "sweet-and-savory" touch by adding sliced-up nectarines to your Swiss-cheese burger. It's extra tasty if you cut the fruit into quarters and let them sit on the grill for a couple seconds.
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A great added ingredient to a bacon-and-cheddar burger. Just remember to take out the seeds before adding them to your burger — even those who like spicier foods don't want those little jalapeno seeds torching the insides of their mouths!
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Not just a side dish! A quick-and-easy homemade slaw — or a pre-made one picked up from your grocery store — is a great option as a crunchy condiment atop your burger. Here's an at-home recipe to try.
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Having fries as part of your burger bar gives you and your fellow burger-eaters two options: fries as a side or something crazy to put inside of your burger. (Yes, putting the fries ON your burger is an option.)
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This condiment is mostly associated with hot dogs but can serve as a condiment as well as an ingredient IN the burger meat for those who like their patties to have a little extra zip. Try this recipe for making your own at home.
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Thousand Island Dressing
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Think of this as the "secret sauce" for your burger bar. It does double duty as a spread and a dip for extra fries and veggies.
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For those who like their burgers as smokey as possible, you can never go wrong having a bottle of this stuff in your burger bar.
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Ranch Dressing Mix
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Why a dry mix? Because it can serve as a part of your patty marinade or a pick-me-up for sauces. Bonus: You can make your own ranch mix at home with ingredients that you probably already have in the pantry. Try this recipe from Food.com.
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Sesame Seed Buns
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Not all buns are created equal. But instead of loading up your bar with a bunch of different bread products, go with "old faithful" — the traditional sesame seed bun.
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For the purists who want their burgers to crunch but aren't into mixing their burgers and coleslaw together.
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Having a plate of these by the grill is a must for any burger bar. Bonus points for grilling them right on the barbecue.
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Keep a couple of these on hand for the more adventurous eaters partaking in your burger bar. A bite into the middle of the burger will also unleash the tasty yolk center of the egg.
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Get that "bistro burger" vibe without leaving your home grill. This crumbly cheese adds a good kick atop a hot-off-the-grill burger patty.
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Scallions can serve many purposes in your burger bar. They can be cooked into your burger, melted into your cheese or even mixed into your sauces and condiments.
Chelena Goldman grew up on a street where the boys played street hockey and yelling at baseball and football over the radio was a standard -- making life as a sports geek the perfect fit. She believes in dominance on the blue line, good red wine, and the theory that you can never be too overdressed for any occasion. You can find her gabbing away on Twitter at @ChelenaGoldman.