Real beef burgers are a cornerstone of the classic American cookout. There are few things that scream, “It’s summertime!” louder than the smell and sizzling sound of beef burgers on the grill.
As a registered dietitian who uses a non-diet approach for health and happiness, beef burgers are welcomed with open arms (and mouths!) as part of an overall healthy and deliciously satisfying eating pattern. A real beef burger is classically simple, but that’s what makes it the perfect foundation for layering on additional nutrition and flavor. In fact, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests using burgers and sandwiches as an opportunity to “beef up” nutrient intake by pairing with produce and whole grains. I put together some quick tips and flavor inspiration to help you make every bite count as you build your next delicious burger.
Three Brilliant Burgers
It was tough, but I managed to narrow it down to three versions of quick pickles that provide the perfect pairings for brilliantly flavorful beef burgers.
I promise, you can totally tackle these three flavor combos! I use a basic brine of equal parts apple cider vinegar and rice vinegar (for a balanced sweet but tangy flavor), water, sugar, salt, and whole peppercorns. I used 1/2 cup each of ACV and rice vinegar with 1 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar, then a generous pinch of kosher salt and about 1/2 tablespoon of peppercorns. I brought it to a simmer to fully dissolve the sugar then let it cool before draining and pouring over the sliced veggies.
And if convenience is king in your kitchen, follow my lead and reach for prepared and ready-to-eat kimchi, which is a fermented AND pickled option.
First up, a spicier spin on a classic!
Spiced-Up Traditional
If you like: the classic all-American beef burger…
You should try: quick pickled cucumbers with jalapenos and summer herbs
Slice one medium cucumber crosswise into coins, then do the same with a small jalapeno. Add to a glass jar along with sprigs of fresh summer herbs. Dill, oregano, rosemary, or thyme are all great options! Pour the brine over the veggies, seal, and store in the fridge overnight. Serve, and enjoy the spiced-up traditional quick pickles on top of a grilled beef burger on a toasted bun!
Sweet & Smoky
If you like: savory beef flavor balanced with subtle sweet + smoky flavors…
You should try: quick pickles made with cucumbers, radishes, carrots, and sweet onions
Slice one small cucumber crosswise into coins, then do the same with a carrot, 3-4 radishes, and 1/4 of a sweet yellow onion. Add to a glass jar along and pour the brine over the veggies. Seal, and store in the fridge overnight. For the beef burgers, add a small amount of liquid smoke and brown sugar to the patty mixture before grilling, then serve with smoked gouda or smoked provolone.
Korean Kimchi Beef Burgers
If you like: globally-inspired showing up at the summer cookout…
You should try: prepared kimchi and gochujang mayo on your beef burgers
Add a jar of prepared kimchi to your shopping list, along with gochujang (fermented chili paste, a traditional Korean sauce). When mixing the beef burgers, add a splash of soy sauce or fish sauce. To make the spicy mayo, mix one part gochujang with two parts mayonnaise and stir until smooth. Once your beef burgers are grilled up and ready to go, top with the spicy mayo, prepared kimchi, and sliced green onions. Serve and enjoy!
What kinds of pickles go on a burger?
Short answer: any kind you want! When it comes to pickle pairings for beef burgers, nearly anything goes.
Longer answer: it depends on what you’re going for.
If you like to keep things traditional, look for bread & butter pickles. They’re one of the most popular types of pickles and a classic topping for burgers! These small pickles are sliced crosswise (coin-shaped) instead of lengthwise as spears, so they fit perfectly on top of a beef burger patty. Other common types of pickles that show up next to summer burgers is the classic dill pickle, kosher pickles, or gherkins.
However, I personally haven’t been a big fan of these types of pickles. And trust me, I’ve really tried to learn to like them over the years! But as you can probably tell from the burger concepts I shared, sweet & spicy pickles are right up my alley. To me, quick pickles made with a slightly sweet, slightly sour brine are the ideal complement to the juicy savoriness of beef burgers off the grill. The contrast of flavors, textures, and temperatures hits all the marks for me!
I hope this gets you excited to fire up the grill! Between these pickle pairings and my tips for putting a tasty spin on the classic beef burger, I think you’re on a solid path towards a season of enjoying delicious, flavor-packed beef burgers.
This article was written in partnership with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association on behalf of the Beef Checkoff.
